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White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About RacismAmazon Videos

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White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism Paperback – June 26, 2018

by Dr. Robin DiAngelo (Author), Michael Eric Dyson (Foreword)

47,969 ratings

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The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.

In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

From the Publisher

	The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups	Nice Racism	White Fragility for Young Adults

Customer Reviews	16	738	17
Price	$17.48	$12.08	$16.95
Also by Robin DiAngelo	"A must-read for facilitators of white accountability groups!" -—Kathy Obear, EdD, president, Center for Transformation and Change	“Personal transformation is an act of anti-racism, and DiAngelo has just given progressive white America the field guide.” —Michael Eric Dyson, author of Long Time Coming	A reimagining of the best-selling book that gives young adults the tools to ask questions, engage in dialogue, challenge their ways of thinking, and take action to create a more racially just world

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The value in White Fragility lies in its methodical, irrefutable exposure of racism in thought and action, and its call for humility and vigilance.”
—The New Yorker

“[T]houghtful, instructive, and comprehensive . . . This slim book is impressive in its scope and complexity; DiAngelo provides a powerful lens for examining, and practical tools for grappling with, racism today.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“White Fragility is a book everyone should be exposed to. With any luck, most who are will be inspired to search themselves and interrupt their contributions to racism.”
—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

“A valuable guide . . . While especially helpful for those new to the critical analysis of whiteness, this work also offers a useful refresher to anyone committed to the ongoing process of self-assessment and anti-oppression work.”
—Library Journal

“A penetrating new book.”
—Pacific Standard

“A vital, necessary, and beautiful book, a bracing call to white folk everywhere to see their whiteness for what it is and to seize the opportunity to make things better now.”
—Michael Eric Dyson

“As a woman of color, I find hope in this book because of its potential to disrupt the patterns and relationships that have emerged out of long-standing colonial principles and beliefs. White Fragility is an essential tool toward authentic dialogue and action. May it be so!”
—Shakti Butler, president of World Trust and director of Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible

“A rare and incisive examination of the system of white body supremacy that binds us all as Americans. . . . With authenticity and clarity, she provides the antidote to white fragility and a road map for developing white racial stamina and humility. White Fragility loosens the bonds of white supremacy and binds us back together as human beings.”
—Resmaa Menakem, author of My Grandmother’s Hands and Rock the Boat

“As powerful forces of white racism again swell, DiAngelo invites white progressives to have a courageous conversation about their culture of complicity. . . . White Fragility provides important antiracist understanding and essential strategies for well-intentioned white people who truly endeavor to be a part of the solution.”
—Glenn E. Singleton, author of Courageous Conversations About Race

“Robin DiAngelo demonstrates an all-too-rare ability to enter the racial conversation with complexity, nuance, and deep respect. Her writing establishes her mastery in accessing the imaginal, metaphoric mind where the possibility for transformation resides. With an unwavering conviction that change is possible, her message is clear: the incentive for white engagement in racial justice work is ultimately self-liberation.”
—Leticia Nieto, coauthor of Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment

“White fragility is the secret ingredient that makes racial conversations so difficult and achieving racial equity even harder. But by exposing it and showing us all—including white folks—how it operates and how it hurts us, individually and collectively, Robin DiAngelo has performed an invaluable service. An indispensable volume for understanding one of the most important (and yet rarely appreciated) barriers to achieving racial justice.”
—Tim Wise, author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son

“Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility brings language to the emotional structures that make true discussions about racial attitudes difficult. With clarity and compassion, DiAngelo allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people.’ In doing so, she moves our national discussions forward with new ‘rules of engagement.’ This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change through productive social and intimate relationships.”
—Claudia Rankine

“White Fragility is a must-read for all educators because racism and racial disparities in access and opportunity continue to be an urgent issue in our schools. As educators, we need to summon up the courage and together act deliberately and honestly to develop the skills we need to engage in conversations about bias, race, and racism—especially our own.”
—Val Brown, professional development facilitator and founder of #ClearTheAir

About the Author

Robin DiAngelo is an academic, lecturer, and author and has been a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice for more than twenty years. She formerly served as a tenured professor of multicultural education at Westfield State University.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

White Fragility
Reading Guide
Written byÖzlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo

Before You Begin: Suggestions for Discussion
This reading guide is intended to support formal and informal group discussions of White Fragility. We offer the following pedagogical tips as you organize your discussion.

