Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice

by Shakil Choudhury

“Shakil is a rare jewel in the work of what it means to heal, repair, and take responsibility... This book is required reading for anyone interested in building a loving, just and diverse world.”—Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, Zen teacher & author of Slow Down, Help Out, Wake UpRacial justice without shame or blame.Road-tested tools to start making a difference today.In Deep Diversity, award-winning racial justice educator Shakil Choudhury explores the emotionally loaded topic of racism using a compassionate, scientific approach that everyone can understand—whether you are Black, Indigenous, a person of color (BIPOC), or white.With clear language and engaging stories that will appeal to readers of Brené Brown and Malcom Gladwell, Choudhury explains how and why well-intentioned people can perpetuate systems of oppression, often unconsciously. Using a trauma-informed approach that removes shame or blame, he offers us the tools to recognize, take authentic responsibility, and enact deep change. In easy-to-absorb chapters, Choudhury interweaves research into the brain and studies on human behavior with hard-won lessons from his career of helping organizations and CEOs create more inclusive environments. He models vulnerability and mistake-making, sharing examples of his own bias-missteps so readers are encouraged into their own racial justice journey without judgment.Readers will come away from the book with practical tools and an understanding to becomes a systems thinker by developing “racial pattern recognition” skills in order to challenge racism and other forms of systemic discrimination when we encounter them, while minimizing the tendency to shame or blame ourselves or others.How to recognize when the unconscious influence of bias, identity, emotions, or power contradict our beliefs about equality, and how to realign our thoughts/words/actions.How to break the racial “prejudice habits” we have all been socialized into since birth, using research-based strategies.How the rise in authoritarianism and income inequality (among other factors) contribute to a rise in hate crimes and racial discrimination, and what to do about it.Traditional approaches to anti-racism overly rely on analyzing history to explain systemic discrimination, which only tells us a part of the story. What’s missing, Choudhury argues, is to understand why humans do what we do, the evolutionary impulses underlying our group-ish nature and our struggles with power, bias, and social dominance. This is why psychology and neuroscience perspectives are critical to integrate into anti-racist work, as is practicing compassion for ourselves and for others. Deep Diversity is a unique, evidence-based approach to racial justice that seeks to overcome feelings of shame that so often block our progress and prevent deep change at individual and systemic levels.Deep Diversity meets you where you’re at, regardless of your identity, class, ability, or belief system, and invites you to come along on a journey of self-discovery, social awareness, and lifelong learning.It’s only just begun.“Choudhury draws on heart-touching stories, research on the brain, and hard-won lessons from real-world interventions to offer useful strategies to know ourselves, and others better.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Race, Education, Politics, Anti Racist, Canada

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2021

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that explains the systemic nature of racism (though I would have been glad to see more about racism’s roots in capitalism), while also providing readers with tools and skills to know better and do better in our own micro-interactions and our efforts to change macro-systems.

This was engaging, narrative and empathy-focused enough to feel very readable, at a time that I find it tough to focus on other non-fiction. It contained some deep, meaningful insights and inspiring stories that will stay with me.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for everyone.

[Alexandra Theroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25*
This book is a comprehensive and well-researched guide for anyone looking to be more intentional and self-lead in their work toward racial justice. The book focuses on the inner work needed to become more aware of and interrupt our inherent biases, power, emotions, and identities that get in the way of our ability to compassionately and effectively show up in this work.

For folks who are fans of the scientific research behind interpersonal and social dynamics, this book will be a great journey. I found at times that the reliance on the more formal research made it a bit difficult to stay engaged - thankfully the author blended that with concrete examples and storytelling to show that research in action.

Highly recommend for folks who are looking to continue the inner work needed to learn and unlearn.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this on my list for so long but I’m glad I read it at this moment in my life. This book is a wonderful reminder that we can bend the long arc of the moral universe toward justice in myriad ways. That we can’t shame people into believing in equity anymore than we can cajole and that it is ultimately how we live our own lives and show up in this world that makes this place better for everyone. I would recommend this book to everyone.

[Cristina Burtini · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ i def learned a lot from this book but it was just horrible timing to read it after i finished school cause it felt too much like reading a textbook at times with how sciencey it was

[Cynthia Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a practical resource for your anti-racism journey, then this book is for you!

Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice - the research and tactics - can also be applied to many challenges related to the human condition of implicit bias.

Author Shakil Choudhury's writing is clear, and he provides real and current illustrations to show how the research plays out in real life and that there are things we can do to help ourselves in what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming scope of work. Choudhury effectively employs humour and realism on what can sometimes feel overwhelming, the enduring work that can sometimes feel like pushing a growing boulder up an ever-increasing slope of the hill of anti-racism work. The feeling of community and hope that he builds through the reflection of his experiences, learnings and research, helps the reader feel inspired and not so alone in their own journey.

Readers will enjoy the currency of the stories and the practicality of the approaches to tackling anti-racism and the deeply rooted implicit bias we all suffer from. This book has become my newest go-to resource.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely sensational for anyone that is wanting to bring more consciousness to interactions in a more and more diverse and multicultural world. For myself, I work as a community organizer near Québec City-Canada, where we are seeing more diversity every year in the ethnic background of residents and workers. This brings challenges to peoples interactions and relationships on many levels; and also the possibilities of benefits and gains in wellbeing and richness of our communities is great...but there is a lot of work that needs to happen individually and collectively. THIS BOOK is an absolute MUST to give the basics and also advanced knowledge and personal work we need to go forward positively. What I LOVE the most, is the HANDS ON approach, this is a not a theoretical book about relationship, this is a practical book about BEING in a setting of diversity. This is a book that helps not only the newcomers to this work, but also, if not mostly to those that think they are advanced or they know it all...a little like me ! What a gift, thank you for this work that resonates profoundly with my own desires of connection, consideration and evolution. I will use and recommend largely.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing a review for this book is near impossible. I feel like I want to write a report on each chapter, there was much to learn in every part of the book. The thing that repeatedly struck me while reading Shakil Choudhury's book 'deep diversity: a compassionate scientific approach to achieving racial justice' was the combination of encouragement, support, urgency, and understanding of the multitude of experiences that each person must go through to show up for racial justice and social change. Yes to facts. Yes to narratives that wake us up, alert us, ask us to pick up our privilege, to improve our ignorance. Yes to urgency, things *must* change, there is too much at stake, too much repetition of violence, of inequity, of lives lost, and some lives hardly allowed to begin. Yes to action, to activism, to showing up, putting our white bodies into the world of protest and action. AND, as Choudhury repeatedly reminds us, each of us comes in with personal history, our psychology, narratives and lived experiences that have shaped us. Without looking at those, without recognizing our biases, our emotional tendencies, our dominant identity, our awareness of power/s we have, we might not sustainably make the changes we intend to be part of and want for the world. Choudhury does not claim to have the answers, but he (in the various iterations of the work he does, his work with Anima Leadership, with his partner Annahid Dashtgaard, with others) gives tools, gives inner-works, gives contemplation, gives story and structure, to get the reader to think more deeply, and fully and find their strengths, their meaning, and their most congruent and useful approach toward racial justice , equity and deep diversity, inclusion. Grateful for the advance copy to read and review. I will re-read many times. There is much to return to.

[Dr. Valerie Pruegger · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the first edition of this book, Shakil Choudhury has written an accessible and in-depth look at the neuroscience behind bias, prejudice and racism. He provides four pillars that can help everyone, regardless of our group identity, to become more thoughtful and conscious of our implicit biases. At the individual level, unlearning our biases is a skill that requires practice and he presents a number of practical tools to help develop our skills. I especially liked the questions posed at the end of each chapter that spur self-reflection. However, he does not just focus on the individual, but also delves into systemic discrimination. As a diversity educator for over 30 years, I recommended the first edition of Deep Diversity to my clients, and I will be doing the same for this book. Many of us have been using the no shame-no blame approach outlined in the book to teach about racial justice for far longer than Mr. Choudhury assumes, but there are those who do not and this is the strength of this book - no judgement and lots of humility, because we are all in this together, no matter your skin colour or group identity. As he notes, we need compassion for ourselves and each other in order to forge ahead to a more just and equitable future for all. My one quibble is that "White" should be capitalized throughout (just as we do with terms like "Black" or "Indigenous") to highlight the social construction of race, and we should never use these terms as nouns but as descriptors of people, e.g., Black person not 'Blacks'. A quick and engaging read at 185 pages, without compromising comprehensiveness and depth. It will continue to be my go to book along with Caste by Isabel Wilkerson.

