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WIN a copy of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The political climate in which this work is being published provokes a desperate need for the type of conversation that this work creates. There's a terrifying pattern emerging not just from openly racist people, but also from people who identify as being pro-equality. The first example that comes to mind is white feminism. I identify as a third wave, intersectional feminist, but I'm also a white cisgender woman. In our world as we know it, and as we've always known it, white people have 1000x more privilege socially, economically, and politically than people of color. It's not enough to identify as feminist because unfortunately a big sub section of feminism blatantly ignores women of color and people of color in general. It's not enough to focus on one type of disadvantaged person. If feminism isn't intersectional, it's not feminism. White feminists need to be constantly aware, constantly open, and constantly willing to listen to and learn from POC. One of the best ways to learn is to read and support the works of POC, which is why a work like this is so important. Ignorance is violence. Silence is violence. We have to do better. We have to be willing to constantly learn in order to not repeat history. Suffragettes won the vote by willingly leaving women of color behind. Birth control's invention was inherently against women of color. All of the milestones white feminists call "accomplishments" have happened without women of color in mind and we have to remember that and change that going forward.
This book is of utmost importance now, given how divided our world is and despite how far we've already come. As a Hispanic woman living in the United States, I was blessed enough to have been born and raised in a city where the majority of people are in fact Hispanic (Miami, FL). However, as of a few years ago my eyes were fully opened to the spectrum of horrors that people of color just like myself face almost everywhere else -- not just in the U.S., but all over the world. While I have been lucky enough to never have experienced anything of that nature, I cannot ignore how I've felt seeing others be treated so cruelly because of the color of their skin, the language they speak, or the religion they practice. I've always been told that I can't "fix the world," but if in some small way I can make a change I am more than willing to do so. In opening up a dialogue and expressing the importance of empathy for "the other," many who are not affected by this kind of negative behavior will become aware of the power dynamic they unwittingly possess, and could use it to shift things in favor of the greater good. I, too, am unaware of the specific plights of other people of color because they haven't been a part of my individual experience. In reading Eddo-Lodge's book, I can widen my lens of understanding by better informing myself, and in turn, better informing others.
Jo wrote: "Dear Our Shared Shelf,We are super happy to be giving away 60 copies of our current read 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge.
For your chance to win a copy, ..."
This book is important because America and other countries have never fully addressed the issue of slavery and racism, creating a climate where even acknowledging their existence has been treated like some kind of conspiracy. Because I am white and have white privilege, I need to be educated so that I can help to fight against it.
This book is so important now because of the plain and simple concept of history repeating itself. Now, a president exists who is taking us back many decades to when oppression, shaming, prejudice, sexism, racism, and wrongful jurisdiction was allowed and deemed even as correct. This cannot continue and I cannot as a positive activist let this continue.Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is such a powerful and necessary title that can have the affects of making white people feel left out, imagine that? How the tables have turned. This book is so very important now because if you cannot open your eyes to the truth in the society that we have created, and continue to not reform, then maybe a second look at the structure of our society is worth a second glance.
I think this book is important, because I think it could educate me on the subject of racism in this day and age. It’s a shame that even in 2018 racism is still a thing. Hopefully one day the world will learn from it’s mistakes, instead of repeating it over and over again.
We grew up in a Seasame Street culture where it didn't matter what color you were. That was over correcting. I'm encouraging my kids to ask questions and to share stories...I am amazed at how many of my white friends don't even know that they don't know. It's time to get past the argument of "I don't care what color you are..." And have those rich and sometimes uncomfortable conversations that truly get us to a more open place.
This book is important for so many reasons right now. As a cis white woman, it is extremely important for me to realize my place in the systemic issues prevalent in our society. Knowing that in fact I am part of the problem, especially if I’m uneducated about how this affects individuals around me is both important and hard to come to terms with. It is through open conversation and literature such as this that I can begin to fully realize what this all means and how I can go about beginning to work to fix it. Both internally and on a larger scale.
I'm interested in reading this book precisely to understand it's importance on nowadays problems on that matter. I see people behaviour (and my own, of course) and try to realise if we are evolving on the acceptance of all the diversity that there is in the world and, many times, i'm not sure. And I say this being Brazilian, which means I live in one greatly diverse country. But even here things get a bit disappointing many many times...