On size:
Small group discussions work best when the size of the group is large enough to advance discussion but not so large that any member of the group can avoid sharing or, conversely, wants to share, but cannot find airtime to do so. For this reason, it is recommended that groups target a size of five to seven members. If you are part of a larger study group, just organize yourselves into smaller sub groups of approximately five people.

On composition:
There can be strategic advantages to organizing yourself into what are sometimes called affinity groups, wherein people with a shared identity (such as cis-men, or Asian women, or Indigenous people) work through issues particular to them, in a closed group. If your group is diverse, discuss how you want to organize yourselves (in a mixed group or an affinity group for all or part of various chapter discussions).

On monitoring the group:
If you are self-monitoring your group, discuss how you will assign a facilitator for each session. This can be a rotating responsibility if you plan to meet over multiple sessions. The task of the facilitator will include keeping the discussion on topic, ensuring shared airtime, and note-taking (if part of a formal discussion group), as well as ensuring that the group’s time is monitored.

On facilitating:
Tips for facilitators of white discussion groups
Based on the following patterns, it is highly recommended that a facilitator or team of facilitators be assigned when primarily white groups discuss racism. Facilitators should think of themselves as guides rather than as teachers. This means the overall task of the facilitator is to keep the group focused and on track, with equitable sharing of the airtime. This will be easier to do if at the start of the discussion you tell the group that this is your task. You could even name the patterns ahead of time and ask group members to watch out for these themselves.

Common Patterns
1. Distancing: Identifiable via expressions including “People should just ____,” “Society is _____,” “How do I tell my coworker _____,” “What about all the people who aren’t here today who should be _____,” “The executive team at my workplace _____,” and “My family member _____”
Response techniques:“Can you speak to how you see this in your own behaviors/thoughts/beliefs in life/work?” “What part do you see yourself playing?” “What might you do…?” “How is the most effective way for someone to talk with you about your racism?”

2. Checking out: Identifiable via behaviors including texting, working on laptop, engaging in side conversations.
Response techniques:At the start, ask participants to put phones/laptops away. Explain that effective discussion on racism often causes disequilibrium for those of us who are white and that technology functions as a way to check out. Further, when people of color are present, the distraction of technology sends a problematic message. Someone who has an emergency or is expecting a text or call should leave the room at that time. Regarding side conversations, the facilitator might say, “I am having trouble hearing. Please give your attention to the speaker.”

3. Dominating the discussion:The same person or people speaking first, at length, immediately, and/or several times while others sit back in silence.
Response techniques: “Who haven’t we heard from?” “Let’s wait a little longer to make space for people who need more time.” “I’m going to ask that if we have spoken twice already, we wait until everyone else has had a chance before we speak again.” “Let’s go around the table and check in.” “Does anyone else want to share their perspective?” “We all have a responsibility to share our thoughts so others in the group know where we’re coming from or what we’re struggling with.”

4. Positioning themselves as already getting this/Giving evidence for why this discussion doesn’t apply to them:“I already know all this.” “I come from ___ and I can’t believe how white it is here.” “I realized many years ago that___.” “I am married to/have children who are ___,” followed by distancing (rather than insight and recognition that this doesn’t exempt them and their learning is not finished).
Response techniques: “The book poses an important question, ‘How do we know how well we are doing?’“Where do you see your current learning edge?” “DiAngelo states that nothing exempts us from the forces of racism. How are situations that are unique to us still informed by racism?” “How does being white shape one’s sense that they are ‘beyond’ this discussion?” “Can you name three actions in the last month that demonstrate your awareness in practice?”

5. Hopelessness:“Racism is never going to end.” “I can’t do anything.” “What are we supposed to do?” “This is just about making us feel guilty.”“We have been doing this for years now and nothing changes.” “The administration are the ones that need this and they just don’t care.”
Response techniques:“The author speaks to the question of guilt. What points does she make?”“If we apply the question the author asks, How does our discouragement function? how would we answer?” “What concrete actions have you attempted thus far? What books have you read? What antiracism networks have you joined? The perception that nothing can be done often keeps the existing system in place.”

