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A review by ariel937
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
this book is good at confronting white people about race, about our relationships with race itself, and how we interact with people of other races in the form of microagressions. this book challenges assumptions, prejudices, and racism that we've held onto for centuries and is ingrained in our society, and ways in which our complicity not only literally kills BIPOC, but also holds up white supremacy.
however, there are a few glaring problems with this book. the biggest one being that a white woman is writing about race, and is at this moment, #1 on the NYT bestsellers for nonfiction about race.... a white woman.
admittedly, this book is intended for a white audience, and is intended to be a stepping stone for white people to first get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and then to challenge your internalized racism. some progressives were upset when DiAngelo called out progressives for perpetuating, but I have to ask, why? being anti-racist and acknowledged your prejudices is a daily thing. there's no one person out there without bias, and no white person without racism. sorry, not sorry, lol. but while white progressives may actively call out their racist parents or grandparents, they're less likely to call out their own harmful prejudices, which leads to things like this happening. and the woman was a "liberal," so. everyone has room to grow and no one is perfect.
as i've said before, this will be the only book about race by a white person that i will read. the fact of the matter is, much of what DiAngelo says is what BIPOC have been saying for YEARS, and it is extremely frustrating that it took a white woman to talk about this that white people are finally listening. and to be completely honest, most of what she said were 100% things that i've heard of before or thought of. DiAnglo didn't claim to invent these ideas, but I think she could have done a better job of citing where she did (aside from the quotes from Ibram X. Kendi and WEB DuBois here and there). tbh, as long as you're actively listening to BIPOC, you'll likely (hopefully) already have heard of most, if not all, of the things she talks about in this book. if you're not super active on the internet, then yeah, i would recommend checking this book out.
i was hesitant to pick up this book, but hearing so many say it's important to read this, i went ahead. i don't regret it, but it wasn't the most groundbreaking thing i've ever read. i am definitely inspired to read more, which if nothing else, is the biggest takeaway any white person can get from this book.
but please, please, please don't let this be the only book you read about race. it certainly won't be mine. continue to stay informed. racism isn't something that can be "fixed" overnight. also, if any of my white friends read this book and want to talk to me about their thoughts/feelings, you can come to me.
however, there are a few glaring problems with this book. the biggest one being that a white woman is writing about race, and is at this moment, #1 on the NYT bestsellers for nonfiction about race.... a white woman.
admittedly, this book is intended for a white audience, and is intended to be a stepping stone for white people to first get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and then to challenge your internalized racism. some progressives were upset when DiAngelo called out progressives for perpetuating, but I have to ask, why? being anti-racist and acknowledged your prejudices is a daily thing. there's no one person out there without bias, and no white person without racism. sorry, not sorry, lol. but while white progressives may actively call out their racist parents or grandparents, they're less likely to call out their own harmful prejudices, which leads to things like this happening. and the woman was a "liberal," so. everyone has room to grow and no one is perfect.
as i've said before, this will be the only book about race by a white person that i will read. the fact of the matter is, much of what DiAngelo says is what BIPOC have been saying for YEARS, and it is extremely frustrating that it took a white woman to talk about this that white people are finally listening. and to be completely honest, most of what she said were 100% things that i've heard of before or thought of. DiAnglo didn't claim to invent these ideas, but I think she could have done a better job of citing where she did (aside from the quotes from Ibram X. Kendi and WEB DuBois here and there). tbh, as long as you're actively listening to BIPOC, you'll likely (hopefully) already have heard of most, if not all, of the things she talks about in this book. if you're not super active on the internet, then yeah, i would recommend checking this book out.
i was hesitant to pick up this book, but hearing so many say it's important to read this, i went ahead. i don't regret it, but it wasn't the most groundbreaking thing i've ever read. i am definitely inspired to read more, which if nothing else, is the biggest takeaway any white person can get from this book.
but please, please, please don't let this be the only book you read about race. it certainly won't be mine. continue to stay informed. racism isn't something that can be "fixed" overnight. also, if any of my white friends read this book and want to talk to me about their thoughts/feelings, you can come to me.