I think this book is so important now more than ever because of accountability. So many groups/races of people are cut out of discussions because once race comes up, it becomes a taboo and uncomfortable topic to tackle. For me, race is tricky to have deep conversations about, because there is a lot of ignorance and the fear of saying the wrong thing involved. Also, many people just don't want to have to be the ones to have to placate feelings of guilt, when race division isn't only about that. It's about education and inclusion.
This book is important to read now because even that we are in the XXI century, racism is still in our society and we all together have to change that. We need education to teach the next generations and stop this degradation!
Racism has always been massive problem and it will continue to be one. It cannot be eliminated easily, much like world hunger or overpopulation. People who are cut away from modern day society are often overlooked, yet who are we without different races?
I have not read the book yet, but the title alone is simple and powerful. Today, we are learning the stories of people from around the world who are looked down upon because of their race. We are not who we are without diversity. Beauty is beauty, no matter what. Citizens everywhere are believing lies, or, half truths. We, as a whole, think we know what it would look and feel like to be excluded. We think we know what it would be like if we were a dark skinned person walking into a white-only society. We think we know how an asian would feel in a sea of white people. However, it is a sad truth that we really cannot understand unless we are the ones being wrongly treated and looked down upon.
We know that racism is a bad thing. But when we see someone taunting someone else of a different race, how many of us would join in? How many would stand up for the latter? And how many of us would pretend it were not happening?
While we are fighting to create an equal future, for the people of different genders, skins, and heritage, racism continues to stay a global issue.
When we say 'white people', we are saying the majority, because there will always be exceptions. But then again, if there were a line of 10 white people and 10 people from another race, how many of those white people would actually wrinkle their nose in disgust, call them names, or refuse to shake their hand? It is wrong to say "the war is between whites a blacks" when the majority is accepting and belonging. Yet, when one looks at someone of a different race, what are the thoughts that run through their head.
Beauty? Stunning? Or perhaps, strange? Otherworldly? Or even Unacceptable?
This book is important now because even though we are fighting oppression and befriending people of other races and standing up for the wrongly treated, racism is still spreading and is still a constant problem, just look online, for instance.
This is a book that makes a stand that once and for all we need to be genuine about our empathy and speak up for ourselves.
It promotes a future where this book will no longer be of use because racism would have vanished.
-Cynthia xxx
This book is so important now because POC have experienced so much exhaustion trying to play nice and educate others about real issues we face, and are still met with so much misunderstanding and prejudice. It’s time for people to make the effort to see how they benefit from a system that has oppressed us for so long. It’s time they stop feeling entitled to our explanations and niceness when we haven’t been treated the same way for centuries. The book is important to me because it is acting as a way for me to open up this conversation in my university and other spaces.
This book is not just relevant now, it’s been relevant for centuries and might also be in the centuries to come unless more people read it and discuss these issues!!
This is a topic that is important and relevant to yesterday, today and tomorrow. Knowledge is power and while I don’t seek to be powerful, I do like to collect knowledge in order to attempt to be the best person I can be, day after day.
Because white people aren’t getting it. It’s exhausting to explain and then have someone invalidate your experience because they don’t see their own privilege. I just put this book on my tbr list about a week ago. It was a frequent answer to my request on a Facebook page “conversations about race with Black people” when I asked for Black history month reads. It must hit home. Therefore, I need to read it, and educate myself on the experiences of my fellow citizens.
This book is important because it reflects on where people stand with racism and how they think it doesn’t impact there life and how words can hurt and how most of us still experience it till this day even in the work place or when your walking and talking to your mom in Spanish when sadly myself and my dad included experienced it and we were told to go back to where we came from so not only does this book help people understand racism but it will shine a light to how people feel when they are called certain names because of the color of they’re skin or the language that they speak and I don’t want to have to be afraid to speak my language or my little cousin shouldn’t be afraid either when they are mixed and beautiful
This book is important now because US schools are more segregated now than they were 45 years ago, and racist language is acceptable and commonplace at the highest level of government, and a substantial portion of the US electorate doesn't believe that black lives matter or that it is even questionable to shoot to death children and adults for being black in public. It is important now because white men feel threatened and entitled and that is a nasty, vicious combination.
This book is relevant because people need to develop a better understanding of racism and where exactly it comes from. This problem is everywhere now. From the POTUS to biased media, traces of racism are found, some things more blatant than others.
My small protest to the current administration here in the US is to read from a counter prospective. In the light of the normalization in our public policies of racism, it's vital to continue to remind ourselves that this is not OK and should be as far from normal as possible.
Because we need to educate ourselves into a revolution. Because people of color are being murdered, discriminated and de-humanized for not being white.Because racism is still a thing, every second of every day.
How do I as a white person take responsibility of the privilege I have? How can I educate myself and people like me without talking over the actual victims of racism?
This book would be just one of many great tools to do just that. To sit back and listen.
The book is important (not just this one alone) because marketing agencies think it is a great idea to use exerprs from a Martin Luther King Jr speech to sell Dodge Trucks. https://youtu.be/1SeiVMIz2UU
This book is so important for many of the reasons posted above. For me though, the importance lies in my desire to understand others and their experiences better.
This book is important to read, especially for me, cause I don’t have an answer to the question. Why do they no longer talk to white people about it? I really want to read the book to figure it out and get a better understanding.
I think this book is a very important book for everyone to read! I work in an inner city school and I think every teacher at my school should read it. If I were to win a copy I'd pass it around to my fellow teachers.
This book is important because it seems that there seems to be an resurgence of racism and things going on that shouldnt be happening in 2018!
It's not just about racism, but about any kind of discrimination. People who are not affected, sometimes ignore the fact that it still exists, just like some men criticise feminism because the haven't dealt with harassment, or people judging gay protestants because they haven't been denied the right to marry. I love the title, it's kind of a mixture between irony and a game of words.
Well, I have not read it yet so I can't say for sure I am reserving judgment to a certain extent but....The confusion and anomie that swirls around races, nationalities and ethnic backgrounds looks like being one of the greatest challenges ahead for the human race, world wide. Almost every aspect of human social political life is affected by it and our methods of dealing with race issues are inconsistent and often inconsiderate resulting in acute frustration from all sides.
I find the title of this book chilling; because, if people from different nationalities are so frustrated by the discussion they are no longer trying to bridge the gap - well, really, what then?
A lot of people are afraid to talk about race because we don't what to say the wrong thing and appear insensitive or uneducated. Our experiences are totally different and that shapes our narrative. Also, too often we latch onto one or two people and expect them to be the representatives for an entire race or culture. That's not fair and it has to be exhausting for those people who are willing to take the time, be patient, and answer those awkward but well-meaning questions. Books like this are great for opening your mind to how other people experience the world and are wonderful jumping off points for places like book clubs. This kind of book (without having read it) is a reminder that we need to look inside and answer some of those questions ourselves.
I think it’s important for white people, like myself, right now to shut up, listen, and educate themselves without leaving it up to the people of color we interact with to spend their time teaching us. It’s important right now, with so many rights at risk of being taken away, to find a way to be ally to the voices that need to be heard.
I have lived most of my life ignorant about racism. I was born in New England, to a liberal family, who accepted everyone. I attended liberal schools and colleges. I didn't know anyone who identified as "white supremacist." My mother demonstrated for civil rights and so did I. I moved to the South in 1997, and to "The Deep South" in 2005. I have learned about racism and have been targeted in some not-so-subtle ways because of my politics. As beautiful and peaceful as my farm is, I would love nothing more than to erase this stain in the air of a community that still calls a neighborhood "The Quarters."
Relevant? My God. Some of the racists I have met here admit freely to their beliefs. Others are adamant that they are not racist. I have had fights over the word "privilege," knowing full well that my children and I have never had to think about many things that are ever present in so many other lives.
Yes, I imagine this book is relevant, and I want to hold it in my hands.
Thanks to stories I read and watched and lessons taught by teachers, I grew up with strong opinions about racism and bigotry. For a really long time, I thought it was enough to just not be a racist (or vote for one). My thinking was along the lines of "we're all one race: the human race" and I thought the solution for equality was to ignore race.Post-2016, I've come to realize there's a lot more to it than that. I had an eye-opening experience while seeking the comfort of like minds after the election and witnessing infighting within the Pantsuit Nation group on facebook; Specifically, there were some posts of other white people expecting congratulation for standing up for POCs or for pointing out the internalized racism they didn't realize they had and how they are working to correct it, and then there were posts where black women asked to be heard on certain issues (like how the internalized racism self-congratulatory posts were actually pretty hurtful) without white women adding their two cents and many white women responded by freaking out.
I totally get the impulse to be defensive, especially when you're like "Hey, I'm not racist, I'm an ally", but instead these posts inspired me to listen. We can be content being good people who aren't racist and don't even consider race all we want, but that's not going to get us anywhere. If we want to be woke, intersectional feminists, who are a part of the solution and not the problem, it takes work. Ongoing work. We should be listening to a variety of people who come from different backgrounds and have different experiences than us to better understand others. Books, articles, blog posts, podcasts, movies, tv shows - whatever medium, elevate those voices and listen.
That's why reading this book is so important. For anyone wishing to take up this work, it's a great opportunity to listen, learn and internalize.
It’s important because it’s unfair of people to expect people of colour (particularly women of colour) to do the emotional labour for us in understanding why race and racism are indeed still very relevant. There are millions of great books, movies, podcasts, articles, blogs etc etc where you can find the information and it’s time to stop trying to stop the argument by asking for “the research” or “the proof” from the oppressed when it is readily available if you’re actually interested.
I think everyone needs to read this book. I live in Singapore, a country with multi-racial. I have friends and co workers who are Chinese, Indians, Malaysian and Eurasians.We do discuss over what happens in the world, the fights, the skin color haters, the unfair treatments coz someone is of a diff race/color as us/you.
People need to read and know - color, race, sex dun mean anything if your heart is not in the right place. Everyone is equal and deserve to be treated as Equal.
I'm not the most eloquent writer, and while I wish I did so I could join in with others, I have no witty or smart story or deeper inner meaning to share here in the comments.
I would simply like to own this book to further expand my perspectives and my mind. Because I believe that in the world we live in now, understanding and perspective is ever important in the pursuit of understanding and accepting one another and for simply becoming better people.
I would simply like to own this book to further expand my perspectives and my mind. Because I believe that in the world we live in now, understanding and perspective is ever important in the pursuit of understanding and accepting one another and for simply becoming better people.
This book is so important to read right now, because if other people are like me... its time we try to understand.
I have not read the book yet, but I believe that the question of equal rights is an issue that traverses the history of humanity from beginning to end. society can not be expected to evolve if everyone's rights are not respected and prejudices as invalid as the color of the skin, are left aside. it just does not make sense ... therefore, the more voices rise up against the racial discrimination the more possibilities we have to build a better world ...
Racism has always been an enormous problem in our society and, unfortunately, now it seems to become critical. What I noticed and it hurts a lot is the attitude of white people, toward minorities like myself who had to move and live in a different country. I would like to read this book and see how it corresponds with my views and why people are the way they are.
This is relevant because race and class are at the heart of our society. Institutionalized racism is woven into the fabric of our current society. If we don’t hear voices of this point of view, nothing changes. The narrative will remain the same instead of being acknowledged and actively worked on. As a white woman who is a nurse, I have a responsibility to myself and the patients I advocate for to be aware of how race, gender, and class impact people. As a white middle class woman I have privileges I don’t have to think about. I’m not scared if I’m stopped in traffic by an officer, and it has never had to occur to me that skin color can play a role when interviewing for jobs. This book is relevant because racism is here and we have elected officials who dismiss it as an artifact of the past.
I think this book is important now because it seems every day when I turn on the news, there is another story about brutal racism in plain daylight. Sometime it's obvious, other times it's more underlying. Certain world leaders have made people think racism is ok, and is tolerated, so it seems to be happening more and more as people are gaining more confidence to step out of the shadows they might have been hiding in before. There are even people who truly don't believe they are racist, and justify their outlook by offering their own suffering as a counterpoint. We need to able to identify racism, even if people are trying to convince us it's not there. I feel it is important to have the ability to engage in educated, meaningful conversations about racism in our lives, whether we recognize it or not. Yes, it will be uncomfortable, but it can only help to understand different perspectives. This book would offer that as a great starting point. As a white person, I'd like to learn what I can do to contribute to the conversation in a helpful way, what I might be doing wrong, and how I can can then translate my experience into all aspects of my life.
