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Speaking of Race
It’s easy to say that racism is wrong. But it’s surprisingly hard to agree on what it is. Does a tired stereotype in your favorite movie make it racist? Does watching it anyway mean you’re racist? Even among like-minded friends, such discussions can quickly escalate to hurt feelings all around—and when they do, we lose valuable opportunities to fight racism.
Patricia Roberts-Miller is a scholar of rhetoric—the art of understanding misunderstandings. In Speaking of Race , she explains why the subject is a “third rail” and how we can do We can acknowledge that, in a racist society, racism is not the sole provenance of “bad people.” We can focus on the harm it causes rather than the intent of offenders. And, when someone illuminates our own racist blind spots, we can take it not as a criticism, but as a kindness—and an opportunity to learn and to become less racist ourselves.
Patricia Roberts-Miller is a scholar of rhetoric—the art of understanding misunderstandings. In Speaking of Race , she explains why the subject is a “third rail” and how we can do We can acknowledge that, in a racist society, racism is not the sole provenance of “bad people.” We can focus on the harm it causes rather than the intent of offenders. And, when someone illuminates our own racist blind spots, we can take it not as a criticism, but as a kindness—and an opportunity to learn and to become less racist ourselves.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2021
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1007 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 21, 2022
a really interesting interpretation of racist comments and actions and how to handle them. I think the emphasis on rhetoric in this book adds something new and valuable to the conversation on racism that I haven’t seen before.
January 18, 2024
❝That kind of cruel and unnecessary exclusion was the consequence of a sort of bigotry that is so widespread that participating in it doesn't require conscious thought-it can rely on thoughtlessness.❞
Speaking of Race is a good beginner guide to controversies in racism and the unconscious dialogue we have that are inherently racist. I trust there are better books out there that can deep dive into antiracist rhetoric and racism but this is certainly worth a pick up if you're intimidated by the topic and have not a clue on where to begin. *Bonus, the book is also the size of my hand; perfect to fit in a pouch. All in all, Patricia assures readers with other book recommendations and to continue reading about dismantling our own racism in everyday conversation.
June 8, 2021
An interesting little read, I would recommend it to people. I think the beginning is the best part but I didn’t really agree, or like much of the claims later on. Although some of it is a difference of opinion such as her focus on harm as a key part of racism, it felt like she often drew straw men of this racist other and so easily refuted them while not touching the middle ground and nuance of racist discussion which I was hoping for. Helpful for what it is and who its for but I am going to keep reading. Does have a helpful list of book recommendations in the back.
March 24, 2024
Great short read on practical and healthy ways to confront our own racism and to confront it in others in a meaningful and most productive way- all about approaches and language.
Describes how emphasis on (/Anti-)Racist as identifier or identity takes prominence in discussions and disagreements around race, making dialogue ineffectual.
Super like light non-confrontational basic book, which is perfect for what it is and for being accessible and useful to the widest audience including our questionably kinda racist boomer family members (…).
So totally not a deep dive or super nuanced look at (/anti-) racism or even dialogue methods around it, but definitely has its place.
A few little quotes:
“Keeping the issue on actions and not identity is more likely to enable us to solve the problem.”
“Thinking about racism as all or nothing -you’re hitler or you don’t have a racist bone in your body- contributes to racism because it enables us to refuse to think about whether we’ve done something racist on the grounds that ‘we aren’t as bad as hitler’.”
“People often think we disagree because we have different facts, or we disagree about the facts, or the other side doesn’t have facts. On the contrary, […] often we agree about the facts, the disagreement is at the level of major premise.”
Describes how emphasis on (/Anti-)Racist as identifier or identity takes prominence in discussions and disagreements around race, making dialogue ineffectual.
Super like light non-confrontational basic book, which is perfect for what it is and for being accessible and useful to the widest audience including our questionably kinda racist boomer family members (…).
So totally not a deep dive or super nuanced look at (/anti-) racism or even dialogue methods around it, but definitely has its place.
A few little quotes:
“Keeping the issue on actions and not identity is more likely to enable us to solve the problem.”
“Thinking about racism as all or nothing -you’re hitler or you don’t have a racist bone in your body- contributes to racism because it enables us to refuse to think about whether we’ve done something racist on the grounds that ‘we aren’t as bad as hitler’.”
“People often think we disagree because we have different facts, or we disagree about the facts, or the other side doesn’t have facts. On the contrary, […] often we agree about the facts, the disagreement is at the level of major premise.”
May 19, 2022
Practical and down-to-earth guide about how to effectively discuss race issues with friends and coworkers, written by an expert in rhetoric. I expected a bit more from this book, which has a very narrow focus.
January 15, 2021
Speaking of Race: How to Have Antiracist Conversations That Bring Us Together by Patricia Roberts-Miller is a very accessible look at how we can work toward making the world a better place.
I found the strength of this book is less the information itself, though it is very useful, and more the accessibility. There is little jargon and what there is is explained in clear terms. This truly is a book for anyone interested in having the difficult conversations with others.
I have a bit of an issue with labeling everything racist. The term carries so much negative weight that to label stating facts without knowing that those facts carry some unease for others as racist is counterproductive. I am thinking in particular of the central event in chapter three of the book. No doubt she should have clarified that making her statements of fact in no way made the comparison that would spark unease, but she was unaware of the conflict. When made aware, she qualified her statements the next day in class. I don't think of her comments as racist but ignorantly insensitive, as did, it seems, her student. Going around to every person and labeling every ignorant comment, even when readily acknowledged and owned when pointed out, as racist seems counterproductive to making change. We are all, whether we realize it or not, racist to some extent. It is whether we are willing to acknowledge it when pointed out and make changes to how we speak or what we do that makes the difference.
This is essential reading for anyone wanting to have these discussions. If you haven't read many of the other antiracist books available, there will be quite a bit of new information here for you. If you have read those books, you will hopefully learn additional ways to approach the subject, both internally and interactively.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I found the strength of this book is less the information itself, though it is very useful, and more the accessibility. There is little jargon and what there is is explained in clear terms. This truly is a book for anyone interested in having the difficult conversations with others.
I have a bit of an issue with labeling everything racist. The term carries so much negative weight that to label stating facts without knowing that those facts carry some unease for others as racist is counterproductive. I am thinking in particular of the central event in chapter three of the book. No doubt she should have clarified that making her statements of fact in no way made the comparison that would spark unease, but she was unaware of the conflict. When made aware, she qualified her statements the next day in class. I don't think of her comments as racist but ignorantly insensitive, as did, it seems, her student. Going around to every person and labeling every ignorant comment, even when readily acknowledged and owned when pointed out, as racist seems counterproductive to making change. We are all, whether we realize it or not, racist to some extent. It is whether we are willing to acknowledge it when pointed out and make changes to how we speak or what we do that makes the difference.
This is essential reading for anyone wanting to have these discussions. If you haven't read many of the other antiracist books available, there will be quite a bit of new information here for you. If you have read those books, you will hopefully learn additional ways to approach the subject, both internally and interactively.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
February 28, 2021
This book provides a good beginning point for those that would like to have “that” conversation, but not sure how to start. Yes, this is a very difficult conversation, but in many instances, we must. There are a lot of books on this subject matter, some better than others like with any subject of books. Essential reading in my opinion. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.
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June 22, 2021DNF at 60% despite it being a short book. This simply wasn't the content or style I am interested in reading right now.
Read instead:
- "Anti-Racist Ally" by Sophie Williams
- "So You Want to Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo
- "Me and White Supremacy" by Layla Saad
... and myriad others
Read instead:
- "Anti-Racist Ally" by Sophie Williams
- "So You Want to Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo
- "Me and White Supremacy" by Layla Saad
... and myriad others
July 3, 2021
Roberts-Miller writes a good explanation about several topics surrounding race. It is a very small and short book but has plenty of hidden gems for people who are trying to understand what everyone is talking about when someone says someone is racist. Roberts-Miller makes the point that usually what people do are racist not necessarily the person themselves, even though I appreciate when she states that there really are people out there who are deliberately racists and nothing she writes will ever change that. She uses real life examples like the Black girl reading To Kill a Mockingbird in school was unbothered by it because her teachers gave her plenty of examples of positive Black characters. However, when she went to a mostly White College, she saw how the book was damaging based on the fact the students at the college knew very few Black people and thus may have had some preconceived notions. Overall, this was a good starting place for people unaware of how to talk about race.
July 19, 2022
This is a wise book about a difficult and emotional topic, and is "Full of practical advice ... [We] can all use some help speaking better about race" (Skinnell, quoted on back cover). To quote the Publishers Weekly Review, Roberts-Miller "Breaks down the reasons why disagreements about racism go off the rails so quickly, and explores how to get them back on track" (back cover).
I found the language very accessible and thoughtful. I wanted to the book to be longer. We need to talk more about this and this book can make such conversations a little easier.
Highly recommended.
For full disclosure, Roberts-Miller was one of my professors years ago, when I was a graduate student at UNC Greensboro.
I found the language very accessible and thoughtful. I wanted to the book to be longer. We need to talk more about this and this book can make such conversations a little easier.
Highly recommended.
For full disclosure, Roberts-Miller was one of my professors years ago, when I was a graduate student at UNC Greensboro.
May 20, 2024
This tiny little book is awesome if you want a pocket-sized Karen to carry around with you, shrilly nagging you for your racism.
Equally awesome if you want a bite-sized intro to woke BS. It's all here, meandering, tedious stories with obvious, pedantic intent, casual assertions of racism, and a shit-ton of strawmen.
For a professor of rhetoric, this sure is dry as dirt, on purpose, as, to a moral relativist like Roberts-Miller, there is no morality at all, other than professing abhorrence of what her peers abhor.
But Roberts-Miller only feigns impartiality, revealing nothing other than her own wildly privileged point of view. If you are aiming to be another Robin DeAngelo, you are aiming too low.
And if you fail to clear that bar?
Equally awesome if you want a bite-sized intro to woke BS. It's all here, meandering, tedious stories with obvious, pedantic intent, casual assertions of racism, and a shit-ton of strawmen.
For a professor of rhetoric, this sure is dry as dirt, on purpose, as, to a moral relativist like Roberts-Miller, there is no morality at all, other than professing abhorrence of what her peers abhor.
But Roberts-Miller only feigns impartiality, revealing nothing other than her own wildly privileged point of view. If you are aiming to be another Robin DeAngelo, you are aiming too low.
And if you fail to clear that bar?
February 21, 2021
this is such a smoll little cute book and unfortunately doesnt make me think much into it. maybe it just wasnt the type that i was fond of/looking for as i was just looking for a fast & short read to pick up & to be read while communiting back home from work just bc i felt naked w/o holding a book back home LOLOL. anyways, i guess its great for people who are looking for some references about race?? not too sure if it will be relatable though bc most of them are context based in the US. nevertheless still probably an ok read just for a short intro???
February 20, 2021
Consider this a type of reference book if you are looking for resources that are current regarding racial matters in the United States. This author makes mention of all the notable people who talk about this subject.
If you tend to read books by authors who are published in this genre, this book will not be as much of an asset for you but if this is a new genre for your reading pleasure this book is a good resource.
If you tend to read books by authors who are published in this genre, this book will not be as much of an asset for you but if this is a new genre for your reading pleasure this book is a good resource.
May 7, 2021
I think if you need help having difficult race conversations might help but for me this didn't present new info.Definitely written from a rhetoric lens. But the book centers whiteness so reads as very basic. You aren't racist but you're doing racist things
November 21, 2021
Some pretty basic stuff, but good reminders for having conversations with people about race. Keep things off of emotions, don't attack folks, keep the conversation about what was said or done being racist, not people being racist.
September 1, 2022
Very well done. Concise but clear. I feel that it got a bit in the weeds with the movie example, but overall I was able to take much of what I read and apply it to conversations with my children about how to approach calling out racist statements we hear from others (and how to check ourselves).
October 19, 2023
Pretty fast read, you could probably get through it over a few days if you wanted to and has a lot of really good information but I think Roberts-Miller is a bit of a pessimist about how people are, and it shows throughout.
May 2, 2023
A good, brief primer, based in rhetoric and argumentation - avoids precise examples of hot button racism to provide clear corollaries and ‘non-hot’ examples.
February 21, 2021
“Given that we’re in a racist culture, it’s almost certain that we will say and do racist things, and it can hurt to be told that we have done so.”
Patricia Roberts-Miller has written a short, clear, and well illustrated book about how to recognize your own racist statements and actions and than how to talk to other’s about their racist behavior. Turns out that someone who has three degrees in rhetoric, which is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, can explain this pretty well.
Let us go back to the opening statement, we are all racist in America. I do not like admitting it but I definitely have racist thoughts, ideas, and behaviors. I do not mean to but being white in America I have integrated racist ideas. As Roberts-Miller points out, I might not have meant to hit your car with mine but the reality is that I did do it. Telling you that I feel bad about it does not fix it. I need to own up to what I have done and address the problem.
Roberts-Miller has a whole section entitled “racism isn’t about white people’s feelings”. However, she also understands that telling someone that they are racist is a difficult thing. To recognize the issue and change, you need to explain and educate rather than attack. Similarly, as a racist I need to make sure that I am open to the feedback rather than immediately defending my works and actions. It may not feel good when someone points out when I act in a racist manner but that pain is a lot less significant than the pain I am causing in others.
Roberts-Miller uses the car accident analogy to illustrate several different points. “If I hit your car, and you said I hit your car, and I tried to say that you shouldn’t say I hit your car because that makes me feel bad, you would call it out as the entitled jerk move it is.” “While people making the issue about whether white people feel OK about this conversation rather than whether white people have been racist is about as good an example of privilege as I can imagine.” Think of people who reply to Black Lives Matter with All Lives Matter. This isn’t about you and your hurt feelings.
This book is not trying to be Ibram X. Kendi’s book How To Be An Antiracist nor Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste. Both of these are excellent books and I highly recommend you read them. Roberts-Miller’s is about how to have the conversation. Her point is that racism is not something that just “bad people” do, it is something that we all do. Starting with that truth this book is about how to talk to yourself and others about racist thoughts and actions.
The full title is: Speaking of Race: How to Have Antiracist Conversations That Bring Us Together. She is talking about; conversations not shouting, together not apart. The facts are that racism is here and it needs to be addressed and that racism is hard to talk about. Roberts-Miller is an expert on talking and has a lot to say. I highly recommend that you take the time to listen.
Patricia Roberts-Miller has written a short, clear, and well illustrated book about how to recognize your own racist statements and actions and than how to talk to other’s about their racist behavior. Turns out that someone who has three degrees in rhetoric, which is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, can explain this pretty well.
Let us go back to the opening statement, we are all racist in America. I do not like admitting it but I definitely have racist thoughts, ideas, and behaviors. I do not mean to but being white in America I have integrated racist ideas. As Roberts-Miller points out, I might not have meant to hit your car with mine but the reality is that I did do it. Telling you that I feel bad about it does not fix it. I need to own up to what I have done and address the problem.
Roberts-Miller has a whole section entitled “racism isn’t about white people’s feelings”. However, she also understands that telling someone that they are racist is a difficult thing. To recognize the issue and change, you need to explain and educate rather than attack. Similarly, as a racist I need to make sure that I am open to the feedback rather than immediately defending my works and actions. It may not feel good when someone points out when I act in a racist manner but that pain is a lot less significant than the pain I am causing in others.
Roberts-Miller uses the car accident analogy to illustrate several different points. “If I hit your car, and you said I hit your car, and I tried to say that you shouldn’t say I hit your car because that makes me feel bad, you would call it out as the entitled jerk move it is.” “While people making the issue about whether white people feel OK about this conversation rather than whether white people have been racist is about as good an example of privilege as I can imagine.” Think of people who reply to Black Lives Matter with All Lives Matter. This isn’t about you and your hurt feelings.
This book is not trying to be Ibram X. Kendi’s book How To Be An Antiracist nor Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste. Both of these are excellent books and I highly recommend you read them. Roberts-Miller’s is about how to have the conversation. Her point is that racism is not something that just “bad people” do, it is something that we all do. Starting with that truth this book is about how to talk to yourself and others about racist thoughts and actions.
The full title is: Speaking of Race: How to Have Antiracist Conversations That Bring Us Together. She is talking about; conversations not shouting, together not apart. The facts are that racism is here and it needs to be addressed and that racism is hard to talk about. Roberts-Miller is an expert on talking and has a lot to say. I highly recommend that you take the time to listen.
October 31, 2023
The explanations regarding how racism still carries an impact today is excellent. The author clearly outlines how there is a different in saying that a remark or an action is racist and that a person is racist. She talks about how people in the "in" group can sometimes be persuaded to look at racism differently if we help them to see that racist words and actions, even when they are unintentional cause damage, but that doesn't make the person "bad". It's all about what people choose to do with the information that something that they've said or done is "racist". If they listen with an open heart and mind and change their language and/or behavior as a result, then we can't consider them a racist, just a human being who made a mistake.
There is also an interesting discussion about the differences as to what is considered racist by different people. The author does a great job in explaining how we need to be more discerning in this area because sometimes discussions of race devolve quickly simply because the participants aren't using the same definition of what "racism" actually is.
There is also an interesting discussion about the differences as to what is considered racist by different people. The author does a great job in explaining how we need to be more discerning in this area because sometimes discussions of race devolve quickly simply because the participants aren't using the same definition of what "racism" actually is.
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April 12, 2021This was a short but mighty book. If you are struggling with race conversations, this book is fantastic. The author gives examples and thoughts on how to approach conversations on race. Well written and very helpful.
April 16, 2021
Excellent insight
I have but one criticism. I wish the book had been longer. And I hope the author will expand her insight to other topics: Speaking of Size. Speaking of Ability. Speaking of Social Class.
I have but one criticism. I wish the book had been longer. And I hope the author will expand her insight to other topics: Speaking of Size. Speaking of Ability. Speaking of Social Class.
June 19, 2021
Excellent resource for people who are interested in anti-racist work.
Short, concise and clear arguments to open my mind on how to understand racism and engage in anti-racist conversations.
I am very grateful to be schooled by a professor of rhetoric!
Short, concise and clear arguments to open my mind on how to understand racism and engage in anti-racist conversations.
I am very grateful to be schooled by a professor of rhetoric!
May 2, 2021
This is a very short digestible book with good insights for those interested in getting to know more about the subject, but not a lot of time for reading.
November 5, 2021
Well researched and insightful in ACTUALLY helping on those crucial next steps - you read the books now get to work.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews