Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea



Evergreen Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea ‘Black Girl from Pyongyang’ documents the fascinating story of Monica Macias, a dictator’s daughter who grew up in DPRK Stephen Mercado June 19, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Image: Monica Macias “Black Girl from Pyongyang” is the memoir of a woman who, having suffered cultural and political shocks in her early years, left North Korea in search of her identity and a way to reconcile her West African background with the Kim regime. Monica Macias spent over a decade under the care of Kim Il Sung after her father and dictator of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Macias, sent her and her siblings to the North Korean capital in 1979 shortly before his overthrow. The three children entered Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, an elite institution originally established for the orphaned children of those who © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

Evergreen

Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea

‘Black Girl from Pyongyang’ documents the fascinating story of Monica Macias, a dictator’s daughter who grew up in DPRK

Stephen Mercado June 19, 2023

Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea

Image: Monica Macias

“Black Girl from Pyongyang” is the memoir of a woman who, having suffered cultural and political shocks in her early years, left North Korea in search of her identity and a way to reconcile her West African background with the Kim regime.

Monica Macias spent over a decade under the care of Kim Il Sung after her father and dictator of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Macias, sent her and her siblings to the North Korean capital in 1979 shortly before his overthrow. The three children entered Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, an elite institution originally established for the orphaned children of those who

About the Author

Stephen Mercado

Stephen Mercado is a retired officer of the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise (originally the Foreign Broadcast Information Service). A researcher primarily interested in Japanese intelligence history and Asian open-source intelligence, he earned a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is the author of "Japanese Spy Gear and Special Weapons: How Noborito's Scientists and Technicians Served in the Second World War and the Cold War" (Pen & Sword Military, 2025), "The Shadow Warriors of Nakano: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Elite Intelligence School" (Brassey’s, 2002), a dozen articles and several dozen book reviews.

View more articles by Stephen Mercado Got a news tip?Let us know!