6. Expecting people of color to teach us (white people) about race: Turning to people of color for answers or to go first: “I grew up in a sheltered environment, so I don’t know anything about race.” “Sharon, tell me about the racism you have experienced.” “Sharon, you go first.”
Response techniques: If you are in a multiracial reading group, don’t assume that the people of color will speak first. If uncertain, ask them what they prefer. “While those of us who are white need to listen to people of color, in this context let’s take some risks and go first.” “People of color and Indigenous people have spent a lot of time thinking and speaking out about white supremacy and against racism. This is the time for white people to step up to the conversation.” “Mainstream society often has us focus on the targets of oppression rather than the agents. In this setting, focusing on people of color can let white people off the hook for naming their participation in racist systems.” “How have you managed thus far not to know the answers to your questions on racism?”

7. Claiming this discussion doesn’t apply to them because they are not from the US: “I’m from Germany and we don’t have these issues there.” “Canada is a multicultural society.” “It’s completely different where I am from because everyone is the same.”
Response techniques: “At what age were you aware that black people existed? Where did they live? If in Africa, what were your impressions of Africa? Where did you get your information about Africa?” “Did you watch Hollywood movies? If so, what impressions did you get about African Americans from US movies? What about Disney movies and cartoons?” “What was your relationship to Asian heritage people? What were Asian people like, in your mind?” and so on.

Countering Common Patterns via Silence Breakers
These sentence starters, termed “silence breakers,”[1] are suggested openings intended to address two common challenges for white people in cross-racial discussions: First, the fear of losing face, making a mistake, or not being able to manage impressions that often prevent white people from authentic engagement. Second, the lack of humility we often have when discussing racism. The silence breakers can help engender a stance of curiosity and humility that counters the certitude many white people have regarding our racial perspectives. In doing so, they tend to open, rather than close, discussion and connection.

Silence Breakers
1.I’m really nervous/scared/uncomfortable saying this and/but …
2. From my experience/perspective as [identity] …
3. I’m afraid I may offend someone, and please let know if I do, but …
4. I’m not sure if this will make any sense, and/but …
5. I just felt something shift in the room. I’m wondering if anyone else did.
6. It seems as though some people may have had a reaction to that. Can you help me understand why?
7. Can you help me understand whether what I’m thinking right now might be problematic?
8. This is what I understand you to be saying: ____ Is that accurate?
9. I’m having a “yeah but.” Can you help me work through it?
10. I’m engaged but just needing time to process this. What I am working on processing is _____.[2]

Additional Tips for a Productive Discussion
As DiAngelo notes, white people addressing white fragility surfaces several dilemmas. First, it requires that white people be centered in the conversation about racism. This can be problematic because it reinforces the white centering that is taken for granted in society at large (it is the author’s hope, however, that it is a centering that exposes, rather than protects, the workings of white supremacy). Second, it positions white people—yet again—as the experts. Based on these dilemmas, the following points are important to keep in mind:

   1. This book and its arguments build on antiracism scholarship and activism that people of color have written for generations. That scholarship has been fundamental to the ability of the author to explicate white fragility. Use this text as the starting point—rather than the ending point—to educate yourself on racism. There are many suggestions for engaging with the work of people of color in the Resources for Continuing Education section of this book.

   2. The primary goal for white people working to understand racism is not to learn how racism impacts people of color. The primary goal is to recognize how the system of racism shapes our lives, how we uphold that system, and how we might interrupt it.