[Winifred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what the title says: compassionate and scientific. And, I would add honest and generous.
Lucky enough to get an advance copy, this book took me through the challenges of achieving racial justice from broad systemic problems to personal implicit biases. Choudhury offers clear, scientific explanations why racial injustice happens on both political and personal levels. He doesn't stop there, he offers compassionate tools and techniques that anyone can use to make a change.

This book is different from other books I have read on racial justice. Recognizing one's own contribution to racial injustice can be painful, guilt-inducing and paralyzing, but Choudhury not only calls on each of us to take responsibility but does so in a way that I feel understood and that I now have tools to make a change personally and more broadly.

He beautifully balances the tension between the need for change in how racializing and marginalized people are treated and time required for lasting change to happen. Patient urgency.

[hiaa123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice from my workplace. I think it's a great resource for taking another look at our own biases and the way structural racism works.

I thoroughly appreciated Choudhury's compassionate and measured insights into such a polarizing issue. This book felt very accessible and I thought the interdisciplinary approach that takes into account psychology and neuroscience, as well as history and critical race theories made so much sense. I felt that this book was quite nuanced with no easy or one-sided answers, a humanized approach.

The chapter that goes into personal power especially stood out to me. I think a lot of people struggle with how they can contribute to creating an anti-racist world when the system feels so stacked against it. Choudhury's compassionate and self-aware approach makes it seem more attainable. It's going to be a long, ongoing journey with a lot of mistakes on the way.

[Martha Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shakil Choudhury has created a gateway to understanding the unseen personal barriers we possess that do not allow us to fully embrace the call of our time for a society free of racism and other inequities. Like driving a car, the self takes over without much thought and we arrive at the destination we believe is the house of the "equitable society" but we are only fooling ourselves. Our preservation of self demands the retention of whatever societal power we possess, thus does not allow us to attain a fair and equitable society without first doing intentional internal emotional work to become fully aware and engaged in attaining that goal.
"Deep Diversity : A Compassionate,Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice" is the guide we never thought we needed. Read it and be transformed.

[Nicola Rieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shakil Choudhury's writing provides a pathway into complex, nuanced, hard conversations that are so critical and relevant in this moment in history. He provides a framework which allows readers to start in a place of self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-regulation, move through with compassion to empathy, and build relationships rooted in equity and justice. He balances humour, his personal experiences and what must have been endless hours of research, and the result is a book that is a must read for anyone engaging in the work of disrupting deeply engrained psychological and emotional patterns that can lead to replication of systemic forms of discrimination. Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice - the title says it all.

[Jennifer Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started AND finished a great read this morning! The wealth of insights this book prompted for me is evidenced by my numerous sticky notes. Choudhury’s model of deep diversity centring on relationships to tackle inter-group racial dynamics was easy to understand. Explaining the neuroscience behind our biases is an important argument to underline his point - we can’t just think our way out of these complex problems. The final chapters around meaning-making as seen through the stories of two individuals were moving examples inspiring me to focus on my personal empowerment versus sinking into frustration, despair and overwhelm.

[Justine Daneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book offers a thoughtful blend of empathy and science to tackle the complex issues of race and bias. Choudhury breaks down unconscious biases and challenges us to engage with diversity on a deeper, more reflective level. This is a must-read for anyone committed to fostering a more equitable society.

One thing I particularly appreciated is that the book also focuses a lot on Canada and Quebec, making it especially relevant to our context.

Having just moved to a town where diversity isn't very prominent, this book was a much-needed reminder of the importance of staying engaged in difficult conversations.

[Christina Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Diversity makes a significant contribution to anti-racism and social justice practice. Building on a foundation that anti-racism and social justice is a necessary goal, Shakil Choudhury guides his readers through the process of how to move towards social change, both with individual practices and when leading others. Deep Diversity contributes an integrated, thoughtful, researched, and innovative lens on anti-racism work, integrating the deep inner work necessary with the intended outcomes. Highly recommended.

