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Letters to My White Male Friends
In Letters to My White Male Friends , Dax-Devlon Ross speaks directly to the millions of middle-aged white men who are suddenly awakening to race and racism.
White men are finally realizing that simply not being racist isn’t enough to end racism. These men want deeper insight not only into how racism has harmed Black people, but, for the first time, into how it has harmed them . They are beginning to see that racism warps us all. Letters to My White Male Friends promises to help men who have said they are committed to change and to develop the capacity to see, feel and sustain that commitment so they can help secure racial justice for us all.
Ross helps readers understand what it meant to be America’s first generation raised after the civil rights era. He explains how we were all educated with colorblind narratives and symbols that typically, albeit implicitly, privileged whiteness and denigrated Blackness. He provides the context and color of his own experiences in white schools so that white men can revisit moments in their lives where racism was in the room even when they didn’t see it enter. Ross shows how learning to see the harm that racism did to him, and forgiving himself, gave him the empathy to see the harm it does to white people as well.
Ultimately, Ross offers white men direction so that they can take just action in their workplace, community, family, and, most importantly, in themselves, especially in the future when race is no longer in the spotlight.
White men are finally realizing that simply not being racist isn’t enough to end racism. These men want deeper insight not only into how racism has harmed Black people, but, for the first time, into how it has harmed them . They are beginning to see that racism warps us all. Letters to My White Male Friends promises to help men who have said they are committed to change and to develop the capacity to see, feel and sustain that commitment so they can help secure racial justice for us all.
Ross helps readers understand what it meant to be America’s first generation raised after the civil rights era. He explains how we were all educated with colorblind narratives and symbols that typically, albeit implicitly, privileged whiteness and denigrated Blackness. He provides the context and color of his own experiences in white schools so that white men can revisit moments in their lives where racism was in the room even when they didn’t see it enter. Ross shows how learning to see the harm that racism did to him, and forgiving himself, gave him the empathy to see the harm it does to white people as well.
Ultimately, Ross offers white men direction so that they can take just action in their workplace, community, family, and, most importantly, in themselves, especially in the future when race is no longer in the spotlight.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published June 15, 2021
31 people are currently reading
2230 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 11, 2021
I'm clearly not part of the demographic the author was aiming for. However, as a young white woman, I figured I could also benefit from the perspective Dax-Devlon Ross offers here, and I was correct.
Letters to My White Male Friends is, as the name suggests, a collection of letters written for white, middle-aged men, particularly those in positions of power professionally. The author describes his upbringing after the civil rights era and offers ways for white men in power to take action. It's well-written and eye-opening; I would definitely recommend it, even if (like me) you're not the exact target audience.
The only issue I have with this book is that Ross tells these white men to focus on race rather than "wider" forms of diversity in the workplace because, "if you solve for race, you solve for everything else." I could be totally misunderstanding his point and I'll look into it further, but this seems to go against what I've heard from other Black activists regarding the intersectional nature of oppression. What would encourage employers to even consider people who face different (and especially multiple!) forms of oppression when they can be "diverse enough" hiring a few cis and able-bodied men of colour? What would encourage them to think about and evaluate their transphobic, homophobic, sexist, and ableist biases during the hiring process?
Aside from that, I think this is a super important read. The author narrated this himself and he did a fantastic job. I highly recommend listening!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Letters to My White Male Friends is, as the name suggests, a collection of letters written for white, middle-aged men, particularly those in positions of power professionally. The author describes his upbringing after the civil rights era and offers ways for white men in power to take action. It's well-written and eye-opening; I would definitely recommend it, even if (like me) you're not the exact target audience.
The only issue I have with this book is that Ross tells these white men to focus on race rather than "wider" forms of diversity in the workplace because, "if you solve for race, you solve for everything else." I could be totally misunderstanding his point and I'll look into it further, but this seems to go against what I've heard from other Black activists regarding the intersectional nature of oppression. What would encourage employers to even consider people who face different (and especially multiple!) forms of oppression when they can be "diverse enough" hiring a few cis and able-bodied men of colour? What would encourage them to think about and evaluate their transphobic, homophobic, sexist, and ableist biases during the hiring process?
Aside from that, I think this is a super important read. The author narrated this himself and he did a fantastic job. I highly recommend listening!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2021
really interesting perspective from an African American man who grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood telling how his race (and the race-associated cultural, political, and social inequalities it has in the USA) impacted how others treated him at school and how race continues to impact his colleagues and coworkers. Two sections of his memoir really stood out to me. First was his experience being arrested (because his friend did a pullup on a piece of scaffolding) while he was in law school. Despite his class and educational status, he was jailed and counseled to take a plea deal that would have given him a record over an incredibly minor event. If his dad hadn't had the ability to hire a lawyer his adult life would have been very different, as it was for the dozens of others processed by the court that day. The second was his insights on the non-profit sector, where he worked as an executive director and now as a consultant. His thoughts about the impacts of donor culture (shading projects and appeals to satisfy donor expectations) and the way that the leadership and staff of non-profits often don't relate to or understand he people they serve were things I'd never really considered. There are a lot of books like this lately, but this was a perspective I hadn't seen before.
April 10, 2021
I'm going to preface this with the fact that I am not the author's intended audience. Although I'm not a man, I had gotten this book because I wanted to see what I can extrapolate to myself (as far as unlearning white supremacy and what actions I might further take), and because I have (too) many white men in my family who refuse to confront their own participation in the system. Overall this book is chock-full of information and calls to actions that I think would benefit those who take up their flags.
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is for one passage that really bothered me, and made me question whether the author is aware of what that passage actually suggests. I discuss it at length below.
Overall, this mind-opening book presents a fascinating history through anecdotes and personal narrative, which I had never learned about before. I had known the Reagan era was a huge step back (though of course as a child I was taught it was an excellent thing, the war on drugs and so forth), but I didn't realize the impact it truly had on a finally thriving demographic. Neither did I know the origins of the bell curve and its blatantly quack principles. I had been vaguely aware that charities are just a form of tax evasion, but seeing it specifically rooted in culture to address symptoms of inequity and not the disease makes me all the more disappointed and wary about where and how I contribute and volunteer.
The one offensive passage, and I say this after having taken some time to examine it, is Ross' demand that we focus on race, what he calls the "mother ship" of all our problems. I am actually insulted by this. His assertion that "everyone benefits" as far as voting rights go is not even true! Disabled people often cannot access polling places, and voting by mail can also be difficult depending on one's residence and competency of local mail carriers. Disabled people lose their benefits when they marry. They are less likely to be employed, and if they are, it's perfectly legal to pay them far below the minimum wage, as Goodwill's does. Disabled people have higher insurance rates, and medical professionals are more likely to dismiss their concerns and crises. Disabled people have subpar education, whether it is through special education programs, mainstream schools, or segregaged institutions, because these programs and institutions are underfunded and do not address and meet disabled students' needs. Disabled people also have less access to social events, limited by poor infrastructure and the organizers' overlooking of any potential accessibility concerns. And while I haven't investigated it myself, I've seen advocates and activists claim that roughly half of the Black bodies police brutalize and murder are also disabled.
Disabled people of all races today are still struggling for their rights to exist and participate in society. Or weren't you paying attention in 2017, when the Capitol police arrested and physically dragged away the disabled activists who left their mobility aids and crawled up the steps? They were merely exercising their rights to protest legislation that would easily result in the deaths of those without access to healthcare. Disability discrimination is an institutional problem we also need to address and rectify, not just by making more accessible spaces, but including disability as a legitimate and *equal* issue. See Douglas C. Baynton's works for a discussion on how throughout American history, both women and Black men helped foward their own rights by insisting they weren't "disabled," without ever considering whether disabled people deserved rights as well. To say that we should only focus on race, and that all the rest will follow, ignores both disability history and, I would argue, Kimberlé Crenshaw's concept of intersectionality. The latter is because when we address race, we often only address the men, and women's experiences are left by the wayside. Add to that the experiences of the disabled, and the queer.
I would strongly advise the author to reevaluate this passage and what he is actually claiming, because the suggestion that racial inequality is the most important issue, and that all other marginalized people fighting for their own rights ought to change their focus and wait their turns, is highly disturbing.
The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is for one passage that really bothered me, and made me question whether the author is aware of what that passage actually suggests. I discuss it at length below.
Overall, this mind-opening book presents a fascinating history through anecdotes and personal narrative, which I had never learned about before. I had known the Reagan era was a huge step back (though of course as a child I was taught it was an excellent thing, the war on drugs and so forth), but I didn't realize the impact it truly had on a finally thriving demographic. Neither did I know the origins of the bell curve and its blatantly quack principles. I had been vaguely aware that charities are just a form of tax evasion, but seeing it specifically rooted in culture to address symptoms of inequity and not the disease makes me all the more disappointed and wary about where and how I contribute and volunteer.
The one offensive passage, and I say this after having taken some time to examine it, is Ross' demand that we focus on race, what he calls the "mother ship" of all our problems. I am actually insulted by this. His assertion that "everyone benefits" as far as voting rights go is not even true! Disabled people often cannot access polling places, and voting by mail can also be difficult depending on one's residence and competency of local mail carriers. Disabled people lose their benefits when they marry. They are less likely to be employed, and if they are, it's perfectly legal to pay them far below the minimum wage, as Goodwill's does. Disabled people have higher insurance rates, and medical professionals are more likely to dismiss their concerns and crises. Disabled people have subpar education, whether it is through special education programs, mainstream schools, or segregaged institutions, because these programs and institutions are underfunded and do not address and meet disabled students' needs. Disabled people also have less access to social events, limited by poor infrastructure and the organizers' overlooking of any potential accessibility concerns. And while I haven't investigated it myself, I've seen advocates and activists claim that roughly half of the Black bodies police brutalize and murder are also disabled.
Disabled people of all races today are still struggling for their rights to exist and participate in society. Or weren't you paying attention in 2017, when the Capitol police arrested and physically dragged away the disabled activists who left their mobility aids and crawled up the steps? They were merely exercising their rights to protest legislation that would easily result in the deaths of those without access to healthcare. Disability discrimination is an institutional problem we also need to address and rectify, not just by making more accessible spaces, but including disability as a legitimate and *equal* issue. See Douglas C. Baynton's works for a discussion on how throughout American history, both women and Black men helped foward their own rights by insisting they weren't "disabled," without ever considering whether disabled people deserved rights as well. To say that we should only focus on race, and that all the rest will follow, ignores both disability history and, I would argue, Kimberlé Crenshaw's concept of intersectionality. The latter is because when we address race, we often only address the men, and women's experiences are left by the wayside. Add to that the experiences of the disabled, and the queer.
I would strongly advise the author to reevaluate this passage and what he is actually claiming, because the suggestion that racial inequality is the most important issue, and that all other marginalized people fighting for their own rights ought to change their focus and wait their turns, is highly disturbing.
May 8, 2021
4.5/5
This book is a series of letters (or rather, personal essays) that targets a very specific demographic - middle-aged, white men with higher education, and who are part of the mid-/upper-class group of managers, directors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. Essentially, this is a book for the most privileged of privileged men. I suppose the full title of this book should be "Letters to My Rich White Male CEO Friends".
These are men who are "typically coddled and appeased." If there is an issue about race in their company, they often hire others to provide a quick seminar on the subject (and to check off a box on their to-do list), while they sit back, distance themselves from the conversation, and consider it a job well done without having actually done anything to better themselves or their company in the long run. This series of letters in this book is a call-to-action for these men to do better and to better their companies from the top down. They need to open their eyes to the prevalent racism that exists within their companies and in the broader society.
This book discusses various topics related to racism. One of the topics that I really enjoyed reading about was Dax-Devlon Ross's discussion on privilege. Unlike other books on race that I've read, Ross recognizes his own privileges in terms of socio-economic, education, and citizenship status. I thought he did a great job comparing white privilege with his American-privilege and how it is often very easy to forget your status and take your privileges for granted. However, with that being said, he also emphasized that Black people are not exempt from racism no matter their social, economic or educational background. Racism doesn't care if you're rich or educated - it works solely on the stereotypes associated with skin color.
I also enjoyed reading the author's letter regarding non-profit organizations. While these organizations are supposed to help the poor and disadvantaged, they are not as benevolent or as equitable as we may think. The underlying purpose of most charities is tax avoidance and wealth preservation of rich white men, and the charities themselves often perpetuate white saviorism and appropriates stereotypes. While these organizations have helped many people, it is harmful to have them continuously run and managed by white men.