   3. For people of color, multiracial, and Indigenous peoples who are part of an informal or formal discussion group, the book and this guide will hopefully validate your lived experiences and offer some helpful insight into the challenges of trying to talk to white people about racism. Like the book, this guide is primarily focused on raising the consciousness and increasing the cross-racial skills of white people. In so doing, many of the questions will be specific to them. Yet while the work of this text is primarily focused on the role that white people play within the system of racism, people of color are exposed to the same messages and must also consider how those messages have impacted them and the resultant role they may play. This dynamic is colloquially described as “assimilation” (or “acting white”) and is described in scholarship as “collusion.” These terms refer to people of color upholding values and behaviors that negatively impact their own and other groups of color and ultimately support white supremacy. There are many pressures to collude, the foremost of which is that there are rewards for conformity with the system. If we behave in ways that the dominant group finds favorable, we will likely receive benefits (or at least minimize penalties) in our daily interactions with them. As you study the dynamic of white fragility, consider your role and responsibilities in relation to collusion and adapt questions accordingly and as needed.

Note for those using this guide outside of the US context
The dynamics of white fragility are familiar in all societies in which white people hold institutional power and/or have a white settler colonial history, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and South Africa. While the book focuses on the specific sociopolitical context of the US, it is for you to reflect on how these dynamics manifest in your specific sociopolitical context. For white people who did not grow up in the US but live in the US now, consider how US-based racial dynamics (and globally circulating US cultural stories and images) shape your current ideas about race, your life, and cross-racial relationships.

For all readers
The chapter questions are intended to deepen your reflection and understanding of the chapters and constructively inform your response to white fragility.

Keep the following principles in mind. You may need to return to them on occasion, so consider posting them in the room or having them available on cards:


1.      A strong opinion is not the same as informed knowledge.

2.      There is a difference between agreement and understanding. When discussing complex social and institutional dynamics such as racism, consider whether “I don’t agree” may actually mean “I don’t understand.”

3.      We have a deep interest in denying the forms of oppression that benefit us. We may also have an interest in denying forms of oppression that harm us. For example, people of color can deny the existence of racism and even support its structures. This denial may keep them from feeling overwhelmed by the daily slights or protect them from the penalties of confronting white people on racism. However, regardless of the reason, this denial still benefits whites at the group level, not people of color.

4.      Racism goes beyond individual intentions to collective group patterns.

5.      We don’t have to be aware of racism in order for it to exist.

6.      Our racial position (whether we identify as white, a person of color, or multiracial) will greatly affect our ability to see racism. For example, if we swim against the “current” of racial privilege, it’s often easier to recognize, while it’s harder to recognize if we swim with the current.

7.      Putting our effort into protecting rather than expanding our current worldview prevents our intellectual and emotional growth.

Before you begin discussing chapter by chapter, spend some time reviewing the guidelines above.

[1] Adapted from Anika Nailah and Robin DiAngelo
[2] Excerpted from Robin DiAngelo and Ozlem Sensoy, “Calling In: Strategies for Cultivating Humility and Critical Thinking in Antiracism Education,” Understanding & Dismantling Privilege 4, no. 2, (2014),http://www.wpcjournal.com/article/view/12101

About the Guide Authors

Robin DiAngelo is an academic, lecturer, and author of White Fragility. She has been a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice for more than twenty years. She formerly served as a tenured professor of multicultural education at Westfield State University.

Özlem Sensoy is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University in Canada. She is the co-author (with Robin DiAngelo) of the award–winning book, Is Everyone Really Equal?: An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education (Teachers College Press).

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beacon Press; Reprint edition (June 26, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807047414
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807047415
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1140L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.98 x 0.5 x 8.98 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #8,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #20 in Discrimination & Racism
- #21 in Cultural Anthropology (Books)
- #52 in Sociology Reference

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Robin DiAngelo is an academic, lecturer, and author and has been a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice for more than twenty years. She formerly served as a tenured professor of multicultural education at Westfield State University.

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Customers find the book well-written and thought-provoking, particularly appreciating how it defines and addresses racism for white people. Moreover, they consider it important for continuing education. However, the book receives mixed feedback regarding its truthfulness, with some finding it honest while others disagree. Additionally, several customers note that the content is repetitive and confusing.

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888 customers mention "Readability"698 positive190 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, though they note it is challenging to read.

