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The White Allies Handbook: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women
You’ve read White Fragility and How to Be an Antiracist, but what comes next? The answer lies in this clear, actionable guide providing an invaluable 4-week program for becoming an ally who makes a real difference in the racial justice fight. Get the tools you need to get off the sidelines and onto the frontlines of allyship, combat racism while supporting Black women, and avoid common pitfalls white people fall into when they think about and discuss racism.
Black women have always been the driving force behind real change in this country—especially when it comes to racial justice work. But they shouldn’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to stop standing on the sidelines and become anti-racist instead of passively “not racist,”, then this book is what you need. In these pages, Lecia Michelle—founder of the popular Facebook group “Real Talk: WOC and Allies for Racial Justice and Anti-Oppression”—invites you to join her on the frontlines. She shows you what it takes to become an effective ally—including helping you recognize that an important part of the fight is within yourself.
In this book, you’ll discover:
• How to have difficult conversations about white supremacy, racism, and white privilege
• How to listen to criticism without defensiveness
• Why it’s harmful to ignore race or claim to be colorblind
• How to expand your racial justice circle by joining groups led by Black women and cultivating a group of like-minded allies
• How to recognize and address the harmful pattern of perfectionism and performative allyship
Racism can only be defeated if white people educate themselves and actively engage in antiracism work, especially in their inner circles. Every white person has the capacity either to weaponize their whiteness or to use it for good. With this book, you’ll learn how to change from someone who defends and protects racism to someone who fights against it. And you’ll become an example to others that true allies are made, not born.
Black women have always been the driving force behind real change in this country—especially when it comes to racial justice work. But they shouldn’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to stop standing on the sidelines and become anti-racist instead of passively “not racist,”, then this book is what you need. In these pages, Lecia Michelle—founder of the popular Facebook group “Real Talk: WOC and Allies for Racial Justice and Anti-Oppression”—invites you to join her on the frontlines. She shows you what it takes to become an effective ally—including helping you recognize that an important part of the fight is within yourself.
In this book, you’ll discover:
• How to have difficult conversations about white supremacy, racism, and white privilege
• How to listen to criticism without defensiveness
• Why it’s harmful to ignore race or claim to be colorblind
• How to expand your racial justice circle by joining groups led by Black women and cultivating a group of like-minded allies
• How to recognize and address the harmful pattern of perfectionism and performative allyship
Racism can only be defeated if white people educate themselves and actively engage in antiracism work, especially in their inner circles. Every white person has the capacity either to weaponize their whiteness or to use it for good. With this book, you’ll learn how to change from someone who defends and protects racism to someone who fights against it. And you’ll become an example to others that true allies are made, not born.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2022
40 people are currently reading
4994 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 10, 2022
This review is based on an advance reader copy I received from a Goodreads giveaway.
WOW. I'm not even sure where to begin with this one. I guess I will tell you a bit about me first and admit that I am not the target audience for this book. I am what is lazily (and in my opinion) rather insultingly referred to as a "brown" person by people who literally want to make the issue of race black and white. For the record, we "brown" people make up around two-thirds of the world population and around 30% of the US population. This means that there are a lot of diverse races and cultures that all get lumped together as "brown". As for me, I am a mutt. I look like I could be (and indeed have been mistaken for) just about any race except black or white. (When I went on vacation to Hawaii, some of the native Hawaiians thought I was one of them. It was the first time I was ever accepted like that and it felt kind of good. Only "kind of" because I am exactly 0% native Hawaiian and knew I didn't actually fit in.) So, I realize this book is not directed at me, but I was interested in what it had to say, so I signed up for the giveaway.
Right off the bat (Chapter 1, page 19 in the text box) it states that black people can't be racist. Um...excuse me, what? It says that is because black people don't have power, which is apparently needed for racism. White people have power, according to the book, and black people don't. First off, how is power a requirement for racism? Power only allows you to ACT on your racism. Does a white supremacist in solitary confinement in prison become not racist because he no longer has power? No, he does not. On the next page, Michelle quotes Merriam-Webster's new (supposedly, I didn't check into this) definition of racism, which doesn't mention that power is required for someone to be racist.
Personally, as a "brown" person, I have experienced acts of racism directed at me by black people. Since moving to the Washington DC area, there have been many such acts. Not all of it is microaggressions either. There was straight up assault. During one particularly bad instance, I was terrified and chose to dodge cars and run out into traffic to escape. Want to dismiss this as an overreaction and say I'm racist because I'm just scared to be in a crowd of black people? Let me assure you that was not it. They were grabbing at my backpack, shoving me and yelling at me. The incident was several years ago, and it is still a painful memory that I have been working to overcome. And guess what? These were "peaceful" BLM protestors near the White House. I was minding my own business waiting to cross the street on the way home from work when I looked up from my phone and was surrounded by people shouting and getting in my face before they began shoving me. I was in shock. I don't know that the people who attacked me were actually part of the protest, but at best, the protestors looked on without intervening. I know this incident is not supposed to embody the BLM movement and I was partly interested in this book because I was hoping for a different, more welcoming and inclusive view of the "anti-racist" movement. This book sure didn't provide it. After reading the statement that black people can't be racist, this incident and others were brought back to the forefront of my mind and I not only was forced to relive the trauma, but got to read about how I am wrong to think black people can be racist, and have my experiences invalidated.