I went into this book knowing full well that I'm not the target demographic but there was still plenty that I took away from this book. I also think this book does a good job writing for its target demographic. Ross is a lawyer and he certainly writes like one - the book uses a lot of big words and cites quite a few legal cases. For the most part, the letters read like a series of college essays with arguments supported by facts and by the author's personal experiences studying at elite schools and working alongside powerful white men.
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are subject to change prior to final publication.
"I write the letters herein to my white male friends because you are everyone's target but no one's focus."
This book is a series of letters (or rather, personal essays) that targets a very specific demographic - middle-aged, white men with higher education, and who are part of the mid-/upper-class group of managers, directors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. Essentially, this is a book for the most privileged of privileged men. I suppose the full title of this book should be "Letters to My Rich White Male CEO Friends".
These are men who are "typically coddled and appeased." If there is an issue about race in their company, they often hire others to provide a quick seminar on the subject (and to check off a box on their to-do list), while they sit back, distance themselves from the conversation, and consider it a job well done without having actually done anything to better themselves or their company in the long run. This series of letters in this book is a call-to-action for these men to do better and to better their companies from the top down. They need to open their eyes to the prevalent racism that exists within their companies and in the broader society.
This book discusses various topics related to racism. One of the topics that I really enjoyed reading about was Dax-Devlon Ross's discussion on privilege. Unlike other books on race that I've read, Ross recognizes his own privileges in terms of socio-economic, education, and citizenship status. I thought he did a great job comparing white privilege with his American-privilege and how it is often very easy to forget your status and take your privileges for granted. However, with that being said, he also emphasized that Black people are not exempt from racism no matter their social, economic or educational background. Racism doesn't care if you're rich or educated - it works solely on the stereotypes associated with skin color.
I also enjoyed reading the author's letter regarding non-profit organizations. While these organizations are supposed to help the poor and disadvantaged, they are not as benevolent or as equitable as we may think. The underlying purpose of most charities is tax avoidance and wealth preservation of rich white men, and the charities themselves often perpetuate white saviorism and appropriates stereotypes. While these organizations have helped many people, it is harmful to have them continuously run and managed by white men.
I went into this book knowing full well that I'm not the target demographic but there was still plenty that I took away from this book. I also think this book does a good job writing for its target demographic. Ross is a lawyer and he certainly writes like one - the book uses a lot of big words and cites quite a few legal cases. For the most part, the letters read like a series of college essays with arguments supported by facts and by the author's personal experiences studying at elite schools and working alongside powerful white men.
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are subject to change prior to final publication.
April 19, 2021
This is a remarkable book. There is history in it, and politics, but he always brings us back to how that history and those politics played out in the life of one person. Black men have been the target of so much of our politics for so long. It’s good to be reminded that those national conversations have personal outcomes.
It’s written as a series of letters to a friend, and that framework leads to a tone that we don’t get much in the debates about race. It invites understanding and empathy. He assumes the reader wants to live in a free and equal society, and maybe doesn’t realize how far we are from it. He assumes we want to get there together. And he has suggestions for what we can do to help.
I loved it, and I hope it opens a new paradigm for talking about race, one where white people are willing to open themselves up to uncomfortable conversations. At this point racism isn’t anyone’s fault necessarily, but it’s everyone responsibility.
It’s written as a series of letters to a friend, and that framework leads to a tone that we don’t get much in the debates about race. It invites understanding and empathy. He assumes the reader wants to live in a free and equal society, and maybe doesn’t realize how far we are from it. He assumes we want to get there together. And he has suggestions for what we can do to help.
I loved it, and I hope it opens a new paradigm for talking about race, one where white people are willing to open themselves up to uncomfortable conversations. At this point racism isn’t anyone’s fault necessarily, but it’s everyone responsibility.
May 7, 2021
Full disclosure - I received this book for free through Netgalley.
Obviously I'm not the audience named in the title, seeing as I'm female, although I am White (I feel weird whether or not I capitalize that "w.") But in other ways, I am not the audience - I'm not in charge of anything. I'm not a decision maker. I'm the person at the bottom, pointing out how leadership does not reflect the base. Every time the book took a turn toward business decisions, I was surprised. In retrospect, I find myself wondering if this entire premise is sexist - are there so few white women in power that we can't be held accountable for racism? Hm. Do I feel insulted because I belong to a group without enough power to be considered a problem in this area?
But this is not about me. And the final message, which I took as meaning it might be just about time for all these powerful white male dinosaurs to step aside and make room for a more diverse future, well, I like that.
There's a lot of good information in this book. If you are a White man in a decision making position, you may find it helpful, especially if you want to evolve, rather than step aside.
Obviously I'm not the audience named in the title, seeing as I'm female, although I am White (I feel weird whether or not I capitalize that "w.") But in other ways, I am not the audience - I'm not in charge of anything. I'm not a decision maker. I'm the person at the bottom, pointing out how leadership does not reflect the base. Every time the book took a turn toward business decisions, I was surprised. In retrospect, I find myself wondering if this entire premise is sexist - are there so few white women in power that we can't be held accountable for racism? Hm. Do I feel insulted because I belong to a group without enough power to be considered a problem in this area?
But this is not about me. And the final message, which I took as meaning it might be just about time for all these powerful white male dinosaurs to step aside and make room for a more diverse future, well, I like that.
There's a lot of good information in this book. If you are a White man in a decision making position, you may find it helpful, especially if you want to evolve, rather than step aside.
March 24, 2023
“The privilege of supremacy is silence.”
“When it comes to understanding and identifying systemic racism, the salient question to ask is whether the existing policy reinforces, sustains, or extends the advantages that whites initially only accrued as a result of intentional racial bigotry and discrimination.”
“When it comes to understanding and identifying systemic racism, the salient question to ask is whether the existing policy reinforces, sustains, or extends the advantages that whites initially only accrued as a result of intentional racial bigotry and discrimination.”
December 12, 2021
This is a great book for anyone to read, especially my fellow white men who consider themselves "self-made" and think virtually anyone can succeed, no matter the odds.
Mr. Ross, who grew up in a middle-class Black neighborhood, charts his life and weaves in many examples of discrimination, whether it involves car insurance, jobs, housing, education or other aspects of life.
A key thing to remember: The impact of racism is powerful, no matter our intentions.
Mr. Ross, who grew up in a middle-class Black neighborhood, charts his life and weaves in many examples of discrimination, whether it involves car insurance, jobs, housing, education or other aspects of life.
A key thing to remember: The impact of racism is powerful, no matter our intentions.
March 7, 2021
This book made me think, it made me uncomfortable, and it provided me with some beginning steps to start doing the work.
July 16, 2021
Fascinating self examination. I was particularly interested in his experiences in South Africa and that he attended the same law school as myself. A very inspiring individual with a knack for distilling the conflicts of perspective.
June 16, 2021
RATING: 4.5 STARS
April 28, 2021
The letter format, instead of traditional chapters, allows you to easily stop and truly think about the situations that were discussed. In many of the letters the author included a few questions to motivate you to think about your experiences. More importantly how you reacted to those situations/experiences in your life.
This is an incredible book and I am very thankful to the author and Goodreads for sending me a copy.
This is an incredible book and I am very thankful to the author and Goodreads for sending me a copy.
May 14, 2024
This book is written as a series of letters that are history, memoir and action plan. The writing is clear, personal, and raw. It was the generational angle that first interested me, and Ross delivers. He is speaking to Gen-X, and the specific, unique ways racism has affected us. He nails that.
I have to mention that the focus of this book is racism. Not any other kind of discrimination. The author's belief is that is we take care of racism, the rest takes care of itself. Frankly, I'm not sold on that. I've also been reading about the Combahee Women's Collective and how members didn't let their focus on intersectionality and creating community for Black/Feminist/Lesbian/Socialists stop them from joining with other groups with a more narrow focus to fight for one specific thing, so I kept reading. I think his suggestions are good ones even if they don't solve all the problems. If nothing else, they got me thinking about how I could apply those suggestions in different ways.
Ross uses the term "friend" repeatedly, and purposely. This is tough love here, ultimately kind, honest and respectful. He assumes the person on the receiving end is willing and able to make things better. The key word here is "able." He is speaking specifically speaking to friends who are white, middle-aged men in leadership positions. If that isn't you, his suggestions for action may feel like they fall a little short. This isn't a complaint as much as it is a warning that this book has a distinct target audience in mind, which the title makes very clear, and for good reason.
Though this is a short book, I recommend taking it slowly. Each letter should be given time for reflection before moving on.
I listened to the audio version which was well narrated by the author.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I have to mention that the focus of this book is racism. Not any other kind of discrimination. The author's belief is that is we take care of racism, the rest takes care of itself. Frankly, I'm not sold on that. I've also been reading about the Combahee Women's Collective and how members didn't let their focus on intersectionality and creating community for Black/Feminist/Lesbian/Socialists stop them from joining with other groups with a more narrow focus to fight for one specific thing, so I kept reading. I think his suggestions are good ones even if they don't solve all the problems. If nothing else, they got me thinking about how I could apply those suggestions in different ways.
Ross uses the term "friend" repeatedly, and purposely. This is tough love here, ultimately kind, honest and respectful. He assumes the person on the receiving end is willing and able to make things better. The key word here is "able." He is speaking specifically speaking to friends who are white, middle-aged men in leadership positions. If that isn't you, his suggestions for action may feel like they fall a little short. This isn't a complaint as much as it is a warning that this book has a distinct target audience in mind, which the title makes very clear, and for good reason.
Though this is a short book, I recommend taking it slowly. Each letter should be given time for reflection before moving on.
I listened to the audio version which was well narrated by the author.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 30, 2021
This book has such an important narrative. I, as a white person, have been trying to better understand how I've been socialized and how I can improve. Ross's writing comes across as direct, but not necessarily accusatory.
September 24, 2022
A Review of the Audiobook
Published by Macmillan Audio in 2021.
Read by the author, Dax-Devlon Ross.
Duration: 5 hours, 4 minutes.
Unabridged.
Dax-Devlon Ross makes a simple observation that it is entirely possible to participate in a racist system and not be racist. Not only is it possible, it is quite common. A person can participate in a system that looks fair on the surface, but somehow always results in the same kinds of people and the same kinds of people at the bottom.
He notes that this is not a particularly popular idea among white Americans, especially white male Americans. But, he also noted that the death of George Floyd caused a lot of white people to reconsider what they thought they knew.
This book offers an explanation of structural racism and gives concrete examples from the author's life and recent American history and offers some suggestions as to how to identify structural racism and break it up. That is good.
On the other hand, there is some Human Resources jargon that I had to look up and a lot of open-ended suggestions of something along the line of "do better." Maybe that is a good thing - in the end, the corrections have to come from the people who have been imposing the old racist rules because they have to fix it. If the rules are imposed on them from the outside and they will just find ways to work around them. If a new understanding of the problems is reached, the solutions just might come right along.
Hopefully.
I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
Published by Macmillan Audio in 2021.
Read by the author, Dax-Devlon Ross.
Duration: 5 hours, 4 minutes.
Unabridged.
Dax-Devlon Ross makes a simple observation that it is entirely possible to participate in a racist system and not be racist. Not only is it possible, it is quite common. A person can participate in a system that looks fair on the surface, but somehow always results in the same kinds of people and the same kinds of people at the bottom.
He notes that this is not a particularly popular idea among white Americans, especially white male Americans. But, he also noted that the death of George Floyd caused a lot of white people to reconsider what they thought they knew.
This book offers an explanation of structural racism and gives concrete examples from the author's life and recent American history and offers some suggestions as to how to identify structural racism and break it up. That is good.
On the other hand, there is some Human Resources jargon that I had to look up and a lot of open-ended suggestions of something along the line of "do better." Maybe that is a good thing - in the end, the corrections have to come from the people who have been imposing the old racist rules because they have to fix it. If the rules are imposed on them from the outside and they will just find ways to work around them. If a new understanding of the problems is reached, the solutions just might come right along.
Hopefully.
I rate this audiobook 4 stars out of 5.
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
September 23, 2021
I listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author. It was captivating (yay!), but it leaves out the notes and the ability to page back through it (boo!). Ross is writing to his white male friends in an effort to retell them the story of their lives with Racism front and center. By hitting the highlights of their lives so far, Ross is constructing a modern narrative rather than a kind of 1619 history. This makes the letters more personal, and also easier to follow. The target white male friends get to see how what they might have thought of as a small event at the time (like Clarence Thomas joining the Supreme Court) had a profoundly racist message embedded in it that continued to affect society. That society is their society, and racism within it will continue to subtly shape it...and them. The first step is to even recognize that fact. By the end of the book, you get the sense that Ross has been modeling a new way of looking at the world rather than specific actions those white male friends can take to address social justice. Whether or not his white male friends can share that outlook going forward is the challenge he sets.
Oh, and the section on charities, especially charities that are run by white people and serve underprivileged people of color was excellent! THIS is the uncomfortable discussion we need to be having in staff meetings when management is present.
Oh, and the section on charities, especially charities that are run by white people and serve underprivileged people of color was excellent! THIS is the uncomfortable discussion we need to be having in staff meetings when management is present.
August 25, 2021
Letters’ 9 pages of notes at the end suggests that the author did a fair amount of research in writing it. But it is written in the kind of narrative prose that is characteristic of a journalist rather than a scholar. Ross also engages in a lot of self disclosure akin to a memoir. Thus, it is both engaging and informative.
He succeeds IMHO in pointing out how racism has continued to oppress BIPOC in the USA even when civil rights legislation passed in the 1960’s and people in the 1980’s claimed being color blind, for example. His sections on how the cultures of charity, expropriation, and disbelief reinforce white privilege are clear, concise, and at times quite powerful.
As is sometimes the case with books offering advice on how to change something as endemic as white privilege Letters comes up a bit short. On the one hand, the suggestions follow logically from what has come earlier in the book. On the other, most of these are so generic as to leave me thinking, ‘So how am I as a White guy supposed to give up my racist beliefs and white privelege?!?’ Perhaps more specific examples of how Ross has helped others accomplish this would have made this section of the book more impactful. At less than 175 pages of text there would have been more space for these.
Overall, though, the benefits outweigh the shortcomings of this book. So I’d rate it as 4 stars.
He succeeds IMHO in pointing out how racism has continued to oppress BIPOC in the USA even when civil rights legislation passed in the 1960’s and people in the 1980’s claimed being color blind, for example. His sections on how the cultures of charity, expropriation, and disbelief reinforce white privilege are clear, concise, and at times quite powerful.
As is sometimes the case with books offering advice on how to change something as endemic as white privilege Letters comes up a bit short. On the one hand, the suggestions follow logically from what has come earlier in the book. On the other, most of these are so generic as to leave me thinking, ‘So how am I as a White guy supposed to give up my racist beliefs and white privelege?!?’ Perhaps more specific examples of how Ross has helped others accomplish this would have made this section of the book more impactful. At less than 175 pages of text there would have been more space for these.
Overall, though, the benefits outweigh the shortcomings of this book. So I’d rate it as 4 stars.
June 23, 2024
I enjoyed this book a lot, but there were a few things that made me not 5 star the book. I think for the audience it was intended for, this book would be a 5 star. I also appreciated the organization style of the letters. I felt like the guide at the end was a bit meh but that's because I have read anti-racism/racist book guides before and I think it doesn't compare. I'm also not a 46 year old business manager who needed to have the solutions broken down in those specific ways though.
My qualms tho: (1) I know the book is supposed to be directed towards white business bros in their 30-50s, but I think they were centered so much that the book seems a little like you're listening to a convo rather than being talked to. (2) I don't think anyone needs to use the f-slur to make a point. (3) The whole intro is him being like this isn't a book to solve racism and then at the end he gives a whole run down of how to solve white guilt as an employer. It was very much what happened to the original plot of the story.
My qualms tho: (1) I know the book is supposed to be directed towards white business bros in their 30-50s, but I think they were centered so much that the book seems a little like you're listening to a convo rather than being talked to. (2) I don't think anyone needs to use the f-slur to make a point. (3) The whole intro is him being like this isn't a book to solve racism and then at the end he gives a whole run down of how to solve white guilt as an employer. It was very much what happened to the original plot of the story.
August 3, 2021
This is a necessary and important book for white men to read. The author writes of the experience being a Black man in an open and honest way truly baring his soul. And the book then speaks about the historical and structural roots of racism that have led to what we see today: great inequity in wealth, mass incarceration and disparities in housing, education and health. Most importantly, the books asks us--as white men with power--to examine our own beliefs and actions and take tangible steps to make the change that we all know is needed.
Read
December 11, 2024While I’m not the a part of the target audience for this book, it was still an insightful read! It’s another reminder of the injustices that are built into our system and gives helpful suggestions on how we can go about not overlooking the issue, but fixing the root cause of it.
May 5, 2021
This book is aimed at middle aged white men to see and understand racism.
June 21, 2021
This is a powerful and much needed book as part of the canon of essays that help white people like me revisit my memories of growing up and living in this world and see it all in a new light. As a white person, I do not ever have to "code switch" or carry the weight of "being a credit for my race." I did not have teachers who lowered expectations about my potential because of my race. The beauty of the format of Ross' book is it allowed me to shatter the myth I had that in my elementary, middle and high school, the black kids in my class had equal treatment/opportunity as I did because we were all middle-class. This myth certainly did not hold true when I got to high school. His book revisits his socialization inside white-dominant institutions and by doing so, it flipped the lens for me on how the experience for my black classmates was vastly different than my own due to systemic racism and bias. Ross gives a searing portrait of law school and working in not-for-profits organizations whose mission is to serve BIPOC communities but are led by white people who write a check or do the "band-aid" actions to assuage guilt. But the work never gets to the root causes of systemic racism. I myself work in not-for-profits and this depiction is painfully accurate. In his final section about action - he poses a series of questions for the reader -- I highlighted these for my reference and self-reflection because they are difficult but crucially important questions we each need to face as a white person.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
December 31, 2024
This wasn't an easy book to read but it was one that I'm glad I read.
I had to sit with it in multiple parts - the author asks us direct questions, and to get the most from this book, we should actually consider them and answer them honestly for ourselves.
The book was written in the aftermath of the 2020 BLM and DEI movements, which makes me feel sadness- the blowback that our people created in response to that movement was so aggressive. The author cautions not to make DEI initiatives a decoration for the organization, but to make it a core value; knowing that in 2024, not only have we not done that, but have made DEI a toxic term, it hurts.
I loved that I got more books for my reading list here. I appreciate that I will never understand the experience of Black individuals in the USA (or worldwide) but that listening to their experiences and /believing/ them is key to making changes.
The book seemed to assume that the reader is in positions of authority; this may stem from the author's privileged background and the restricted spaces he occupies (board rooms, training spaces with access to CEOs). Despite that, and he points this out- that privilege doesn't protect him when (white) people only see him as a Black Male. It explored his own coming to understand how he unintentionally viewed himself as separate from other Black people, based on his background, and recognizing that he wasn't seen that way by America. The book offers lots of advice for people in positions in upper management, on boards of charities, in hiring decisions- it is important to see how things /could/ be changed if those people in power were to listen to the author, but it doesn't give a hopeful tone for me, as speaking truth to power is important but feels futile if power can't or won't hear.
It also seems to assume (unspoken) that the white males reading are cisgender, heterosexual and abled - that is- people for whom a concern about being targeted by the majority culture or police is not a daily reality, people for whom being excluded is not a reality. It ends with many action steps- one of which was to focus on Black liberation above all else. (Unless I misunderstood, it appeared that he wanted DEI movements to focus only on Black equity and inclusion, but not other racial/ethnic/physical/gender/sexuality minorities) I agree that Black liberation is important- critical- to improving all minority lives; I also know that there are Black disabled, Black queer, Black trans folks who experience a severe level of intersectional hostilities I will never experience by just being a white trans queer disabled person. But I struggle with understanding how focusing /only/ on discrimination targeted towards Black folks will improve disability access, or trans healthcare, or queer benefits equity. It's not exactly a criticism, I would happily read an essay or a book by this author explaining how he sees it working. I heard a quote, a while back, that spoke to me about activism- “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together” Lilla Watson. It's never made sense to me why one minority group could ignore the struggles of any other- we're all fighting together against the same power. And we all have places of privilege in that fight that we can use. Mine is being white and I can use that.
I took several photos of points or questions that I want to come back to and re-ask myself. It asks us to speak up even when scared of saying the wrong thing, but I also have hesitation about knowing where "speaking up" for Black equity is not "staying in my lane." I've become better, over time, at simply linking to others speaking about their experience, or referencing conversations and experiences, rather than my own beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. I've also become better at listening and watching, and waiting to try to avoid speaking over others with lived experience.
This is a book that would be good to re-read. It's a book that would be a good book club book. I would recommend it to any white folks, particularly those who want to understand more about the Black experience in the USA, and how to take steps where we can to move things towards racial equity.
I had to sit with it in multiple parts - the author asks us direct questions, and to get the most from this book, we should actually consider them and answer them honestly for ourselves.
The book was written in the aftermath of the 2020 BLM and DEI movements, which makes me feel sadness- the blowback that our people created in response to that movement was so aggressive. The author cautions not to make DEI initiatives a decoration for the organization, but to make it a core value; knowing that in 2024, not only have we not done that, but have made DEI a toxic term, it hurts.
I loved that I got more books for my reading list here. I appreciate that I will never understand the experience of Black individuals in the USA (or worldwide) but that listening to their experiences and /believing/ them is key to making changes.
The book seemed to assume that the reader is in positions of authority; this may stem from the author's privileged background and the restricted spaces he occupies (board rooms, training spaces with access to CEOs). Despite that, and he points this out- that privilege doesn't protect him when (white) people only see him as a Black Male. It explored his own coming to understand how he unintentionally viewed himself as separate from other Black people, based on his background, and recognizing that he wasn't seen that way by America. The book offers lots of advice for people in positions in upper management, on boards of charities, in hiring decisions- it is important to see how things /could/ be changed if those people in power were to listen to the author, but it doesn't give a hopeful tone for me, as speaking truth to power is important but feels futile if power can't or won't hear.
It also seems to assume (unspoken) that the white males reading are cisgender, heterosexual and abled - that is- people for whom a concern about being targeted by the majority culture or police is not a daily reality, people for whom being excluded is not a reality. It ends with many action steps- one of which was to focus on Black liberation above all else. (Unless I misunderstood, it appeared that he wanted DEI movements to focus only on Black equity and inclusion, but not other racial/ethnic/physical/gender/sexuality minorities) I agree that Black liberation is important- critical- to improving all minority lives; I also know that there are Black disabled, Black queer, Black trans folks who experience a severe level of intersectional hostilities I will never experience by just being a white trans queer disabled person. But I struggle with understanding how focusing /only/ on discrimination targeted towards Black folks will improve disability access, or trans healthcare, or queer benefits equity. It's not exactly a criticism, I would happily read an essay or a book by this author explaining how he sees it working. I heard a quote, a while back, that spoke to me about activism- “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together” Lilla Watson. It's never made sense to me why one minority group could ignore the struggles of any other- we're all fighting together against the same power. And we all have places of privilege in that fight that we can use. Mine is being white and I can use that.
I took several photos of points or questions that I want to come back to and re-ask myself. It asks us to speak up even when scared of saying the wrong thing, but I also have hesitation about knowing where "speaking up" for Black equity is not "staying in my lane." I've become better, over time, at simply linking to others speaking about their experience, or referencing conversations and experiences, rather than my own beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. I've also become better at listening and watching, and waiting to try to avoid speaking over others with lived experience.
This is a book that would be good to re-read. It's a book that would be a good book club book. I would recommend it to any white folks, particularly those who want to understand more about the Black experience in the USA, and how to take steps where we can to move things towards racial equity.
August 3, 2021
I listened to the unabridged 5-hour audio version of this title (read by the author, Macmillan Audio, 2021).
This is one of many call-to-action books about racism that have been published in recent years. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, many of the author’s white male friends reached out to him to see if he was doing okay. So, he decided to formulate his thoughts on systemic racism and police brutality in a way that would allow his friends to be better allies. In his words, when it comes to racism, white men are “everyone’s target but no one’s focus.” On the other hand, “when it comes to conversations about race, white men are typically coddled and appeased.”
Ross breaks the common mold of discussing only how racism affects blacks and other people of color by focusing also on its effects on white folks, who are robbed of experiencing fullness and meaningful relationships. He observes that limited education and dialog on race, a result of the the perception that we have moved to a post-civil-rights world, has left many members of the society with “underdeveloped understandings of the ways in which race and racism operate.”
Having been educated in an elite private school, later earning a juris doctorate from George Washington University, Ross himself was disconnected from topics of race and his lived experiences as a black child. Mingling in schools with children of powerful white people, who weren’t inclined to discuss systemic racism, made him lose sight of the fact that he wasn’t really one of them. So, he needed much unlearning and self-reflection to realize that most white people didn’t treat him in the same way as his circle of friends did.
Ross believes that in view of white men wielding much social power, they must be engaged in conversations about race, because “[w]e cannot have a racial reckoning without it.” There isn’t much in this book that hasn’t been said by many others. However, Ross’s set of experiences and perspectives on the topic make this relatively short book (or long letter) a worthwhile read. Here are two example books that make many of the same points as Ross.
DiAngelo, Robin, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.
My 4-star review on GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Saad, Layla F., Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor.
My 5-star review on GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is one of many call-to-action books about racism that have been published in recent years. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, many of the author’s white male friends reached out to him to see if he was doing okay. So, he decided to formulate his thoughts on systemic racism and police brutality in a way that would allow his friends to be better allies. In his words, when it comes to racism, white men are “everyone’s target but no one’s focus.” On the other hand, “when it comes to conversations about race, white men are typically coddled and appeased.”
Ross breaks the common mold of discussing only how racism affects blacks and other people of color by focusing also on its effects on white folks, who are robbed of experiencing fullness and meaningful relationships. He observes that limited education and dialog on race, a result of the the perception that we have moved to a post-civil-rights world, has left many members of the society with “underdeveloped understandings of the ways in which race and racism operate.”
Having been educated in an elite private school, later earning a juris doctorate from George Washington University, Ross himself was disconnected from topics of race and his lived experiences as a black child. Mingling in schools with children of powerful white people, who weren’t inclined to discuss systemic racism, made him lose sight of the fact that he wasn’t really one of them. So, he needed much unlearning and self-reflection to realize that most white people didn’t treat him in the same way as his circle of friends did.
Ross believes that in view of white men wielding much social power, they must be engaged in conversations about race, because “[w]e cannot have a racial reckoning without it.” There isn’t much in this book that hasn’t been said by many others. However, Ross’s set of experiences and perspectives on the topic make this relatively short book (or long letter) a worthwhile read. Here are two example books that make many of the same points as Ross.
DiAngelo, Robin, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.
My 4-star review on GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Saad, Layla F., Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor.
My 5-star review on GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 19, 2021
Well-written, conversational book on racism in the US that's good resource for white men ready to engage with the issue as it stands in 2021. The author is obviously incredibly smart, but the book is meant to engage an audience that may have less academic leanings. I say that as a good thing.
As a reader I'm situated at the periphery of the author's intended audience (biracial, but with white privilege, a gay trans man born in the Xennial years). I can empathize with some of his experiences - I wasn't supposed to be good at math either, so the test scores said one thing and my teachers said another, for instance.
Many of the anecdotes the author relates are things I don't have experience with and I expect they will be things that stay with me, not necessarily because they're shocking (LOL, no), but because of the way Ross captures the experiences (South Africa, gentrification, encounters with cops) and relates them as a friend would.
TBH...it has been a while since I've taken pictures of book pages to save and keep on my phone.
I wish the author had more answers, especially for gentrification. I mean, everyone wants neighborhoods to get better and to see fewer vacant, derelict buildings, right? How does that happen without people buying them and fixing them up? And if black people buy them and that's still gentrification, what then? Do we wait for the city to bulldoze them and call that the solution? Anyway, that's probably not what the book is actually for, I just wish there was a good answer for that one.
Unlike a lot of books on this topic, the recommendations do apply to non-profit/public sectors, although the applicability will vary by geographic location and across the urban-rural divide. More so than a book for work, though, this is a book for regular lived life.
And just to be fair, the book is worth reading as memoir on its own.
Overall, I would definitely recommend as worthwhile for the intended audience. It was neat to see a book aimed at my age group, because nothing is ever for us.
As a reader I'm situated at the periphery of the author's intended audience (biracial, but with white privilege, a gay trans man born in the Xennial years). I can empathize with some of his experiences - I wasn't supposed to be good at math either, so the test scores said one thing and my teachers said another, for instance.
Many of the anecdotes the author relates are things I don't have experience with and I expect they will be things that stay with me, not necessarily because they're shocking (LOL, no), but because of the way Ross captures the experiences (South Africa, gentrification, encounters with cops) and relates them as a friend would.
TBH...it has been a while since I've taken pictures of book pages to save and keep on my phone.
I wish the author had more answers, especially for gentrification. I mean, everyone wants neighborhoods to get better and to see fewer vacant, derelict buildings, right? How does that happen without people buying them and fixing them up? And if black people buy them and that's still gentrification, what then? Do we wait for the city to bulldoze them and call that the solution? Anyway, that's probably not what the book is actually for, I just wish there was a good answer for that one.
Unlike a lot of books on this topic, the recommendations do apply to non-profit/public sectors, although the applicability will vary by geographic location and across the urban-rural divide. More so than a book for work, though, this is a book for regular lived life.
And just to be fair, the book is worth reading as memoir on its own.
Overall, I would definitely recommend as worthwhile for the intended audience. It was neat to see a book aimed at my age group, because nothing is ever for us.
July 13, 2021
I waited nearly a month to review this book because I was emotionally all over the place after finishing it. I was angry (over the issues AND at the author), frustrated, and defeated. I admire Dax-Devlon Ross for having the guts to write this challenging book.
As someone that partially fits in the target audience for this book. I hoped to gain insight, to be challenged, and get some more direction regarding the gaping division between the races. It honestly left me feeling more defeated than when I started reading. It gave me the feeling that no matter how hard I (we) try, the issues associated with racism will be difficult, if not impossible to improve.
Ross often uses the word 'friend' but fails to use the word 'trust'. It has been my experience that without trust, there can be no friendship. So Ross's 'white male friends', can only be acquaintances at best. I felt Ross is saying: 'you created this, you fix it' - without any real guidance of how to do it, or what it would take for him to ever trust his white male friends. This, is the weakness and the strength of the book. Ross honestly expresses his raw feelings, so truthfully, that at the very least- I would hope it would make EVERY white person that reads this, really stop and think.
I have spent many hours thinking about this. And though it mostly made me feel defeated, in the end, it did challenge me to continue to pursue answers and solutions. It made me feel- deeply.
The horrific treatment of black people, particularly in this country MUST be resolved. History can not be undone, but if we can just get to the point of finding some basic trust between the races- only then can we progress.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As someone that partially fits in the target audience for this book. I hoped to gain insight, to be challenged, and get some more direction regarding the gaping division between the races. It honestly left me feeling more defeated than when I started reading. It gave me the feeling that no matter how hard I (we) try, the issues associated with racism will be difficult, if not impossible to improve.
