Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better
September 1, 2022
Jackson and Rao (cofounders of Race2Dinner, an organization that facilitates conversations between white women about racism and white supremacy) challenge readers to question their own relationship to racism. They also urge readers to come to terms with the way privileged white women routinely exploit people of color in order to demonstrate their own liberalism. Jackson and Rao issue a call-to-action to cast aside white-saviorism and embrace the discomfort of owning up to one's own implicit racial biases. Throughout the book, the authors draw intriguing parallels between racism and gender prejudice. VERDICT A must-read for all who have grown tired and weary of those who want to preserve the niceness of social interactions because of the way a situation looks instead of placing importance on what the reality is.--Alessandro Cimino
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 1, 2022
Jackson and Rao, founders of Race2Dinner, a company focused on facilitating "radically honest conversations about race," offer this no-nonsense guide for white women confronting their racism. Their advice and, at times, frustrations, are told in a simple, straightforward style with ample examples that punctuate white women's fragility. They emphasize the absolute need for people to just say something when they see something racist. Silence and perfectionism are pinpointed as the cruxes propping up racism and internal misogyny and the reasons why white women's relationships can be dysfunctional and mean. Jackson and Rao's advice: "Start loving yourselves--and each other. And then we can talk about how you can show up for women of color." As the authors suspect--because they've experienced it countless times--many readers will balk at their candor. But what they're offering is an opportunity for white women to free themselves and their communities from the toxic ideals of white supremacy and white culture, a message that's ultimately optimistic and even cathartic.
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Starred review from September 15, 2022
An energetic call to action for White women to fight against inherent elements of White supremacist thought. Via careful examination of their personal experiences and those of the other people of color who gave testimony for this book, Jackson and Rao unpack the ways in which White women's treatment of people (particularly women) of color upholds White supremacy. The authors are clear and concise, making their points with no room for argument. They present readers with incontrovertible evidence of inherent racism and how "White silence is violence." The authors also show how being nice can only get you so far, and White women must do the work to move beyond merely serving as an ally. "Allies don't have any skin in the game; they are standing side by side in solidarity," write the authors. "But you do have skin in the game--your white skin. Stop aspiring to be an ally--and good Lord, stop calling yourself an ally. Rather, be an accomplice. A partner, a collaborator, a co-conspirator. Anything but an ally." Jackson and Rao not only call out the racism of White women on the behalf of people of color; they also call attention to the fact that White supremacy is detrimental to White people as well. At every step, the authors call for substantive action and for White women to move beyond simply sharing inspirational memes, giving thoughts and prayers, and believing that positivity and "colorblindness" will solve racism. The authors are especially astute in their investigation of the language regarding White supremacy, noting that "the words 'privilege' and 'fragility' are so mild--so moderate, so proper, so subtle--when you consider what they are describing, the work these things do, the heavy lifting in upholding violence against people of color." The authors also append a helpful glossary of relevant terms, including microaggression, toxic positivity, and tone policing. A highly insightful, useful text.
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