In a nation that still struggles to see beyond harmful stereotypes, Christopher González is the embodiment of the Big Scary Brown Guy. As a Latino intellectual who speaks truth to power, he navigates the pitfalls of a society designed to keep people like him on the fringes. In this powerful memoir, González reveals the painful and humorous moments that shaped his life and offers a nuanced understanding of the Latinx experience in the United States. Through a blend of elegant and sardonic prose, González interrogates the racist and inequitable underpinnings of the U.S., as they manifest in his own embodied experiences within a troubled family in Texas. From pop cultural allusions to literary references, he weaves a rich tapestry of stories that illuminate the Gen X Latinx experience with keen precision and heartbreaking wit. Big Scary Brown Guy is a testament to the enduring resilience of the Latinx community, especially those who have been in the U.S. for many generations yet are often marginalized in the public discourse. González's voice is a vital addition to the ongoing conversation around race, identity, and belonging in America.
“Every time I read a back-cover blurb recommending a book as a must, I think of Oscar Wilde, who said that 'it is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.' You don't have to read Christopher González's Big Scary Brown Guy; but if and when you do, you will realize how much it has determined you. That's because American manhood is in crisis, and Latino men all the more so. González will make you realize the fundamental conversation Latino men have yet to have with Oscar 'Zeta' Acosta, Cesar Chavez, John Rechy, and Oscar Hijuelos, all writers you have to read. Fortunately, he dives into the task head and heart first, although you'll realize he never actually mentions any of those prophetic ancestors; instead, he talks about lots of others, mostly in his own entourage. His voice is unique, at once humble, courageous, and enviably self-assured. Bypass this memoir at your own peril—and ours.”
—Ilan Stavans, author of On Borrowed Words: A Memoir of Language and editor of The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature
