In 'One of Our Kind,' a Black family moves to a planned utopia

Nicola Yoon's novel "One of Our Kind" explores the pursuit of safety and community within the gated all-Black enclave of Liberty against the backdrop of modern American society.

Jasmine's move to the gated, all-Black community of Liberty in search of safety and community for her family

Jasmine, her black husband, and their young black son have left their small Los Angeles apartment to move to the exceptional, all-black community of Liberty. They are in search of a haven that promises both physical safety and psychic well-being for their family, a place where their young son and unborn child can grow up shielded from the external prejudices of the world.

Jasmine's desire to provide a protected environment for her young son and unborn child

The move to Liberty is driven by Jasmine's fervent wish to offer her children an environment where their race is celebrated and not a cause for concern. She hopes that in Liberty, her children will be afforded the opportunities and safety that can sometimes feel precarious in the wider world, particularly for black families.

The sense of physical and psychological security that Jasmine and her husband hope to find in Liberty

The allure of Liberty lies in its offering of both a physical and psychological sanctuary, a community that not only secures the safety of its residents but also envelops them in a mantle of shared identity and values. Jasmine and her husband are eager to embrace this sense of security, where the promise of black excellence and well-being is the foundation of daily life.

The complex and contradictory nature of Liberty as a "utopian" community

However, the reality of life in Liberty is more nuanced. While Liberty oozes wealth and exudes a culture of exceptionalism, there is an undercurrent of something else, something less palpable that begins to niggle at Jasmine.

The residents' seemingly excessive happiness and contentment

Upon their arrival, ...

Jasmine harbors complex opinions and a critical eye towards the practices and lifestyle choices of her neighbors in the gated community of Liberty. Her stance on popular trends among the residents often reflects a struggle between her ideals and her environment.

Jasmine's critical views on self-care and wellness practices embraced by Liberty's residents

In the upscale environs of Liberty, self-care routines and wellness services are commonplace, amenities that are promoted as essential to the residents' well-being. However, Jasmine's perception of these services, like the Wellness Center in Liberty, is far from complimentary.

Jasmine's perception of self-care as a form of "selling out"

Jasmine equates participation in such wellness practices to a kind of surrender, a selling out of one's values. She sees these practices not as genuine efforts toward personal health, but rather as a commodification of wellbeing, where self-care becomes another product to buy and show off rather than a set of practices to live by.

The tension between Jasmine's desire to improve the world and her own personal indulgences

This view on self-care feeds into a larger narrative for Jasmine—a tension between her wish to enact greater change in the world and the smaller, more personal indulgences she witnesses or partakes in within the community. She finds it difficult to reconcile her aspirations for societal betterment with the seemingly self-centered nature of the wellness initiatives in Liberty.

Jasmine's rigid judgments about hairstyles and conformity within the community

Another facet of Jasmine's critical perspective shines through in her viewpoint on personal expression, particularly concerning hairstyles within the Black community of Liberty.

Jasmine's belief that natural, "afro" hairstyles are a mark of authenticity

Jasmine has a strong belief that rocking natural, "afro" hairstyles are a sign of au ...

Nicola Yoon's novel is deeply rooted in personal reflections on race, racism, and identity, as well as a clear-eyed examination of gender relations inspired by feminist literature.

Nicola Yoon's conversations that sparked her exploration of how race and racism shape identity

Yoon's exploration into the complex themes of identity, particularly how race and racism influence it, was ignited by a thought-provoking question raised during a conversation with a friend. They pondered who they might be without the specter of race and racism looming over them—a daunting, perhaps impossible question to answer. This question, one that lacks an easy solution, became the foundation for deeper contemplation in her novel.

Drawing inspiration from literary legend Toni Morrison, Yoon references a quote about racism's function as a perpetual distraction, a force that demands constant proving of one's right to exist. This concept has been on Yoon's mind since her youth, and it plays a significant role in shaping the thematic substance of her narrative.

Yoon's interest in reexamining the themes of the feminist novel "The Stepford Wives"

Yoon's curiosity extends to the themes presented in the feminist novel "The Stepford Wives." Through a podcast about the book, she was intrigued by the common misinterpretation of the story's true intent. Contrary to popular belief, Yoon points out that "The Stepford Wives" actually serves as an indictm ...

In an examination of the themes of hypocrisy and contradiction within utopian ideals, Jasmine's internal conflict highlights the complexity of maintaining a truly safe and beneficial community.

The ways in which comfort and security can dull one's senses to underlying dangers

Jasmine's growing unease and urge to protect her family, despite the community's promises of safety

Jasmine, within her community that boasts safety and well-being, feels a growing unease. This provides a lens into the theme that comfort and a sense of security can often mask underlying dangers. Her conflicted feelings about whether she is doing enough to improve the world, despite supposedly living in this ideal environment, underline the broader discussions of the flaws in seeking a utopian society.

The blinding effect that love can have, causing people to overlook or excuse problematic realities

Nicola Yoon comments on another aspect of this theme: the way comfort—such as that provided by living in a gated community—can dull the senses to the dangers of the outside world. Yoon's reflection on the classic thriller genre she employs aims to shed light on how individuals can become contorted into missing obvious dangers, akin to how love and comfort in certain aspects of one's life may lead to excusing or overlooking broader societal issues.

Yoon's call for more grace and empathy in societal discourse

The need to interrogate our identities and definitions of self

Yoon delves into the complexity of identity and the constant need for self-inquiry. Active interrogation of our identities and self-definitions is pitched as a key part of navigating a society that attempts to impose its own narratives upon us. Yoon hints that this a ...