The Anti-Racist Cookbook

by Robin Parker, Pamela Smith Chambers

Many Americans are distressed by race but few know how to talk about it. This book tells how. Dialogue, the authors posit, begins the path to racial reconciliation. The Anti-Racist Cookbook gives straight-forward advice on forming dialogue groups. From whom to invite and how to arrange the room to how to facilitate and what questions to discuss, everything is here. Recommended for community groups, students, activists, educators, trainers, faith-based organizations, diversity councils, and anyone else interested in answering the question "What can we do and how can we do it?"

Genres: Race

132 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2005

Reviews

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 5 stars simply because I have not come across such a concise and useful guide for facilitating discussions on race that are relevant to this time period. As the title suggests, the authors attempt to provide strategies and guidance for facilitating dialogues that go beyond "kum-bah-ya." Instead, they are breaking from the "we're all the same" multiculturalism strategy and taking an anti-racism approach. They argue that we need to understand and value our differences, recognize that we all have prejudices, and really understand and discuss racism if we want to dismantle it. The books defines racism as "A society's exercise of racial prejudices against a racial group through that society's institutions of power." The book provides thoughtful discussion questions to help groups understand this definition, as well as discussion questions for understanding white racial identity and privilege. One chapter provides guidance on how to respond to common statements or claims like, "Everyone should pull themselves up from their bootstraps," or "Some of my best friends are black," or "I don't see color." Suggestions are found throughout the book on how to respond to certain statements or reactions, how to create a safe space, and how to re focus the discussion if it goes off track. The references listed in the back are also useful if you are looking for further reading or resources. All in all an enjoyable read.

[Chanelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good guide for those who want to facilitate discussions on race.

[NiaDwyn— · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple but handy guide for folks starting to engage in group discussions about race.

[Tiffany Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST OWN book for anyone calling themselves a diversity professional.