Robin DiAngelo

I think this book is a must read for any white person willing to change, willing to learn, or willing to listen. For me, it better defined what racism is so I know what to listen to and how to listen. This isn't a book dedicated to racism though, it's all about white people. It defines our "fragility", teaches us to actually think about race, and even gives some skills and tips on how to listen.

I've heard the argument that white people shouldn't learn about racism from white people. I think those people haven't read this book. This is about the white role in racism and how to disrupt that.

Trust me, start here, then continue your education with the thousands of other books, blogs, podcasts, videos, etc. But never stop learning, never stop trying to make this world a better place.… (altro)

This is a really good book. I think there are some folks who are critical of it, but I think it's an important one. It's a white woman talking to other white people, which is the most important aspect. Members of the majority of any social identity group (categories based on gender, race, national origin, etc.)--especially those ones who really actually need to understand and internalize what's being presented--are most likely to listen to those with whom they share that characteristic. (In this case, a white person is more likely to listen to a white person about race.)

It's a relatively short book but it is dense in content. It's not a book that you have to read straight though from chapter one to the end, so it's nice to be able to skip around. I have lots of underlines and highlights because some of the stuff she talks about feel like she took it directly from my own life, so I think it's relatable to non-white people too.

Are there other books out there that talk about this subject matter better? Perhaps. But this book was never intended to be the only one read on the subject. I think it's a great primer for people of any race who want to understand racism in the current era, how racism didn't disappear when LBJ signed a piece of paper, and how the social constructs in which we live (laws, policies, traditions) serve to further racism in our current society. (And replace "racism" in that prior sentence, and you can see how social constructs impact other identity groups as well.) I really hope some folks will read this in the spirit in which it is written--to educate, provide prospective, and to be a gentle, non-accusatory introduction to race and racism in the present day--and have some strong takeaways. Few people are trying to blame someone living in 2024 on the acts of their g-g-g-g-grandparent from 1850, but we need to recognize how the society that was built then impacts our current structures, and rebuild them.… (altro)