The Enduring, Invisible, and Ubiquitous Centrality of Whiteness

by Ken Hardy (Editor)

A comprehensive collection on the topic of whiteness from writers in the field of mental health and activism. Whiteness is a pervasive ideology that is rarely overtly identified or examined, despite its profound effects on race relationships. Being intentional about naming, deconstructing, and dismantling whiteness is a precursor to responding effectively to the racial reckoning of our society and improving race relationships, addressing systemic bias, and moving towards the creation of a more racially just world. In this collection of essays, scholars from a variety of backgrounds and trainings explore how the longstanding centering of whiteness in all aspects of society, including clinical therapy spaces, has led to widespread racial injustice. Contributors David Trimble, Lane Arye, Jodie Kliman, Ken Epstein, Toby Bobes, Cynthia Chestnut, Ovita F. Williams, Gene E. Cash Jr., Carlin Quinn, Christiana Ibilola Awosan, Niki Berkowitz, Jen Leland, Mary Pender Greene, Hinda Winawer, Bonnie Berman Cushing, Michael Boucher, Robin Schlenger, Alana Tappin, Timothy Baima, Jeffery Mangram, Liang-Ying Chou, Irene In Hee Sung, Ana Hernandez, Robin Nuzum, Keith A. Alford, Hugo Kamya, and Cristina Combs.

Genres: Psychology

640 pages, Paperback

Published May 17, 2022

Reviews

[Anna Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I did not read for fun, but instead because I thought it was important, and while I am super glad that I read it, I also can't say that I did more than like it. It wasn't amazing in that I was enraptured by it, but instead, it was enlightening and taught me more than I can say and gave me more resources to keep learning by. THAT is why I gave it the rating it has. Don't open this book thinking "oh, this is going to be a fun ride" because it won't be. It's going to attack you, it's going to make you defensive, but by the end you're probably going to realize that oh, I'm racist and I didn't even know. AND THAT'S OKAY.

This book is a compilation edited by Kenneth V. Hardy but actually authored by many, many other authors, each accredited writers in their own way. Hardy himself wrote about 2 of the chapters, if I'm remembering correctly, but that was only 2 out of around 25.

My favorite part of this whole book can be summarized in this one quote: "I was not raised by my family alone. I was raised by my country. I was taught to unsee racism around me. My own white racial identity was invisible to me. As part of this learning process, I unconsciously also learned to value whiteness." - Hinda Winawer, MSS, LCSW (p. 405) The reminder that we're all racist, even those of us who aren't white and would be considered part of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). This world itself is largely a white-run world, full of racism and even BIPOC members end up acting like white people because THAT'S HOW THEY HAVE TO SURVIVE. And THIS BOOK is what can give you a taste of the different stories of how that happens, what it does to them in the end, and help you understand how you can step towards being less racist.

Overall, this is a terrific book and I'd highly recommend it to any people who want to learn more about racism.