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WIN a copy of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
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Gabi
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Feb 19, 2018 10:01AM
This book is really important because we ~white people~ really need to understand how bigger than us are the race debates. We need to take a step back to understand the damage we have made (and keep doing) in order to make the world a better and safer place to everyone.
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I haven’t read it yet so I don’t know why this book is so important. My library is awful at providing new and relevant reads. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but judging from the title it’s going to be about race (wow great job, Anaze). There’s been a lot of controversy lately about race and I think it’s important for people to understand both sides of the story before jumping to conclusions.
The truth of the matter is this: race has been an issue and has always been an issue and, in the currently foreseeable future, will continue to be an issue. Like many other things in existence, race shouldn’t be an issue, and yet we as humans have made it one and continue to allow it to exist. Even when we say we want to make it better, we do very little in action to follow up our words and thus there is no change. The reason why this book is important is due to these problems. Oftentimes the ones who claim they’ll help are not the subject of racial injustices - namely white people. We do not understand the struggle of those affected by race, no matter how we claim to or swear we will stand by those who are. For those of us who want to help, we often do not at all or provide very little help that is ever useful. We talk and talk and talk - all while ignoring the voices that have truly suffered because we believe we are helping, but how can we help if we really aren’t listening?
This book has been important for a long time, really, but it's especially important now with the building of movements like Black Lives Matter, kneeling for the National Anthem, the Women's March, #metoo, and Times Up. These movements benefit from a diverse membership and a wide collection of fighters but it cannot be left to the oppressed to explain why justice is worth fighting for nor can it be left to POC to explain why they should be included or how they have been left out of progress historically. It's time for progress for EVERYONE.
This book can be a good example of the situation we are living nowadays. Racism is one of the greatest problems that people are experiencing in society. People of different ethnicity are having too much trouble adapting to this situation. I'm not only referring to African-Americans, I am also referring to Asian and Hispanics. People of different are being judged by things they've not done in their lives. They are being judged for no reason. I mean, no reason because they are doing it just because of stereotypes they've created. This book is important because it can create a different perspective on other people. It can help people be aware that the universe is full of different people. That the fact that people are not white does not mean that they are no worth.
I'm interested in reading this book because I'm trying to read more authors of color (AOC), as well as educating myself about racism in our society. I'm reading some of the comments on here and it amazes me that some folks still don't get it. I also want to be able to discuss this issue with other white people from an informed standpoint, and this book would help me in that regard.
The book is so important now because many people seem to think that just because we've taken baby steps to combat racism and towards reaching racial equality, it's no longer a problem. There's no such thing as 'good enough'.
This book is important because racism never went truly away. It was a whispered, fragmented dream. It was always around and, as a society, we got used to it. Not any longer, it's about time that there is a real discussion about race. One that doesn't rely on superficial constructs but a real solution.
I was raised in a very racist time and place, but without realizing that it wasn’t normal and how everyone else lived until I was nearly twelve. The world is smaller now and communication is more instant but perhaps people are even more isolated. I’m not sure about this book being important until I read it, but as a teacher in a very multiracially mixed school, I know the conversation is important.
It is important now as it gives one not so often touched upon perspective on the topic of racism. In order to improve ourselves no matter our legacy we need to be able to see new views and be better at "walking in another persons shoes". If we try to see more perspectives and recognise that our perception of the world is only one of many we build a foundation for creating a better tomorrow.
As a white woman trying to make a positive impact in the world, I've always struggled with how my SJW actions are perceived and interpreted by my POC friends. I recognize racism is a problem for EVERYONE, but I need direction and help to work together towards the right solution. By being so raw, open, and honest, Eddo-Lodge is giving me the frank talking-to I've always needed. Now I have some direction. I want nothing more than to pass this book around to all my friend and have their eyes opened as mine have been.
This book is important because there’s a problem with the white knight/white hero which perpetuates that benign racism. It is time to listen and white people don’t have to initiate the conversation. The role of white people is to stop strong arming our way into leadership.
I think that this book is important now because the issue of racism has been continuing for far too long and it must end now. It needs to be addressed on a personal level so that people have an increased awareness of their own unintentional bias and understand how they can alter their behaviour/actions to promote better equality. What better way to do this than getting information directly from people that are affected by this issue instead of hearing it through alternative sources. I think that this book would help to give me a better understanding of this issue. I am a white female, living in a village with little to no diversity, therefore it is difficult for me to appreciate the full extent and effect of racism having not experienced/seen this within my local community.
I would also be able share this book with friends and family to improve their understanding, attitudes and beliefs of problems that might not directly affect them but they should be aware of. Hopefully from this book I can affect many people in my small corner of the world and if everyone who reads this book does the same we can together have a huge impact.
This book is so important because racism is still around. As a white person I believe that it is extremely important to read this book because we, as a race, are most likely to be racist and keep the racism going. This is because the white race has been thought of as the “superior race” for centuries and some still do believe that they are worth more, or, are more important than other races because of the fact that they are white. What some people don’t realise is that we are all human and we are all EQUAL. A persons race DOES NOT define who they are. A persons race SHOULD NOT stop them from being able to reach their goals and dreams. A persons race SHOULD NOT hold them back.The book ‘Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race.’ is very important and can teach younger people about the issues, like race, that the world still faces which should never have been thought of in the first place.
This book is part of an opportunity to make a change in the world and make it a kinder and safer place to live.
I have recently moved to Australia and although I have been lucky so far and haven't faced any racism yet but my friend who moved here just a month before me has faced alot of it in last eight months. I have been given a few interesting glances but no one ever uttered a word. and I find the fact pathetic that how could there still be racism in the era of diversity and globalization. i think this is thr best time for me to read this book.
Audre Lorde once said ''I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.' I think this quote is applicable to a multitude of privileges- race being one of them. The reason this book is so important, at this moment, is that it opens the dialogue between all races to discuss the issue of race itself. None of us are free, until we are all free from the bonds of this oppressive prejudice.
I am fortunate to work as a history teacher in a wonderfully multicultural British school in which 40 first languages are spoken among the 40% of the populus that have English as an additional language. In the classroom, racial tension and conflict are issues that kids find so interesting and become enthused in debating. From the Nazis, to slavery to American Indians to the New World, they are always eager to give opinions on race. I think this book is essential in drawing attention to the role which white people have played throughout history in the systematic oppression of other races. Race is a perennial debate topic and I think books like these have a huge role to play in educating white people about why they need to take responsibility for the actions of their ancesors. I know students in my classes would be fascinated by books such as this. At a young age they are often yet to have succumbed to solid ideas on racial tension, and I know that several will benefit enormously from reading the book in future. The more that do, the greater chance there is for white people being made aware of their history and responsibility.
This book is important to me because I am only a teenager and don't know much about racism. I grew up very privileged and I have been really trying to get myself involved in movements such as Black Lives Matter and try to aid them in their mission. I want to learn more about this issue and help find ways to improve the lives of people who are unfairly discriminated against. The more that I learn now, the more I can do when I'm older.
This book is so important because I can feel the frustration from my friends who are persons of color around the issue of racism, and I want to know how to help.
Because of the book's cover itself.The hidden little words in the title: to white people.
**Representing white people's sheer blindness to everyday racism.**
We need to be more understanding of each other, we need to read each other's stories of suffering and pain and hatred if we are going to change this world together.
LISTEN, LEARN, LOVE.
- Sincerely a 24 year old white female.
A week before I heard about this book I was wondering if I should stop talking to white people about race. I had a couple of white friends who believed they were enlightened regarding race but would sometimes say incredibly offensive things and were dismissive when I called them out on it. One example is that a former friend showed me a video which featured a white child saying the n word, when I expressed that it was offensive his response was that his black male friend showed it to him and therefore I was in the wrong to be upset. This guy was supposed to be one of my allies?
There is still a great level of inequality across racial lines so what are individual conversations even doing? I talked to this man for months about the issue of race and one of our last conversations he's sending me racist jokes?
My patience with ignorant white people in the past got me nowhere except emotionally drained and there is NO reason a genuinely curious individual can't educate themselves by doing some research on credible sources and reading a book like this. Books like this are vitally important because racism is still a problem that needs to be solved. It's too big of a problem for an individual like myself to try to solve one conversation at a time.
Because no one should call themselves a feminist if they aren't going to educate themselves about racial equity.
