This brief book is a groundbreaking tool for students and non-students alike to examine systems of privilege and difference in our society. Written...
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Jul 13, 2011
Kristin
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Somehow books I need to read have a way of randomly appearing in my life. I found out about Privilege, Power, and Difference from a church visitor and, thanks to the awesome San Francisco Library interlibrary loan service, started reading it as a summer project. While this book is denser and less readable than Tim Wise’s book White Like Me about white privilege, Allan Johnson’s theories provide an excellent foundation for thinking about all types of privilege (the flip side of oppression.) H
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Aug 21, 2009
Charles
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Allan G. Johnson has written a very accessible introduction to the concept of privilege: the notion that certain members of society benefit from institutionalized assumptions and beliefs about what is normal. Conversely, attention is also given to various groups that are harmed by these same institutionalized assumptions. People of color, women, homosexuals, and those with disabilities are all included in his discussion; however, one group that I noticed was not addressed was the growing and i
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Jan 04, 2012
MCF
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Audience is white straight cisgender males mostly. Basic explanations of power and privilege worked really well for me. As a primer this can be a good book, but it needs work.
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Dec 27, 2011
Kelly
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An excellent place to start a discussion of societal privilege and disadvantage. Well written explanations along with anecdotes make the book easier to read about this sensitive topic. I do wish that the book was better cited, as some of the ideas mentioned can not easily be traced to a specific author or work in the footnotes. Otherwise, a worthwhile read, especially for those in privileged groups who want to understand what societal privilege really means. This should be required reading i
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Aug 13, 2010
Jen
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Great basic info and language around some ambiguous and ferocious topics. I felt like I gained better ways of communicating my feelings about racism and sexism as I read this book. For many this could be a review, but I think that some of the connections and simplicity make it worthwhile for anyone.
"If someone confronts you with your own behavior that supports privilege, step off the path of least resistance that encourages you to defend and deny. Don't tell them they're too sen More...
"If someone confronts you with your own behavior that supports privilege, step off the path of least resistance that encourages you to defend and deny. Don't tell them they're too sen More...
Mar 27, 2010
Mindy
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Fairly early in my recovery I began to process my own racism, but I was never able to move very far beyond the discomfort of white guilt until my professor/mentor (Nicole Carr) recommended this book. It's a very simple instruction manual for revisioning our individual selves as social entities, for being able to admit where we have benefitted from a racist, sexist, heterosexist, classist, etc. social system which distributes privilege to some while denying it to others WITHOUT condemning ourselv
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Dec 13, 2008
Sally
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Johnson has written the definitive treatise on race / racism. This book is at once, thought-provoking and action-inducing. And the best part is that it's written in a style that is impressively comprehensible. I would recommend this book to ANYONE seeking clarity on why we continue to struggle with issues of race/racism today. There is so much real work to be one. This book helps define the issues and illuminate the obstacles.
Dec 05, 2011
Jasmine
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Amazing book to read if you like to broaden your horizon on which races are more privilege over others. Had to read this in my education class as the discussion leader and I actually really enjoyed reading it. A lot of the statistics and examples were so realistic that it made me actually step back and analyze my perception of privilege and power in this country.
Oct 02, 2009
Thomas
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This is a powerful tool for readers to understand systems of privilege and the impact those systems have on power and difference in society today. Please read my review at my blog: http://inheritingthetrade.com/blog/?p=17...
This is an important book that should be read by everyone who believes in justice and equality.
This is an important book that should be read by everyone who believes in justice and equality.
Feb 14, 2011
Deborah
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Currently reading this book because the Youth Ministry Advisory Committee is reading it. It's very comprehensive and I'd recommend it to anyone who is seeking to develop a "common vocabulary" around issues of privilege systemic oppression.
Feb 24, 2010
Patrick
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An introduction to social power structures, privilege (systemically, not on a personal level), the implications thereof for both the privileged and the oppressed, and what we can do to ameliorate the problem.
Feb 07, 2012
allan g. johnson presents "duh, racism is real: the anti-oppression primer for straight white cis dudes"
Oct 13, 2011
Lorenza
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This isn't just a book for students. I read this for a class but I think everyone should read it. The book is easy to read and makes you take a good look at your life. I don't agree with everything but I do agree with most. People need to be aware of their effect on others.
May 12, 2009
Suggested by Zuska:http://scienceblogs.com/thusspakezuska/2009/05/what_should_a_20-year-old_prot.php
Mar 22, 2008
Sunshine Jeremiah
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This is a great beginner book for folks learning about privilege and anti-oppression work. Johnson gives a great overview and provides lots of ways for folks new to this work to understand anti-oppression work in a way that is hearable for folks concerned about being made to feel guilty.
It is by no means a perfect book. Johnson is a good ally who clearly has gaps in understanding on some points of oppression. That said, he does try to note many different types of oppression and th More...
It is by no means a perfect book. Johnson is a good ally who clearly has gaps in understanding on some points of oppression. That said, he does try to note many different types of oppression and th More...
Feb 03, 2011
Lisa
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Provides information that everyone should already know given they have any common sense at all.
Apr 15, 2009
Noella
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reading for diversity paper assignment. written by a white male sociologist. cool perspective.
Jan 11, 2008
Mike
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This book is a really good introduction to issues of privilege and oppression. He finds very useful language for contextualizing and understanding the issues and struggles at stake. I plan on offering this to folks in the sds chapter as a good way of understanding structural oppression as distinct from personal bigotry. Really good primer, and there's a list of additional resources like three pages long in the back of the book, which only increases this book's value.
Dec 03, 2011
Norm
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I read most of this book on city buses on my way home from work, and it made me a little uncomfortable. I think that's exactly what the author would have wanted. There's a lot of good stuff in here about unearned privilege that people in privileged categories should take to heart. Was it a great book? No. Would I read it again? No. Did I learn some things? Yes.
Apr 05, 2010
di-ay
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Probably, everyone should pick up this book and at least flip through it. Johnson's language is approachable (and totally not dry!), and the book is full of interesting examples. He clarifies and defines things that I sort of already knew, but never gave much conscious thought to. An overall easy and engaging read that, by the end, has made me more aware of and comfortable in my interactions with unfamiliar people.
Jul 03, 2007
Dave
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The second edition of this book... or whichever this one is (new cover) is so much better than the first. Or, perhaps having read the book a second time it just makes a lot more sense. I hated it the first time around, but now - dunno why - this book no longer pushes my buttons and has great theory/information about how systems of power, privilege, rank, etc. etc. work.
Jan 12, 2011
Greg
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Pretty good introduction to issues of oppression. It was a bit odd hearing all this from a person of so many privileges, but he spoke (mostly) from his own experiences. His language made a lot of the topics approachable without too much simplification. I wasn't blown away by this book by any means, but I appreciated it.
Dec 16, 2009
Krissa
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Johnson does a great job of describing privilege and power in terms that are simple to understand. He not only tells of the problem of privilege, power, and difference, he offers simple solutions to them as well. This is a great read for those looking to understand the racial, social, and economic divide.
Oct 01, 2007
Jack
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the macintosh list is in here, and a discussion about WHY these systems of power are important to discuss.
the intro is good for classrooms - just because the writer addresses the reasons people are uncomfortable discussing race and power in the same room.
the intro is good for classrooms - just because the writer addresses the reasons people are uncomfortable discussing race and power in the same room.
Oct 04, 2007
Jana
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This book should be taught in all schools, especially schools that are dominated by privilege, maleness, and whiteness. Not a blaming book, this one gives the history and then ideas of how we can make the world a less sexist, racist, classist, etc. place to live.