I think it is important for people of privilege to read this book so that they can acknowledge the extent, impact and prevalence of their privilege. Power has to be given freely so that others can experience equality.
I think this book is important because it states history of black people that most of us unaware of, because we're not taught about them at school. It can remove a little bit of ignorant.
I would like to read this book to learn more about how racism impacts our society, and what actions we can take to remedy this problem.
I think this book is important because we can only ever know our own individual experience of something until we open up our minds and hearts to the experiences of others through empathic conversation and of course reading!
I am 14 years old and a striver for equality and positive thinking! I really want to read this book because I believe it points out the aspects in life that we as individuals sometimes push aside; this book will let me know those things and acknowledge me to make that change in this world that needs to be done. I don’t care how old I am, I want a world in which every person feels accepted no matter their skin color. I really hope I can win one of these books; I love to read and write. I have written two books—not published— on equality; one of the books in which being 50,000 words! Even if I don’t win, whoever does, I hope you enjoy and really look at the book and compare it to the world in which we all live in! Every change starts from one person!
I think this book is important because if we want to change the way society treats people who don't benefit from the triad of wealth, whiteness and cis-het-ness, we have to listen. It's always hard to navigate discourse on subjects like race because what comes out of our mouths first isn't necessarily reflective of our openness and willingness to change, it's reflective of our privilege. I think a lot of discussions break down because it's so easy to say something that derails the whole conversation and leaves all sides feeling upset, confused, angry. A book like this is important because all we have to do is read, and listen, and think. Once we've read and reread, then we can try to act. We can be confronted by a book, we can be upset by a book, we can agree or disagree with what a book has to tell us, but we can't get into an argument with or offend a book by blurting out something wrong. I'm a white autistic woman who wants so hard to not be racist, but I know that what I say when I'm unsure is not always the right thing. I know that reading this isn't automatically going to make me not racist, or not privileged, but I think it might help me get a better grasp on how to make sure I don't inadvertently hurt people, and teach me how to use my privilege in positive ways.
This book is important because we all need to know more about this topic, so we can be more aware of our day-to-day actions and what they mean. Only that way can we fight ignorance and find ways to change for better. It’s important because although our society likes to call itself modern, race it’s still a problem, a very misunderstood one.
This book is so important now it highlights the attitude of people of colour as still today many of the opinions on the issue of racial discrimination are given by white people who can never fully under what racial discrimination feels like, therefore this book could lead the way to more people listening to and thinking about the opinions of people of colour about this issue rather than putting their own opinions above. This book is also important as many countries, like America for example, may have laws against discrimination for all, including people of colour, racial discrimination is still prevalent and people who think that this issue has been dealt with are unfortunately mistaken. I hope that some point in the future I will be able to see a world where people are not discriminated against for their ethnicity and this book could help along that road.
- Emily
I think this book is relevant in today’s society, but even more I feel like this book is important for me, a white woman, so I can better understand what my sister-in-law faces and so I can raise loving children who see, understand, and respect various races.
As a white woman who wants to be a useful ally, it's important for me to educate myself, by listening to the voices of PoC. I've seen this book mentioned a few times by PoC and it's clearly an important voice. I don't expect it to be comfortable or easy but that makes it all the more important. Beyond listening, it's important that I amplify the voices of PoC that I learn about and I imagine the mere title of this book will open up opportunities for that!
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Our Shared Shelf
Books mentioned in this topic
Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate (other topics)Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions (other topics)
Moreover, the conversation on this subject has been intensely focused on the USA. So, hearing from someone in the UK brings a new perspective to the table - and, really, aren't we all the richer for it?
Finally, and considering the purpose of OSS, to be a feminist in the 21st century and not worry about other types of oppression feels misguided and dismissive of many, many women in the world. I hope my feminism is not just for people who look and live like me. So these are the voices I need to champion. This book, as far as I can tell, wasn't written for white people. And that's exactly the reason why we should all be reading it.