What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Have Antiracist Conversations: Embracing Our Full Humanity to Challenge White Supremacy
Utilizing Dr. Martin Luther King’s Beloved Community framework, activists will be empowered to create change and equity through fierce yet compassionate dialogue against racism and systematic white supremacy.
Can a person be both fierce and compassionate at once? Directly challenge racist speech or actions without seeking to humiliate the other person? Interrupt hateful or habitual forms of discrimination in new ways that foster deeper change? Dr. Roxy Manning believes it's possible—and you can learn how.
In this book, Dr. Manning provides a new way to conceive of antiracist conversations, along with the practical tools and frameworks that make them possible. Her work is grounded in the idea of Beloved Community, as articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a goal to aspire to and even experience now, in the present, when we refuse to give up on the possibility of human connection within ourselves, with potential allies, and with those whose words and actions create harm. This book fuels courage and provides tools to confront everyday forms of racism. It walks the reader through an effective, efficient model of dialogue that utilizes concepts of nonviolent communication and helps normalize talking about racism instead of treating it like a "third rail," strictly avoided or touched at one's peril.
Readers will
• Be empowered to identify what kind of antiracist conversation they want to have—for example, do they only want to be heard, or do they want to negotiate a change in policy?
• Learn how to engage in antiracist conversations whether they are the Actor (person who says or does something racist), the Receiver (the target of racism), or the Bystander.
• Learn how to notice the underlying needs and values that motivate all human actions and how those values can open up pathways to transformation.
Examples of antiracist conversations highlight different ways to initiate dialogue, raise awareness, speak one's truth, and make clear, doable requests or demands for change.
Drawing on her experience as a clinical psychologist, a nonviolent communication practitioner, and an Afro-Caribbean immigrant, Dr. Manning provides a model of antiracist dialogue with practical applications for individuals and organizations.
Can a person be both fierce and compassionate at once? Directly challenge racist speech or actions without seeking to humiliate the other person? Interrupt hateful or habitual forms of discrimination in new ways that foster deeper change? Dr. Roxy Manning believes it's possible—and you can learn how.
In this book, Dr. Manning provides a new way to conceive of antiracist conversations, along with the practical tools and frameworks that make them possible. Her work is grounded in the idea of Beloved Community, as articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a goal to aspire to and even experience now, in the present, when we refuse to give up on the possibility of human connection within ourselves, with potential allies, and with those whose words and actions create harm. This book fuels courage and provides tools to confront everyday forms of racism. It walks the reader through an effective, efficient model of dialogue that utilizes concepts of nonviolent communication and helps normalize talking about racism instead of treating it like a "third rail," strictly avoided or touched at one's peril.
Readers will
• Be empowered to identify what kind of antiracist conversation they want to have—for example, do they only want to be heard, or do they want to negotiate a change in policy?
• Learn how to engage in antiracist conversations whether they are the Actor (person who says or does something racist), the Receiver (the target of racism), or the Bystander.
• Learn how to notice the underlying needs and values that motivate all human actions and how those values can open up pathways to transformation.
Examples of antiracist conversations highlight different ways to initiate dialogue, raise awareness, speak one's truth, and make clear, doable requests or demands for change.
Drawing on her experience as a clinical psychologist, a nonviolent communication practitioner, and an Afro-Caribbean immigrant, Dr. Manning provides a model of antiracist dialogue with practical applications for individuals and organizations.
284 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2024
26 people are currently reading
3206 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 10, 2023
I love the ideas of how to have these beautiful conversations for those of us that just don't know what to say, and we want to have gentle AND effective conversations.
October 12, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I feel that it did a great job at laying out strategies to have difficult conversations about race in a productive and edifying manner
August 17, 2023
At last! I have been teaching a course at De Anza College for 12 years on Nonviolent Leadership for Social Justice and have had to weave together articles, book chapters, and videos drawing from human development, history, psychology, sociology, political science, neurobiology, critical pedagogy, indigenous spirituality, and more, to attend to the issues young people are wrestling with in both the larger world and in their personal lives. With Roxy Manning's book I now have an engaging tool that brings together so many essential elements critical to understanding ourselves in the world we live in, and most importantly, accessible, transformative (decolonized) frameworks and concrete skills necessary to bring a more connected and loving world into being.
Conflicts are an inevitable part of human relationships, and conflicts related to the trauma of racism are especially fraught, so Roxy's grounded work illuminates a path that can take us through such conflicts to that field "beyond ideas of right and wrong" where we can find ourselves more connected to each other's humanity and experience the truth of our capacity to live in Beloved Community. This is what I want our next generation of students/change agents to learn and experience, and so I'm deeply grateful to have this tool to share and learn with them.
Edmundo Norte, Dean Emerit
Intercultural and International Studies and Senior Fellow, Community Learning Partnership
Conflicts are an inevitable part of human relationships, and conflicts related to the trauma of racism are especially fraught, so Roxy's grounded work illuminates a path that can take us through such conflicts to that field "beyond ideas of right and wrong" where we can find ourselves more connected to each other's humanity and experience the truth of our capacity to live in Beloved Community. This is what I want our next generation of students/change agents to learn and experience, and so I'm deeply grateful to have this tool to share and learn with them.
Edmundo Norte, Dean Emerit
Intercultural and International Studies and Senior Fellow, Community Learning Partnership
May 25, 2023
"This is the most compelling, pragmatic and enlightening book for healing systemic, interpersonal and intrapersonal issues imaginable for me.
Building Beloved Community was the dream of Martin Luther King. Oh how I long for it.