I believe this book is so important now because never in my lifetime have I felt racial tensions so heightened before, and never have I seen Conservative white people deny what is happening right before their eyes. When I first saw the title, I related because it’s tiring telling my parents certain slurs they say around and towards my husband isn’t okay, and then looking back my whole childhood realizing my parents are racist. Then realizing other people in my life after the American election that a lot of my acquaintances I’ve known for a long time are racist but don’t see it. With this book I would like to gain perspective. This book is particularly important to me in this season of my life because as I start to plan a family with my husband, my kids will be biracial, and my husband and I have the task of preparing them for making it in a world that doesn’t make it easy for them. Since I really have not experienced these injustices in my life I want to continue to build up my sensitivities and awareness by reading books like this so I am more prepared for that dialogue.
This book is important because it is radically and honestly talking about race. In the color blind society we find ourselves in everyone wants to be as inoffensive and neutral as possible. On of my favorite quotes of all times is "Your silence won't protect you." Keeping quiet while racism continues to cause pain and injustice will never help the problem. This book describes and deals with what far too many find uncomfortable and a inconvenient truth. A black woman exploring race, class, and history is something that will shine some light on the very uncomfortable topics that continue to hold us back because we will not face it. I'm excited to read about the topics in this book, which will help equip me with better ways to deal uncomfortable conversations about race. I usually have to carry the burden of my identity and continue to inform people in racially charged conversations in hopes of some understanding.
This is book is so crucial now because systematic racism has been so ingrained in our daily life that we fail to consciously be awared of it. I think this book for one of its many benefits, will change the narratif and limelight of the core problem of world-wide and world-known cause of conflict and crisis; racism. It is time now we realize the inadequacy of the inherited "gene" of racisme that exist inherently within us whether we are women, black, white, gay etc. Racism has perpetuated our society that we often can't see our similarities and dignified as equal. I hope I can get this book to unlearn the racial stereotype imposed on me by my socioeconomic surrounding and to learn to see us one, as one human race.
I think it must be a tremendous burden for people who do not come from privilege to be asked by would-be allies how to define racism. When it can be difficult to speak with allies, whose requests for understanding come from the right place, how much more difficult is it to speak to those who *don't* want to support equality? Books like this--one hopes--can offer potential-allies some guidance while removing that face-to-face burden from those who, like the author, have explained and explained racism.
Books about marginalized persons are always relevant, no matter the century, decade, or hour. Their stories are important, their voices matter. It’s also not the responsibility of the marginalized or disenfranchised to be the educators. The responsibility is on each of us to understand our own shortcomings, our own blind spots, and grow through them.
Even though we have come so far in our lives, achieving what we set our eyes upon, reaching places and positions earlier deemed fit only for a particular group, there are still times when a person different from the majority is judged. My mum always asked me to take care of how I look. I would asked why. She would give some random answer, but I knew deep down that being dark was not deemed acceptable, my achievements notwithstanding. This is not just a problem related to skin color, it is with caste, religion, gender, almost anything that can segregate people. Since we have not been able to remove discrimination from our lives, this book will always be relevant. There is no point asking majority why the minority is suffering or how to alleviate it.
This book is important to read now, and in fact any time, because of the fact that racism is so heinously entrenched in our society and systemic racism is something is that we are brought up with. A lack of understanding, particularly by white people, of privilege and systemic racism is exactly what every person here needs an education on and I believe that this book can help with just that.
'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge is such an important book to read now, as it carries an extremely powerful and significant message that is relevant today in modern society. I don't think many people even realise that racism is still such a huge issue in the UK and all over the world, and tend to think of racism as something that happened in the past. It is taught only in our history classes, despite being such a huge issue today. Reni opens up discussions that are so important and should be talked about more. Reading this book will open the minds of everyone who reads it, and help tackle the ignorance of so many people on the topic of racism. We should live in a world where everyone has a voice, and where everyone is equal.
I am currently reading two books, "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race" and "Homo Deus" by Yuval Noah Harari. One talks about past transgressions and the results of inbuilt racist attitudes and another books talks about the implications of our future decisions to try to extend and perhaps immortalise ourselves. Both books I find are important now and in the future. Racism is still prevalent in society today - perhaps less overt but often subtle and perhaps accepted by those who deal with it everyday. I for one am an Asian person in Australia. If you were not an outgoing Asian student at university, you were automatically assumed to be non-english speaking and initially discounted in group assignments. Now as an adult, racist remarks just slide off my back but reading this book made me more aware of the actions of those around me. Perhaps for the past decade I have politely ignored these remarks or actions and not cared of the impact my nieces would have in their future. However, reading Homo Deus made me think that our desire as humans to continually survive may severely impact how we see ourselves as mankind as a whole rather than divided by race. Shows such as Black Mirror neither deal with race or class but mankind's desire to continually improve beyond what we are born with. Rewindable memories, living in virtual reality worlds, being able to live infinitely longer. There are so many issues to deal with in the future.
Both these books are relevant now, they are so different yet complement each other so well. One dealing with the past and one dealing with the future. Both books to think about as we continue to live in the present.
because, as a white person, this is one of the many topics where I need to very simply shut up, listen, read, and learn. Then one can take direct action supporting other voices.
Dear OSS moderators, I haven't read the book. I've been reading about it for sometime now. And sending this because today I got the nth mail from group asking to comment. And I am from India, quite far from the potential reading circle of the book. Hypothetically even if you find my answer better, I doubt whether you would find it convenient to send that book this far.
In Amazon India, a paperback copy costs INR 2870, approximately 44 dollars. Quite costly for any broke bibliophile here.
So, I had to read few reviews of the book and some excerpts. Here in India, we the 'brown' people might find it easier to relate to the black perspective better from our own history of white oppression in the form of colonialism.. The " structural racism" Reni Eddo-Lodge speaks about is exactly something we go through in segments still now in the form of caste.
The whole discourse around any of these caste or racial marginalization often forgets to realize itself that the very discourse often patronizes the agency of the marginalized. Often the spectrum of this discrimination is generalized into a larger common issue deserving sympathy, thereby nullifying the specificity of each.
I was going through the comments and moderators. Almost all of them are white. I am not doubting their good intention to express solidarity with the oppressed, but have you ever thought about the very irony of discussing this book between a white dominated space, when you think about the content of the book? Any idea what the author meant by "inherent invisibility" of race? This is what exactly it is. The privilege that many of you have as a birth right to sympathize with the oppressed races.
Then one might ask me whether a numerical representation would solve the imbalance? NO. The answer would be that nothing any of you intentionally do would change the situation as long as until you normalize the mosaic of racial difference as default, without a hierarchy in anything. Neither special sympathy nor clear cut binary.
From what I've gone through, this must be a beautiful book. I hope that All the white people read it and understand it. Why this book is important now? Not just now, till the date racism exists in the subtlest of ways it could, the book would remain important. Even if an Utopia comes where the racial discrimination doesn't exist, the book would have its own historical relevance that even those who celebrated the book couldn't even understand the concept fully just because of their inherent layers of veils which blurred the view.
The book is underlining the fact the shift from 'Whiteman's burden' to 'Whiteman's guilt' won't end racism.
That is the importance of this book.
Hope you won't count it as gratuitous rudeness. (the pop-up has been coming up throughout while I wrote it.) I am just using the opportunity to speak. Much love to you all. Thanks for the mails.
It is so important for our modern day because racism has been "fought" for so long and little progress has been made to eradicate it. I struggle find words to explain to my children why there is such hatred and ignorance in a time when there is more information than ever.
This book is important for many reasons. However, the most pertinent to me is the light it is shining on the unspoken racism and bias that is inherent in our lives. We need people to write books like this to prevent these issues from staying as part of us and to make them no longer the norm. Nothing is more important than breaking the vicious cycle of inherent racism and tolerance of generational hatred.
This book's title is as quiet as it is loud. As our society awakens to the racial issues that are still embedded in our culture, those awakening will be trying to engage in important conversations & discovery. For those who have been woke for awhile, it can be emotionally exhausting & exasperating to continuously be expected to guide people on their journey to "woke-ness." Add to that the emotional weight blacks have already been forced to carry, and you can see while the title initially seems abrasive to some, it is also a call for relief. To those who are waking up, this book is a chance to journey part of the way without taxing others. It allows the author simultaneously to discuss these issues & to step back since she has put this out there. I look forward to reading it & having a group to discuss with.
I think this book is so important because as a white person it is often easy to forget about the continued pervasiveness of racism in our country and our world. Learning about modern day racism requires an unlearning of everything we were taught our whole lives.When I learned about slavery and the Civil Rights movement in school it was always talked about in the past tense. The way black people were treated in the US was all in the past tense. Now, I was taught, we are all equal. Now, I was told, we all have equal opportunities. I mean, we had a black President of course things are different now, right?
To learn something is easy, but to learn something contrary to everything you were brought up to believe is very difficult. To then accept those things and understand them is even harder. To have empathy and understanding from something so far removed from your own experiences is nearly impossible, but we have to try.
We can't have feminism with out intersectionality and I think books like Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race are an amazing step forward in our learning and understanding.
In our current political climate and with everything happening in our society. It is important to learn as much about racism as possible. I recently took a class on racism and I have been devouring books on the subject.
In my opinion this book is very important because of what is going on in the world right now and in the past year. Racism, homophobia, sexual arrasement, mass shootings have been the main problems lately. We need empathy and I feel this book can help us to understand that. We are all equal and no matter your skin color, gender, religious point of view, or where you were born. People need to understand that and we should encourage children to be united . Education is the key of this.
I think it's important for us (White people) to be aware of the influence that our race has on various aspects of our life and the privileges we hold. When we are thinking and talking about feminism, race and intersectionality are a huge part of that. For too long, feminism has been about heterosexual wealthy White women, when it should really be about equity for all women and transgender people. It is about equity for everyone, not just those who fit into a particular mold or image that our society or culture values.
This book is important because it will teaches us what is HUMANITY, to befriend simply a human, not based on their hair colors, skin tone, or in this case: race. In my country this is the major problem to discuss and people are just lose control. Racism is a thing that we need to destroy, and this book is one of a good starter.
It’s so important now because it is LONG OVERDUE. Despite all the progress made there are still so many issues regarding race in America and the only way it can be improved is by listening with a truly open heart and unbiased ear...which is surprisingly hard to find now days (despite so many believing that they’re open minded and progressive thinkers). I and so many others are tired of telling the same fundamental rules of loving your fellow man. So,I’m glad someone else found the energy to put words to paper for those that can’t seem to grasp that bad things happened, let’s acknowledge it, work through it/figure it out to avoid it happening again, and move on in harmony. There’s more of course, but that’s the cliff notes. ;)
Simply put, our country is run by white supremacy. That’s the sole reason this book is important now.
I think this book is important now because where I live (in India), racism is more subtle and often unrecognised. Although it is not about our society, a society of brown people but I believe it will definitely help to read about racism. Also, it is a big thing in western society and even though we have moved ahead so much, there are places and situations were we still see racism.
I think this book is so important as a reminder to society that racism exist. Sometimes people who do not get exposed to racism forget to see things from the other side, and they start treating others with disrespect. This book is an important reminder that no matter what color we are, we need to see things and understand things from other people's perspective. I have yet to read this book, but I would really like to know what Renni Edo-lodge has to say.
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, ..."
I think this book is very important because discussions on race are often difficult to have, but they are necessary. A book allows the reader to learn at their own pace without judgement, and it gives the author less of an emotional burden than having to explain your experience to someone else thousands or hundreds of thousands of times. As a white person, this past year I've found I've learned the most from books by people of color. For me reading has always been an honest and accessible way to get information, to envelope yourself into someone else's perspective, and when it comes to social justice issues that's something we need more than anything right now.
This book is important now because we continue to live in a world where these types of dialogues need to happen - how ashamed we should be that in 2017 this is the case. We have come so far and yet nowhere near far enough - indeed, there is an argument that the “progress” we have made is merely superficial because until we can have truly open and honest dialogues like Reni’s, we cannot begin to change the structures which are so detrimental to our movement for equality for all.As a teacher, I sense the fear and disappointment stemming from the horrific decisions made in the last few years that have re-established that our society is intrinsically prejudice. Watching students come to terms with Brexit and Trump has been harrowing at times. Having to explain that my students are exactly where they belong, that they are not the problem and trying to find the words to express why there is such prejudice in this day and age when we should know better has been almost impossible at times. We need people like Reni - and our community here - to start asking those difficult questions and giving those difficult answers.
Whether I win one of the copies available or not, I will be purchasing a couple for my classroom bookshelf because my way of paying forward my understanding and feelings is to share it with my students - hopefully they will find some of the answers they have been looking for within Reni’s clear and open explanations of structural racism and reflections on past attitudes to race.
This book is important nowadays because it highlights issues that some people might thought no longer existed relating to race and racism.
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 very relevant in these times of so much conflict between races. I'd like to learn more, to be an ally. I believe in love and not hate.
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