Ross often uses the word 'friend' but fails to use the word 'trust'. It has been my experience that without trust, there can be no friendship. So Ross's 'white male friends', can only be acquaintances at best. I felt Ross is saying: 'you created this, you fix it' - without any real guidance of how to do it, or what it would take for him to ever trust his white male friends. This, is the weakness and the strength of the book. Ross honestly expresses his raw feelings, so truthfully, that at the very least- I would hope it would make EVERY white person that reads this, really stop and think.
I have spent many hours thinking about this. And though it mostly made me feel defeated, in the end, it did challenge me to continue to pursue answers and solutions. It made me feel- deeply.
The horrific treatment of black people, particularly in this country MUST be resolved. History can not be undone, but if we can just get to the point of finding some basic trust between the races- only then can we progress.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2025
I’m right on board with most of the other GoodReads reviewers of this book… it is overall very good with one gaping flaw.
The ‘overall very good’ part comes down to this: Ross does an excellent job using his life experience to speak to other men (white men) about how their experiences are parallel and have diverged, and where and how race has been the difference. He does it brilliantly, and though I am a white woman, *I* found value in understanding his perspective and believe that his target audience will do so even more. I can think of men in my life who would appreciate and learn from his sharing and story.
The gaping flaw in Ross’ book is that he does with gender exactly what he says white men do with race, that is, he thinks that the culturally majority perspective has the most value. He actually says that workplaces are focused on addressing race because if that gets fixed, all other problems will just sort themselves out. That’s just garbage. He published this in 2021, and intersectionality was plenty known and understood (just not, apparently, by him). Addressing racism will not magically fix society’s problems with gender, LGBTQ+ issues, or disability stigma. His male privilege is showing.
The ‘overall very good’ part comes down to this: Ross does an excellent job using his life experience to speak to other men (white men) about how their experiences are parallel and have diverged, and where and how race has been the difference. He does it brilliantly, and though I am a white woman, *I* found value in understanding his perspective and believe that his target audience will do so even more. I can think of men in my life who would appreciate and learn from his sharing and story.
The gaping flaw in Ross’ book is that he does with gender exactly what he says white men do with race, that is, he thinks that the culturally majority perspective has the most value. He actually says that workplaces are focused on addressing race because if that gets fixed, all other problems will just sort themselves out. That’s just garbage. He published this in 2021, and intersectionality was plenty known and understood (just not, apparently, by him). Addressing racism will not magically fix society’s problems with gender, LGBTQ+ issues, or disability stigma. His male privilege is showing.
May 24, 2021
The book is a collection of letters, written by the author, with the intended audience of middle-aged white men.
"I write the letters herein to my white male friends because you are everyone's target but no one's focus."
While I am a white, cisgender female, I found many of the principles, insights, and facts presented to have a very important influence on my personal anti-racist work. The letters detail aspects of our upbringing that influence our views on the world, especially race – colorblind education system, systemic racism in the judicial system, and race in youth sports to name a few. Overall, this book was profound and offers opportunity for white men (or any one in a position of privilege) to take action in their personal lives, workplace, family, or community, to continue the anti-racist work that is so desperately required. He urges the reader to continue to stay loyal to this work, even when movements such as Black Lives Matter are less frequently in the mainstream media.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"I write the letters herein to my white male friends because you are everyone's target but no one's focus."
While I am a white, cisgender female, I found many of the principles, insights, and facts presented to have a very important influence on my personal anti-racist work. The letters detail aspects of our upbringing that influence our views on the world, especially race – colorblind education system, systemic racism in the judicial system, and race in youth sports to name a few. Overall, this book was profound and offers opportunity for white men (or any one in a position of privilege) to take action in their personal lives, workplace, family, or community, to continue the anti-racist work that is so desperately required. He urges the reader to continue to stay loyal to this work, even when movements such as Black Lives Matter are less frequently in the mainstream media.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2024
it can be really hard to read such a “targeting” nonfiction book toward a specific audience when you only fit into aspects of the audience or even don’t fit at all. i will say i think the author did a phenomenal job of highlighting prejudices and bringing light to the way our implicit biases make us view the world
i think the writing style of this book fell very flat for me. i read some reviews that said this might have read better as short stories than letters, which i agree with. i don’t think the letters format really added much to the overall message of the book besides making it more jarring
in addition, i don’t think the author did a very good job at blending his personal story with historical facts/events. it was a very stark combination of the both which sometimes made me feel like i was just reading a fact book
even more so, he begins his book with a preface that this book is not a handbook on how to be anti-racist, but his guide to do better at the end felt like a lot of “this is how you stop being racist”
overall it was reflective and for sure made me questions the ways in which i can identify my worldviews, but the execution of the book was not my favorite thing
i think the writing style of this book fell very flat for me. i read some reviews that said this might have read better as short stories than letters, which i agree with. i don’t think the letters format really added much to the overall message of the book besides making it more jarring
in addition, i don’t think the author did a very good job at blending his personal story with historical facts/events. it was a very stark combination of the both which sometimes made me feel like i was just reading a fact book
even more so, he begins his book with a preface that this book is not a handbook on how to be anti-racist, but his guide to do better at the end felt like a lot of “this is how you stop being racist”
overall it was reflective and for sure made me questions the ways in which i can identify my worldviews, but the execution of the book was not my favorite thing
July 2, 2021
I’m only giving this book four stars because I think it’s a good starter book for people who have a limited working knowledge of systemic, institutional racism and the intersectional identifying reasons that have huge societal impacts, furthering oppression on marginalized people and entire communities. I’ve studied, read, and actively engaged in scholarly texts and material on race, gender, and class, so I was already familiar with a lot of the mentioned reference points in this book.
However, this book was able to condense several important topics in a way that’s easily digestible for an average person to understand. To all my white male friends, this book is for you.
Even though a lot of what was discussed in this book was not new for me, I enjoyed reading this book. The author gave an emotional recount of his traumatizing encounter with the law, despite his privileged educational background, which further proves that the criminal justice system is incredibly unjust, racist, and broken.
However, this book was able to condense several important topics in a way that’s easily digestible for an average person to understand. To all my white male friends, this book is for you.
Even though a lot of what was discussed in this book was not new for me, I enjoyed reading this book. The author gave an emotional recount of his traumatizing encounter with the law, despite his privileged educational background, which further proves that the criminal justice system is incredibly unjust, racist, and broken.
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