Beloved Community is one in which each person's needs are held in loving hands and heart. A community that acknowledges each of us as unique individuals with desires and needs that are obtainable through emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual support and practice. Roxy has developed a way to get there.
Roxy includes the fundamentals of Nonviolent (or Compassionate) Communication and builds from there in a nuanced, fierce and loving way. She puts her plan, this brilliant idea into actionable strategies
.
Roxy also provides context about White Supremacy and it's devastating effects on each and every one of us in a compassionate understandable manner that can help every American understand it's devastating effects on people of the Global Majority AND on whites."
Building Beloved Community was the dream of Martin Luther King. Oh how I long for it.
Beloved Community is one in which each person's needs are held in loving hands and heart. A community that acknowledges each of us as unique individuals with desires and needs that are obtainable through emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual support and practice. Roxy has developed a way to get there.
Roxy includes the fundamentals of Nonviolent (or Compassionate) Communication and builds from there in a nuanced, fierce and loving way. She puts her plan, this brilliant idea into actionable strategies
.
Roxy also provides context about White Supremacy and it's devastating effects on each and every one of us in a compassionate understandable manner that can help every American understand it's devastating effects on people of the Global Majority AND on whites."
September 10, 2023
Dr. Manning’s book has a personal tone as she brings together the vision of Beloved Community, the practicality of Nonviolent Communications, and the passion of anti-racist activism. Dr. Manning lays out what works and what doesn't in unravelling this tangled web of racism through Authentic Dialogue.
With anecdotes, extensive research, and schemas, she gives us the "how-to" for anti-racist conversations. She discusses types of Authentic Dialogues, what blocks them, and antidotes to the pitfall we might encounter. While the book is easy to read, it's valuable whether we are wondering how to talk to Uncle Joe at Thanksgiving or we are well on our way to being good ancestors.
The methods take time to use well but even first attempts are amazingly satisfying.
With anecdotes, extensive research, and schemas, she gives us the "how-to" for anti-racist conversations. She discusses types of Authentic Dialogues, what blocks them, and antidotes to the pitfall we might encounter. While the book is easy to read, it's valuable whether we are wondering how to talk to Uncle Joe at Thanksgiving or we are well on our way to being good ancestors.
The methods take time to use well but even first attempts are amazingly satisfying.
September 20, 2023
This book was helpful for me as a white person who wants to avoid and repair inadvertently hurting others as well as be more of an ally as a bystander. It also has information for global majority people (people of color) that looks very helpful for them/you as well. For the white folks, it is a good book regardless of your prior knowledge level on this topic. As a side bonus, and definitely NOT as a reason to take anti racism any less seriously at all, I think that reading this book can also help people be more effective while talking about other isms such as sexism and ableism. If you aren’t sure if you’d like to buy the book yet, would you be opposed to taking a peek at one of Dr. Roxy Manning’s YouTube videos? You’ll get to find out how helpful her teachings are!
September 18, 2023
Dr. Roxy Manning's book, How to Have Antiracist Conversations, takes Non Violent Communication (NVC) from theory to action. For those familiar with NVC this book facilitates discussions about race. Those unfamiliar with NVC will receive the best possible introduction on how NVC can be effectively applied to the most difficult circumstances. If you are interested in a roadmap for negotiating barriers to your own full humanity, this book is a must read. If you want to add to your current efforts to contribute to Beloved Community, this book will be of tremendous service.
August 7, 2023
I strongly recommend this book. I am not aware of any other book that addresses in as much detail the "how." If you have remained silent when you've received a micro-aggression or been a bystander for one, or if you have reacted with some anger and intensity but later felt that you weren't effective in changing the speaker's attitudes, this book is for you. Dr. Manning brings her deep understanding of Nonviolent Communication to the subject of addressing racist actions.
August 18, 2023
This book offers a way in to difficult conversations with family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. By centering the humanity of everyone with an unblinking look at the consequences of the myth of white supremacy, it offers practical tools for action supported by a deep commitment to nonviolence. The author brings together Kingian nonviolence with the accessible practices of nonviolent communication (NVC) to help us all work toward transformation. Such a necessary book!
May 21, 2024
A truly excellent book for those looking to build authentic Beloved Community with impactful and heart-centered conversations that challenge white supremacy. There is a particularly supportive and detailed section of the book (and handbook) called The Authentic Dialogue Framework that I highly recommend digging into to bring nuance to your language.
August 22, 2023
Got an early copy as I backed the book on Kickstarter and I love the invitation into the beloved community for the three roles in any conflict (receiver, actor, and bystander) and for them to belong and how each role can best support themselves to stay engaged and resourced.
September 11, 2023
Clear-eyed and warm-hearted approach to having antiracist conversations. Dr. Manning is truly interested in embracing our shared humanity without dismissing the reality of racist systems within which we all live. I am very grateful for her powerful work and willingness to teach it.
June 13, 2024
So very thoughtful steps for having hard conversations. To paraphrase Mannings closing, not a magical, easy fix, but a journey of a lifetime and potential generations. But if we don't start now, nothing will change.
Great to partner with Emergent Strategy and Imaginable.
Great to partner with Emergent Strategy and Imaginable.
February 22, 2025
The book is written in a dense academic style. I found it difficult to actually understand what I was supposed to do. There were some examples of conversations but I cannot imagine myself speaking like that. I would have liked a more down to earth presentation.
September 11, 2023
Reverse racism IS racism.
September 15, 2023
This is an important book.
September 18, 2023
love the approach of both and....and the encouragement to be fierce and compassionate what a great read!
October 23, 2024
Incredible, beautiful! This increased my understanding and commitment to antiracism work; as well as my love for and commitment to NVC. Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews