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Summary of White Fragility: Why It's so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism By Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson: Key Takeaways & Analysis Included
Short on time? Or maybe you’ve already read the book, but need a refresh on the most important takeaways. In a quick, easy read, you can take the main principles from White Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism!
The phrase “white fragility” has grown into a term that many people have accepted and referenced when talking about the defensiveness and discomfort a white person feels when talking about race. The term, originally coined in a 2011 article by Robin DiAngelo, is now used in various articles, books, TV shows, and more. Although it’s commonly heard, not many people truly understand what it means.
That’s why Robin DiAngelo wrote the book entitled White Why it’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. DiAngelo is an author, former professor, and lecturer with a PhD in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington in Seattle. For more than 20 years, she’s focused on racial justice and whiteness studies. Her book on white fragility is a culmination of everything she’s learned from her personal experiences, her studies, and her interactions with white people and people of color.
Her book aims to create a dialogue about race despite the white fragility that Americans feel when confronted with that topic. The book, published in 2018, has gained strong reviews because it explores race in-depth and attempts to break down those walls that white people have built in order to protect themselves from acknowledging their race and the benefits it gives them in life. The book debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List.
DiAngelo is the two-time winner of the Student’s Choice Award for Educator of the Year at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. Aside from her White Fragility book, DiAngelo has numerous other publications and books under her belt.
White Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism is the #1 bestseller in the discrimination & racism category on Amazon. That’s because it’s a useful tool that can be used in classrooms, discussions, lectures, and more. For those not in an academic setting, it’s also simply just a book that people from all different cultures can learn from, as it aims to teach us all how we got to this point in society, why we have the racial biases we do, and how we can overcome white fragility in order to have meaningful relationships with people of color.
The phrase “white fragility” has grown into a term that many people have accepted and referenced when talking about the defensiveness and discomfort a white person feels when talking about race. The term, originally coined in a 2011 article by Robin DiAngelo, is now used in various articles, books, TV shows, and more. Although it’s commonly heard, not many people truly understand what it means.
That’s why Robin DiAngelo wrote the book entitled White Why it’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. DiAngelo is an author, former professor, and lecturer with a PhD in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington in Seattle. For more than 20 years, she’s focused on racial justice and whiteness studies. Her book on white fragility is a culmination of everything she’s learned from her personal experiences, her studies, and her interactions with white people and people of color.
Her book aims to create a dialogue about race despite the white fragility that Americans feel when confronted with that topic. The book, published in 2018, has gained strong reviews because it explores race in-depth and attempts to break down those walls that white people have built in order to protect themselves from acknowledging their race and the benefits it gives them in life. The book debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List.
DiAngelo is the two-time winner of the Student’s Choice Award for Educator of the Year at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. Aside from her White Fragility book, DiAngelo has numerous other publications and books under her belt.
White Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism is the #1 bestseller in the discrimination & racism category on Amazon. That’s because it’s a useful tool that can be used in classrooms, discussions, lectures, and more. For those not in an academic setting, it’s also simply just a book that people from all different cultures can learn from, as it aims to teach us all how we got to this point in society, why we have the racial biases we do, and how we can overcome white fragility in order to have meaningful relationships with people of color.
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Published October 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 17, 2020
helpful overview of key concepts in the book.
June 17, 2020
This abridged version of the audiobook was all the library e-book service had available.
It raises a lot of questions, including topics that will most likely make readers uncomfortable, but the abridged version was, for me, like a stone skipping across challenging questions that you may not have enough time to process before it goes on to the next thing. I struggled with the issues relating to the politics of crying, as one can’t always control tears, despite their best efforts.
Nonetheless, this is an important book about something that so many of us cannot or will not acknowledge, and that is privilege and the way society is structured to discriminate.
It raises a lot of questions, including topics that will most likely make readers uncomfortable, but the abridged version was, for me, like a stone skipping across challenging questions that you may not have enough time to process before it goes on to the next thing. I struggled with the issues relating to the politics of crying, as one can’t always control tears, despite their best efforts.
