In The World Record Book of Racist Stories (Grand Central Publishing, Nov. 22), sisters Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar follow up their 2021 debut, You’ll Never Guess What Happened to Lacey, with an outrageously funny collection of anecdotes about their everyday experiences with racism as well as stories from family members. Kirkus’ starred review deems it “required reading in today’s America.” Ruffin and Lamar answered our questions by email.
What did you find surprising about your creative process while writing as a duo?
Ruffin: Since everything in the book actually happened, writing as a duo was easier than you think. We really weren’t “writing” as much as we were just remembering.
Lamar: It was surprising how easy the writing process felt because of the number of stories we had to tell. We actually left some stories out.
Who is your ideal reader for The World Record Book of Racist Stories?
Ruffin: Our ideal reader is the type of person who is comforted by hearing they aren’t the only one with two
books full of racist stories. Also, it’s always great when people tell us that they read the book and changed their behavior. Then you feel like your silly stories made a difference.
Lamar: My ideal reader would be the people who are going through the same things that are happening in the book. I’ve heard many times how [our story] has given people the courage to speak up for themselves, and I love that!
What book do you absolutely love that is not as well known as it deserves to be? Or, what book released in the past few years deserved more attention?
Ruffin: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour!
Lamar: The Deep by Rivers Solomon [with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes]. A book about Black mermaids, need I say more?
If someone were going to write the story of your life, who would you want it to be, and why?
Ruffin: If someone was going to write the story of my life, it would be me! I love me the most, and I think I would do me justice.
Lamar: I would want it to be Quinta Brunson; we are both Black nerds!
Francesca Vultaggio is a former editorial intern.
