He's a Color Until He's Not

He's a Color until He's Not is a poignant poetry collection explores conflicting identities, loves, and traumas that weave the American continent to the Philippines. In this book, Christian Hanz Lozada explores the intersections of being born into a poor White family and an educated Brown one while growing up first in a predominantly Black neighborhood and then a White one. Lozada writes through a confessional lens that blends love and cruelty into a unique language. Through sometimes funny and regularly biting verse, the poet navigates the intricate terrain of being mixed-race in a world often defined by binaries. From disparate cornerstone experiences like the orphaning of White Grandma to babysitting Mixed Nephew, the poems in this collection offer readers a glimpse into the author's journey of holding the tension between two truths. With each poem, Lozada invites readers to join him on a transformative odyssey from self-hatred to half-dislike, ultimately demonstrating that one's whole self need not be tolerable as long as they keep trying. This poetry collection is a testament to the beauty of imperfection and the and unique geographies of the attempt.