Through the Lens of Whiteness: Challenging Racialized Imagery in Pop Culture

by Diane S. Grimes, Liz Cooney

An essential resource for anyone who wants to enter the next stage of their antiracist journey—recognizing, analyzing, and confronting the perpetuation of racism in our visual world. Images in the news, social media, advertisements, memes, websites, and selfies shape how we understand ourselves, our society, and our world. Even the images we don’t see have an impact on our daily lives. But images are not innocent. And we don’t have to be passive consumers. Our racial identities, assumptions, histories, and biases filter the images we absorb and affect how we interpret them. Are they problematic? How can you tell? Why should you care? Situated at the intersection of critical whiteness theory and visual culture, Through the Lens of Challenging Racialized Imagery in Pop Culture teaches readers visual literacy tools that expose racist messages, conventions, and symbols in images. Authors Diane S. Grimes and Liz Cooney help readers understand these patterns more deeply with detailed analysis of vivid image examples and personal stories to dismantle existing biases and develop an antiracist perspective. Grimes and Cooney are guided by the principle that white people bear the responsibility for dismantling racist structures and so primarily address white readers, but also offer this book in the hope that it will be a powerful tool of resistance for all readers.

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Abigail Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I’ve read all year. Quite literally the first 5 stars I’ve given on this app. If you are white and read 1 book in 2024, make this the book. This book was very informative on how media is often portrayed through a white lens and how to recognize it. It also examines how people can be white saviors and how detrimental that is. Please read this!

[Jenn Naughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will utilize information from this book while we read The Hate U Give with our Teen Lit group. Lots of food for thought in this book.

[Betsyband · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well-done and easy to read, especially if you are open to confronting racism in our world, especially in media. It is well-written and researched and thought-provoking.
I had an opportunity to meet one of the authors, Liz Cooney and she was delightful and engaging. Through the Lens of Whiteness is definitely worth reading.