Nonetheless, this is an important book about something that so many of us cannot or will not acknowledge, and that is privilege and the way society is structured to discriminate.
July 10, 2020
Clear, concise summary for those who cannot read the original. I found her manipulation of Webster’s definitions frustrating and the few examples the summary made unclear in making her points. Her viewpoints on systemic racism are very liberal and her suggestions for white people included things like never crying in front of POC. It also includes generalizations about white people like they all grew up without diversity, they assume they have earned all their accomplishments through working hard, all white preschool children believe they are superior to POC, that white people wouldn’t see the absence of POC as a loss, or white people believe black people are undeserving.
July 27, 2024
I chose this rating because some of the explanations for white fragility is giving excuses for just being down right stupid to people they don't even
Know just because they are not white. People of color don't want to hear this junk after being treated like trash for years. It is so heart breaking that some people teach their children to hate people of color from birth and then call themselves Christians. Nothing about racism is Christ like.
Know just because they are not white. People of color don't want to hear this junk after being treated like trash for years. It is so heart breaking that some people teach their children to hate people of color from birth and then call themselves Christians. Nothing about racism is Christ like.
June 13, 2020
Some day I will read the whole book, but it's a current issue, and I wanted to quickly educate myself. Would definitely recommend to anyone, especially those who think that racism is not a big problem in America.
July 4, 2020
Quick and concise
With so many books on my list to read on this topic, this was perfect. I read it in one sitting and felt like it contained everything i would have highlighted in the full book.
With so many books on my list to read on this topic, this was perfect. I read it in one sitting and felt like it contained everything i would have highlighted in the full book.
August 1, 2020
Two stars for accurately capturing the ideas in this story and for the easy listen. Otherwise, without solid facts and statistics related to racism, disparity, and discrimination, Dr. DiAngelo’s assertions are essentially invalid. Feelings, in short, are not verifiable.
August 21, 2020
for the audiobook. Very good presentation of difficult material. You either accept it or not but all the facts, examples, and techniques are covered very well. May need to revisit to allow a refresher of the materials.
February 25, 2021
Very informative and a must read for understanding how we deal with racism. The summary was available for an audio book for a car ride. The full book probably has more in-depth explanation, but I still feel I got a lot out of the summary.
June 18, 2020
A 45 minute audio summary with key take aways. Very good perspective. I hope to read the entire book someday.
June 18, 2020
Interesting but waiting to read the whole book.
June 26, 2020
It's was great book! I will read the other book soon.. I recommend this book!!
July 1, 2020
Too bad I didn't have an access to the actual full length book, but as a summary, it was well done, and very interesting!
July 13, 2020
This is a book that needs to be read by all white people.
August 24, 2020
Audio hoopla
September 24, 2020
It felt too “short and sweet” or “quick and dirty”. I think a bit longer of a summery would have been a little better.
March 16, 2021
The summary was helpful as I anticipate reading the actual book.
December 31, 2022
Was a nice summary but it was just a summary so don’t expect wealths and bounds of knowledge. But I did pick up a lot of information and it def made me want to read the real deal
August 28, 2020
Summary of “White Fragility”
Excellent summary and analysis of “White Fragility”. Refreshed my memory for my book club meeting while pointing out a few points that I was either unclear about or that I had only partially understood.
Thank You.
Dan
Excellent summary and analysis of “White Fragility”. Refreshed my memory for my book club meeting while pointing out a few points that I was either unclear about or that I had only partially understood.
Thank You.
Dan
June 3, 2021
Blacks believe that white people will behave in "white privileged" ways. So, make sure that as a white person, you change the dialogue, without being defensive or crying. How can white people be so ignorant of the systemic racism that is everywhere so prevalent.
It is the constant duty of white people to do, undo and act.
White Fragility focuses mainly on sociology. As a white person, I intend to read more sociological books and improve my "white fragility" muscle power.
It is the constant duty of white people to do, undo and act.
White Fragility focuses mainly on sociology. As a white person, I intend to read more sociological books and improve my "white fragility" muscle power.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews