What an important book Wise has written here. Let us know what you think and, if you like, use the questions below to dig a bit deeper into the text.
1. Wise tells a story about a seminar in which participants, separated by race, were asked the questions, "What do whites like about being white?" and "What do black folks like about being black?" How would you answer this question for yourself? Do you think he’s correct that the only real solidarity between whites is the common history of oppressorship? If so, what conclusions do you draw?
2. Wise mentions that he believes in fate. Do you think this presents a conflict to the central idea of the book? In other words, is it problematic to believe one is living out his destiny while seeing so many whose full lives are being variously thwarted (or does this mean their thwarted lives are their destinies)? Do you think fate is a function of privilege?
3. Wise tells the story of playing ball with two classmates in school who called him the ‘n’ word, making him think about the word in a new way. The ‘n’ word is inarguably used to keep black Americans down. But what do you think about the “taking back” of the word, similar to how many women have reclaimed the word “bitch” and use it with one another? Is this good, bad, necessary, uncomfortable, inevitable? Who is allowed to use these words? What are the societal rules now, and what are the consequences?
4. Wise presents a solution to a common problem among groups of white friends: the racist joke-teller. How do you deal with people like this? Do you think it's important to confront them? If you don't confront them, why not?
5. What do you think of Wise himself and his work for racial justice? What can white people contribute to the conversation on race, if anything?
1. Wise tells a story about a seminar in which participants, separated by race, were asked the questions, "What do whites like about being white?" and "What do black folks like about being black?" How would you answer this question for yourself? Do you think he’s correct that the only real solidarity between whites is the common history of oppressorship? If so, what conclusions do you draw?
2. Wise mentions that he believes in fate. Do you think this presents a conflict to the central idea of the book? In other words, is it problematic to believe one is living out his destiny while seeing so many whose full lives are being variously thwarted (or does this mean their thwarted lives are their destinies)? Do you think fate is a function of privilege?
3. Wise tells the story of playing ball with two classmates in school who called him the ‘n’ word, making him think about the word in a new way. The ‘n’ word is inarguably used to keep black Americans down. But what do you think about the “taking back” of the word, similar to how many women have reclaimed the word “bitch” and use it with one another? Is this good, bad, necessary, uncomfortable, inevitable? Who is allowed to use these words? What are the societal rules now, and what are the consequences?
4. Wise presents a solution to a common problem among groups of white friends: the racist joke-teller. How do you deal with people like this? Do you think it's important to confront them? If you don't confront them, why not?
5. What do you think of Wise himself and his work for racial justice? What can white people contribute to the conversation on race, if anything?