White Privilege Pop Quiz: Reflecting on Whiteness

by Molly Secours, Ron Wynn (Editor), Susan McBride (Editor)

”It takes a very brave fish to point out that the water is not what it's made out to be. Molly Secours is that fish. With the simplicity of a pop quiz, quiet privilege becomes a loud declaration that it's time for real change - not a slogan, but a complete overhaul of our color-coded world.”
—Peter Buffett, American musician, composer, author, producer, and second son of investor Warren Buffett.

For over 20 years, Secours has been urging audiences to look in the mirror. White Privilege Pop Quiz consists of questions and revelations that help set a context for discussing the term White Privilege and serves to help people understand what it means to possess it.
The quiz is meant to dispel any mystery or skepticism about the existence of privilege for those who have never given it much, if any, thought. After all, the number one privilege of Whiteness is to not have to think about it, therein denying its existence.
Each chapter of the book begins with a multiple-choice question meant to reveal, inform and inspire more questions about Whiteness and the system invented to promote Whiteness than you have ever entertained before.
The hope is that perhaps the quiz will point readers in a new direction ---to think more deeply and behave more consciously.If you feel strongly that there is no such thing as White privilege then this book may be especially helpful.

"I don’t care if you voted for Obama in ’08, everyone, especially White people, need to study The White Privilege Pop Quiz. It is virtually impossible to read this book and wrestle with the questions without thinking deeply about how racism—hidden in plain sight—continues to produce inequality, weaken ourdemocracy, and warp our spirit.
"And if you believe the issue of racial privilege is obsolete because we now live in a color-blind society, Molly Secours’s wry and brilliant insights willdemolish all such illusions."
—Robin D. G. Kelley, Author Author of Thelonious The Life and Times of an American Original and Freedom The Black Radical Imagination

168 pages, Paperback

Published October 17, 2020

Reviews

[F Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Privilege Pop Quiz: Reflections on Whiteness has much in common with both White Fragility and How to be Antiracist in that the three authors give many examples from their lived experiences. One of the benefits of reading about their experience is that the reader comes to understand that wherever the reader may be in the reader's own anti-racist journey, the reader need not feel bad about previously held ignorance or defensiveness. Growing up in the systemic racism of the US, it would be next to impossible not to have had, at one time or another, an ignorant thought that did not meet an anti-racist standard. So ingrained is racism in our institutions that even people of color sometimes find themselves surprised that they have bought into some of systemic racism's precepts.

What distinguishes Molly's effort is that her text is intended to bring about and guide the reader in reflection so that the reader might come to a better understanding of the reader's own, likely unconscious, privilege.

I think Pop Quiz is especially suited to groups of friends seeking discussion guides.

Recommended.

[Karen Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Bookclub will be having a conversation today with Molly Secours about her well written book on White Privilege. Molly has written a courageous book about a profoundly difficult subject that our country has too long ignored. She helped me identify my own blind spots and by so doing, opened up awareness about how I’ve, by not speaking up or pretending ignorance, have avoided calling out racism and capitulated in injustice. Ask yourself this question; what does it mean to be non-white in this culture? What better time then now to take a look...and an honest look and have that conversation! We’ve come to a tipping point about race/privilege and equality...books like Molly’s can guide our way to an honest exchange. Thanks, Molly for your tireless pursuit for truth and social justice, your clarity of writing about a highly charged subject and ...for your sense of humor along the way! — with Molly Secours.

[Ginny Thurston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book which seems simple, but it is not. It makes one uncomfortable, guilty, sad,angry, and disturbed. It made me think back over my life and see everything from a different perspective. I could not read it quickly....I had to put it down and process through my memories and think about life through a whole different lens...even the history of America...seeing how I had been influenced by propaganda and power structures within society. Everyone should read this book; I will start by passing it to everyone in my family as my friend has passed it to me.

[Rainey Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a white Latina woman, this book gave me a lot to think about. I’ve always known that I’ve been privileged due to my whiteness - although I’ve experienced plenty of prejudice as well because of my ethnicity.

This book helped me understand and categorize the ways in which I’ve benefited from white privilege, as well as given me lots of food for thought on how I can actively work more towards making the spaces I inhabit more comfortable and inclusive for everyone.

I think this is a great book to read for any white person who is working towards anti-racism in their daily lives.

[Molly Secours · Rating 5 out of 5]

WRONG AUTHOR INFORMATION

AUTHOR of White Privilege Pop Quiz: Reflecting on Whiteness is Molly Secours, not Anastasia Johnson (who is the editor).

You may order the book from Amazon or www.mollysecours.com/book

I wrote the book so I won't give a review but I sure hope you read it because I think there is much to learn. (:

Thanks so much.

Ps if anyone from Goodreads, reads this, please correct. Appreciate you!

[Shelly Rios Petrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Although, I had loads of questions regarding bi-racial, multi-racial people who "look" white, therefore are identified as white to the external world.

Overall awareness indicators that give you something to ponder in relation to this topic.