[Adina Lebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read for those who are working in the field of or interested in in cultural diversity
in all its forms! ...it was holistic and wove seamlessly-psychological factors, brain science, with sociology theories of group behaviours and cultural norms. He followed the theories by real life Canadian examples to show readers in practical terms how these playout in the real world in which we live ...and gave us tools to use daily to become more aware of our own bias and others and to be more in relationship with other human beings on a deep and emotional level.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shakil approaches social justice work holistically, connecting our emotions, behaviour and thoughts using current research in neuroscience and psychology. His compassionate approach helps the reader reframe how we can make a difference-moving away from shame and blame, and us vs. them, towards inner work that leads to greater empathy and collective change. He provides simple and powerful strategies for deepening our understanding of and tackling our own implicit biases. It's a must read for those just starting their journey and seasoned leaders in social justice alike.

[Colleen Ot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to add to your library if you want to learn more about equity, diversity, inclusion and justice. It offers additional layers to this work that assist with critical analysis and sustainability in racial justice. I appreciate the research that supports the framework and the balance of accountability and compassion. This book offered me a re-entry point back into this work which I so appreciate and will support me in taking action. Thank you Shakil.

[Crystel Anders]

This book is a must read for anyone who is working for racial justice. Shakil Choudhury weaves personal experience with science and most importantly compassion. Building our personal power and the value of being curious are just a few of the elements that resonated with me. I would highly recommend this book - I read the first edition and this second edition too! Thank you Shakil for sharing your approach, I am inspired!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of Deep Diversity. Choudhury tackles a complex, layered, and important topic with an engaging narrative. She weaves and tells her personal journey and history while looking at how our world has approached and created the deep divides that exist today. Reading this book is helping me understand Choudhury's scientific approach and my role in helping to achieve racial justice.

[May Chook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the previous version, and this new version is published in such a great timing. Easy to understand yet reflection-provoking book on JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) practice. He included many true stories - big and small - that narrate racism issue as a problem that affects everyone regardless of your background. Him including his own stories and feelings make readers feel relevant and engaged. Brilliant book, and I can't wait for the next book Shakil writes.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read! I love how concise yet clear the reading is. In a fairly short book, the author puts in great details of research and strategies for change. There are meaningfully reflective questions at the end of each chapter, making it a good introduction into the topic. It has use for everyone, no matter their perceived social rank. There are several frameworks the book shares that are very valuable to conceptualize how people operate in various contexts.

[Scott Milliken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book invites us all into the conversation. Not only does Shakil point out overt and systematic current issues, he offers pragmatic approaches to moving us closer together. The work is difficult individually and collectively, but there is hope. This approach brings us all closer to belonging.

[Melina Bondy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books in the world of diversity, justice, equity and inclusion work. It's so practical, applicable, personal and human. I loved the combination of scientific research, personal stories and social psychology. I can actually use the tools from this book in my daily life to understand myself and others, cause less harm and do better. It's a game changer!

[Sarah Schulman]

I had a hard time connecting to this very specific work, the author's attempt to construct a way to think about bias: emotionally, neurologically, behaviorally that he sees as an alternative to the highly flawed Canadian contemporary sub-culture of "anti-racism." It's just that the weeds of his system are vast and given my experience, it feels contrived, instead of opening doors.

[Isabel Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choudhury really nails it. This research-based approach to acknowledging the systems of racism and pyscological barriers that are existent but not always evident to those it doesn’t primarily effect is a brilliant start. He is hopeful but realistic and offers an urgent take on something that we are all vested into whether actively or not. A must read.

[Susan Marrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand where racism comes from and what you can do about it, in yourself and in society, this is for you. In fact, it's for anyone who takes seriously the deep divide among people both interpersonally and in and between nations. I can't say it any better than the summary above. Very readable and highly recommended. In fact, worth reading attentively and more than once.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Shakhil Choudhury inspires us to build bridges with his book Deep Diversity. As an educator, I will use his strategies with students and my colleagues to productively engage in conversations to disrupt oppressive systems and practices. Let's keep the conversations going without using a shame and blame approach!"

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book and I’m glad he updated it. It’s super relevant and filled with a lot of good examples and resources. I was already familiar with a lot of the recommendations here but highly suggest this read for new folks to this work.