"...about racism and anti racism, but this book stands out in its direct instructions and information about where white people can and should..." Read more

"...Over the years, I've been fortunate to read so many great books, meet other book lovers, and learn about the community at large...." Read more

"...for movement toward justice and equality and is therefore a worthwhile read. B+" Read more

"...Then, I read it, and to my astonishment, it is pretty coherent...." Read more

814 customers mention "Thought provoking"698 positive116 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and enlightening, appreciating its insights and the importance of ongoing self-education.

"...progressive and am white, this book and especially this part of the book was helpful to me...." Read more

"...It is written by a white person for other white people which is very informative, clear and challenging." Read more

"...While her advice and strategies are helpful, I think Diangelo misses a key component which, to be fair, may simply lie outside the scope of her work...." Read more

"...contrary, the whole point of the book is to help white Americans better understand systemic racism and our role in that system, so we can begin to..." Read more

334 customers mention "Racism"257 positive77 negative

Customers appreciate how the book defines and addresses racism for white people, offering strategies and being forthright in its approach. One customer notes it provides a good analysis of institutionalized racism, while another describes it as an outstanding racial equity book.

"...a cocoon of racial comfort, centrality, superiority, entitlement, racial apathy, and obliviousness, all rooted in an identity of being good people..." Read more

"...5. It is neither un-American nor anti-American. 6. It is not opposed to sound Christian doctrine, nor to the Gospel, nor to the Bible. 7...." Read more

"...ingrained notions of white solidarity and provides strategies for addressing racist ideologies, ultimately disrupting the cycle of internalized..." Read more

"...Racism is bad, but often times people with good intentions are not aware their actions have racist effects...." Read more

94 customers mention "Truthfulness"56 positive38 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's truthfulness, with some finding it honest and forthright, while others point out factual inaccuracies.

"...Her approach offers a pathway to more authentic, productive conversations that foster growth...." Read more

"...So: Really bad theoretical underpinning and a misreading of reality, but still thought provoking and somewhat useful. Three stars." Read more

"...Ms. DiAngelo is also humble throughout, even offering some of her own experiences as evidence of her own work and growth, which should make this..." Read more

"...Finally an author who's managed to make the discussion raw, real and reflective...." Read more

88 customers mention "Repetition"24 positive64 negative

Customers find the book repetitive and confusing, with multiple reviews noting that the logic is flawed and rambling, making it impossible to understand or comprehend.

"...It does seem to pull some punches and is repetitive at times, but it nonetheless advocates for movement toward justice and equality and is therefore..." Read more

"...One is that it is repetitive, and two is that the author occasionally makes statements about "race, like gender, is socially constructed"...." Read more

"...person for other white people which is very informative, clear and challenging." Read more

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Stephanie W.B.
Direct and honest instructions on how and why white people need to examine their own racism.
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2021
Verified Purchase

This book calls to attention my ignorance about racism. As a white American, I've been raised in a society where white supremacy is so ingrained to my understanding of the world I inhabit, that although I may be aware of racism, I am likely unaware of my own culpability. When I am informed of my actions or behaviors that perpetuate a white supremist society, my response is often one of defensiveness, anger, withdrawal, a sense of victimization, justification, or rejection of the information I am provided with. These responses are a result of my own white fragility, and are apart of the Western white supremist culture that I've grown up in and that I live. It is my responsibility to educate myself, to challenge myself, to discomfort myself in an effort to be as an individual less racist and take a step in the direction of a less white supremist society. Often we are taught to see racism ads a dichotomy: racism is bad, not racist is good. Racism is bad, but often times people with good intentions are not aware their actions have racist effects. And people who genuinely want to embrace an anti racist society need to be informed when they are operating in a racist way. This means losing the white fragility that our society has produced.
I was very interested in DiAngelo's perspective of white progressives. (As I define myself as a progressive and am white, this book and especially this part of the book was helpful to me. Dingell believes white progressives are often the least aware of their racism and also the least receptive to really being challenged about their racism. I found this directness extremely helpful. DiAngelo provides specific examples when teaching about white fragility and how white fragility is so damaging to people of color and to achieving a more equal society.
People of color, especially Black people, have been striving and fighting for a more racially just society for decades. Most often, they've fought while their own survival is imperiled because of the long-standing belief in white supremacy, generally because it was in the economic interest of whites to keep other races, especially black people, enslaved, in servitude, or otherwise subservient to whites. The pattern of history and is entrenched. If as white people, we truly want to learn anti racism, we need to begin with harsh truths about ourselves. I've read many books about racism and anti racism, but this book stands out in its direct instructions and information about where white people can and should realistically begin examining their own white fragility.

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Jemal K. Yarbrough
Excellent audio book that's very insightful
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
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The writing can be a bit repetitive, but it addresses the issues surrounding white peoples racism and aversion to be seen as racist in clear understandable terms. It is written by a white person for other white people which is very informative, clear and challenging.

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Ethan
An Important Read for this Important Time
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2021
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This year marks the ninth in which I plan to read and review a book a week. Over the years, I've been fortunate to read so many great books, meet other book lovers, and learn about the community at large. A new year also gives me the opportunity to reflect on my past and plan for my future. 2020 was a historic year for many reasons, but one thing that is undeniable is that for many this was the beginning of a national reconning with the ugly truth of systemic racism and police brutality. The horrific murders of Geroge Floyd and Breonna Taylor, to name just a few, sparked much-needed conversations and calls to action. When a co-worker recommended I read Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility, a book meant to help white people come to terms with their place in a system built upon racial inequity, I knew it would be a valuable resource in continuing my own journey toward becoming a more effective ally. I read the book last year but decided a re-read would be an appropriate way to begin this new year of blogging and reviewing.

Before reading this book, I considered myself to be fairly in touch with the imbalance built into our country. I've noticed the times when I was afforded opportunities that were only available to me as a white man. I've had open conversations with friends and co-workers about how their experiences differ from mine, and those conversations helped me to see a perspective that I was blind to. DiAngelo, a white woman herself, presented topics that further dismantled my existing perceptions around race and helped me to see things in a more well-rounded way. Here's the thing, even as someone conscious of the differences in society for people of different ethnicities, I was still complicit in perpetuating those same systems that I recognized as wrong. It is difficult for anyone to admit that they have perpetuated systemic racism, but it is undeniable that I've been complicit in this very system.

In terms of my own reading, I was shocked to realize how inequitable the entire publishing industry truly is. As someone who publishes a review of a book each week, I feel that I bear a responsibility to consume and present reviews of diverse stories from diverse storytellers. I read 52 books in 2020, and only 4 of those were written by a BIPOC author. Simply put, that is not good enough. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo asks us to not only recognize our place in systemic racism but to actively take action to fight against it. However small my impact in the larger book community may be, I feel moved to do more, share more, and continue learning more. Each month this year, I will resolve to read and review at least one book by a BIPOC author. This small goal on top of my annual reading goal will serve to broaden my perspective while sharing a wider variety of authors and stories. I may not be able to change the publishing industry as a whole, but I can certainly impact the kind of books that I choose to read and share here on A Book A Week. Happy New Year and happy reading!

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Ethan

An Important Read for this Important Time

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2021
This year marks the ninth in which I plan to read and review a book a week. Over the years, I've been fortunate to read so many great books, meet other book lovers, and learn about the community at large. A new year also gives me the opportunity to reflect on my past and plan for my future. 2020 was a historic year for many reasons, but one thing that is undeniable is that for many this was the beginning of a national reconning with the ugly truth of systemic racism and police brutality. The horrific murders of Geroge Floyd and Breonna Taylor, to name just a few, sparked much-needed conversations and calls to action. When a co-worker recommended I read Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility, a book meant to help white people come to terms with their place in a system built upon racial inequity, I knew it would be a valuable resource in continuing my own journey toward becoming a more effective ally. I read the book last year but decided a re-read would be an appropriate way to begin this new year of blogging and reviewing.

Before reading this book, I considered myself to be fairly in touch with the imbalance built into our country. I've noticed the times when I was afforded opportunities that were only available to me as a white man. I've had open conversations with friends and co-workers about how their experiences differ from mine, and those conversations helped me to see a perspective that I was blind to. DiAngelo, a white woman herself, presented topics that further dismantled my existing perceptions around race and helped me to see things in a more well-rounded way. Here's the thing, even as someone conscious of the differences in society for people of different ethnicities, I was still complicit in perpetuating those same systems that I recognized as wrong. It is difficult for anyone to admit that they have perpetuated systemic racism, but it is undeniable that I've been complicit in this very system.

In terms of my own reading, I was shocked to realize how inequitable the entire publishing industry truly is. As someone who publishes a review of a book each week, I feel that I bear a responsibility to consume and present reviews of diverse stories from diverse storytellers. I read 52 books in 2020, and only 4 of those were written by a BIPOC author. Simply put, that is not good enough. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo asks us to not only recognize our place in systemic racism but to actively take action to fight against it. However small my impact in the larger book community may be, I feel moved to do more, share more, and continue learning more. Each month this year, I will resolve to read and review at least one book by a BIPOC author. This small goal on top of my annual reading goal will serve to broaden my perspective while sharing a wider variety of authors and stories. I may not be able to change the publishing industry as a whole, but I can certainly impact the kind of books that I choose to read and share here on A Book A Week. Happy New Year and happy reading!

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Casey Williams
~ Every White person should read this ~
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2020
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White Fragility is written by a White author for White readers. Every White person must read this book. What I got from this book is that it’s like a tool or a guide even, to help us as White people understand out actions. What Diangelo portrays is that as White people we are too hung up on our own White Privilege, and we can be racist without even being aware that we are. As Shae from bookswithshae says, “Racism is the symptom of White Supremacy.”

In White Fragility, Diangelo is very candid about her racism and so rightfully call herself out. She openly talks about how she has realized her racism and that of other White people. She covers topics of racism and White Supremacy, how race shapes the lives of white people, The Good/Bad Binary and White Fragility in action.

There was a lot of controversy around whether this book was going to be used in this buddy read because Diangelo uses the N-word uncensored. I as many people don’t agree with this but as someone said during the live show, to disregard one book on the N-word is to disregard racism, you have to be made uncomfortable if you wish to learn.

Diangelo also covers White tears. Diangelo states
‘White women’s tears have a powerful impact in this setting, effectively reinscribing rather than ameliorating racism.’ White women’s tears can be harmful. This is seen in a statement within White Fragility about a White woman and a Black man Emmett Till.
‘…. Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old boy who reportedly flirted with a white woman – Carolyn Bryant – in a grocery store in Mississippi in 1955. She reported his alleged flirtation to her husband, Roy Bryant, and a few days later, Roy and his half-brother, J. W. Milam, lynched Till, abducting him from his great uncle’s home. They beat him in the Tallahatchie River. An all-white jury acquitted the men, who later admitted to the murder. On her deathbed, in 2017, Carolyn Bryant recanted this story and admitted that she had lied.’

This absolutely sickens me and goes to show how much us White people can be so harmful to Black people. This women cried wolf and the symptom of doing that led to an innocent black mans death. As White women we need to keep our emotions in check when is comes to situations like this.

Diangelo covers a lot and writes in a way to make you think of your actions and make a change to them. The epitome of White Fragility is critism for the wrong us as White people can and still do towards Black people. But critism is progress and progress is what we need.

Someone said a line within the live show that bookswithshae hosted and I had to note down;
‘Words are a start but if you stop at words and empty gestures then your words mean nothing. Focus your energy on actions not words.’

Educate yourself and make a difference to your actions and use your voice to amplify Black voices.

Read more

Casey Williams

~ Every White person should read this ~

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2020
White Fragility is written by a White author for White readers. Every White person must read this book. What I got from this book is that it’s like a tool or a guide even, to help us as White people understand out actions. What Diangelo portrays is that as White people we are too hung up on our own White Privilege, and we can be racist without even being aware that we are. As Shae from bookswithshae says, “Racism is the symptom of White Supremacy.”

In White Fragility, Diangelo is very candid about her racism and so rightfully call herself out. She openly talks about how she has realized her racism and that of other White people. She covers topics of racism and White Supremacy, how race shapes the lives of white people, The Good/Bad Binary and White Fragility in action.

There was a lot of controversy around whether this book was going to be used in this buddy read because Diangelo uses the N-word uncensored. I as many people don’t agree with this but as someone said during the live show, to disregard one book on the N-word is to disregard racism, you have to be made uncomfortable if you wish to learn.

Diangelo also covers White tears. Diangelo states
‘White women’s tears have a powerful impact in this setting, effectively reinscribing rather than ameliorating racism.’ White women’s tears can be harmful. This is seen in a statement within White Fragility about a White woman and a Black man Emmett Till.
‘…. Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old boy who reportedly flirted with a white woman – Carolyn Bryant – in a grocery store in Mississippi in 1955. She reported his alleged flirtation to her husband, Roy Bryant, and a few days later, Roy and his half-brother, J. W. Milam, lynched Till, abducting him from his great uncle’s home. They beat him in the Tallahatchie River. An all-white jury acquitted the men, who later admitted to the murder. On her deathbed, in 2017, Carolyn Bryant recanted this story and admitted that she had lied.’

This absolutely sickens me and goes to show how much us White people can be so harmful to Black people. This women cried wolf and the symptom of doing that led to an innocent black mans death. As White women we need to keep our emotions in check when is comes to situations like this.

Diangelo covers a lot and writes in a way to make you think of your actions and make a change to them. The epitome of White Fragility is critism for the wrong us as White people can and still do towards Black people. But critism is progress and progress is what we need.

Someone said a line within the live show that bookswithshae hosted and I had to note down;
‘Words are a start but if you stop at words and empty gestures then your words mean nothing. Focus your energy on actions not words.’

Educate yourself and make a difference to your actions and use your voice to amplify Black voices.

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Sara Bargiacchi
Un libro fondamentale, lo dovremmo leggere tutti.
Reviewed in Italy on December 8, 2020
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Peccato non esiste una versione in italiano (al momento). Nonostante l'autrice sia americana e parli dal punto di vista statunitense, questo libro è assolutamente universale. E' illuminante e scritto in maniera molto chiara. Ho avuto il piacere di condividere la lettura con alcune amiche e potermi confrontare con loro su ciò che via via apprendevamo. Aiuta ad aprire la mente, evolversi e diventare persone migliori. Sto cercando di convincere tutti i miei conoscenti e amici a leggerlo.

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Tamara
Must-Read that made the topic of racism so much more approachable for me!
Reviewed in Germany on August 5, 2024
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Picked this book because as like a lot of white people, I was frustrated with the topic and always trying to be a good ally and it feeling like it was never enough. This book is a gamechanger.
It's a short but densely-packed read. You enter it maybe a little worried that it'll be frustrating again (but at least limited to a few pages) and leave - most of all! - a lot calmer, with a much clearer head. My frustration is almost entirely replaced with a curiosity and a better idea how to navigate an issue that is so much bigger than oneself.

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CL Roxanas
should be required reading
Reviewed in Australia on June 18, 2020
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a great primer if you're new to the conversation around racism and need some language and frameworks to work with.

every white person should take the time to read it and see you are not exempt from the challenge within these pages. acknowledging your privilege and socio-cultural conditioning and the ways it manifests is just the beginning of the work.

let's get to it.

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Amazon Customer
Recomendo!
Reviewed in Brazil on November 28, 2020
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Para quem quer entender mais sobre racismo... um livro necessário!

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An Important Read for this Important Time

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5.0 out of 5 stars Direct and honest instructions on how and why white people need to examine their own racism.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent audio book that's very insightful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Read for this Important Time

An Important Read for this Important Time

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5.0 out of 5 stars ~ Every White person should read this ~

~ Every White person should read this ~

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5.0 out of 5 stars Un libro fondamentale, lo dovremmo leggere tutti.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Read that made the topic of racism so much more approachable for me!

5.0 out of 5 stars should be required reading

5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendo!

Direct and honest instructions on how and why white people need to examine their own racism.

Excellent audio book that's very insightful

An Important Read for this Important Time

~ Every White person should read this ~

Un libro fondamentale, lo dovremmo leggere tutti.

Must-Read that made the topic of racism so much more approachable for me!

should be required reading

Recomendo!