I experienced many other racist events before and since this, but I lack the energy to detail it here. And let's face it. A book review isn't exactly the place for this.
So let me call YOU "in" Lecia Michelle. Use some of these questions in your book to examine YOUR racist thoughts and feelings towards "brown" people. Let me assure you that you and your fellow black people are in fact racist and have work to do. Educate yourself. Think that maybe we should just focus on white vs. black racism first and deal with the rest later? Let me direct you to Chapter 6 where you complain about white suffragettes doing just that with black women. Let me also remind you of one giant privilege YOU have: you grew up speaking English. For many "brown" people, English is the second language of them or their family. I know many people who came to the US, and not only was it a giant culture shock, but their native tongue is about as far from English as you can possibly get. Even for those of us who were born here, many have parents who don't speak English, or don't speak English well. Can you imagine having to be a translator for your father? Can you imagine how difficult it would have been for you to learn English in the first place when nobody else in your household speaks it?
I knew this book was focused on how to help black women, but I wasn't expecting to be excluded and dismissed so quickly and thoroughly. I am extremely disappointed. This is the context in which I read the rest of the book and found it to be patronizing and insulting. Through her Facebook safe space, I suppose, Michelle claims to know everything about white people, but claims nobody except black people can understand black people. "Brown" or other people of color are mentioned about a handful of times (<10) in the entire book, and typically as an afterthought. Michelle, use your own teachings to explore your attitudes toward "brown" people. Then maybe we can all actually work together in this.
Several studies are cited throughout the book, but Michelle also makes plenty of assertions with no citation to back them up. As a former data analyst, the methodology of some of the cited studies was also a bit questionable to me, but honestly, I didn't want to expend enough effort on this book to do more than glance through a few of the abstracts.
In Chapter 6, Michelle actually states that there is a need to educate white women so they don't vote Republican. Can I just say that personally, I find both parties to be racist. The Democrats just tend to be more subtle about it. Not to get too political (although this book had no issue with that) we need better candidates in both parties. They have all been disappointing at best. Later in the book (Chapter 10), she does admit that many white liberals are very fake in their supposed support of equality and that they are in actuality, very racist too. This was a bright spot I found in the book. I have met too many white liberals who want me to know they are liberal and support equality. They tend to grill me the most and ask the most uncomfortable questions about my background that I don't want to answer. They then proceed to tell me about every connection they have to areas that are sort of kind of close to where the different sides of my family are from. It is extremely irritating. Although probably my most uncomfortable grilling about my background came from a black airline gate agent. He saw the name on my boarding pass and asked if it was real. Then asked "Why is it so weird? Is that how it is really spelled? That's not even a real name." loudly in front of a line of people. Great. But it wasn't racist, because he was black and as I learned in Chapter 1, black people can't be racist. Sorry. Ranting again. This book has reopened several old wounds.
But back to Chapter 10, I did enjoy the discussion about performance allyship. Everyone is so fake and hypocritical these days it drives me crazy. On this we can agree.
One thing that really bothered me in the conclusion was the discussion about how police are the enemy of black people. I admit, I am fortunate to have mostly avoided encounters with police, but saying that police are the enemy is not the way to fix this. There are definitely bad and racist cops out there, and they need to be held accountable. But saying cops are the enemy is only going to exacerbate the problem. Work WITH police departments to build better relationships with the communities. And if there are any young people out there who don't know what they want to do with their lives, maybe a career in law enforcement isn't the worst thing they could do.
WOW. I'm not even sure where to begin with this one. I guess I will tell you a bit about me first and admit that I am not the target audience for this book. I am what is lazily (and in my opinion) rather insultingly referred to as a "brown" person by people who literally want to make the issue of race black and white. For the record, we "brown" people make up around two-thirds of the world population and around 30% of the US population. This means that there are a lot of diverse races and cultures that all get lumped together as "brown". As for me, I am a mutt. I look like I could be (and indeed have been mistaken for) just about any race except black or white. (When I went on vacation to Hawaii, some of the native Hawaiians thought I was one of them. It was the first time I was ever accepted like that and it felt kind of good. Only "kind of" because I am exactly 0% native Hawaiian and knew I didn't actually fit in.) So, I realize this book is not directed at me, but I was interested in what it had to say, so I signed up for the giveaway.
Right off the bat (Chapter 1, page 19 in the text box) it states that black people can't be racist. Um...excuse me, what? It says that is because black people don't have power, which is apparently needed for racism. White people have power, according to the book, and black people don't. First off, how is power a requirement for racism? Power only allows you to ACT on your racism. Does a white supremacist in solitary confinement in prison become not racist because he no longer has power? No, he does not. On the next page, Michelle quotes Merriam-Webster's new (supposedly, I didn't check into this) definition of racism, which doesn't mention that power is required for someone to be racist.
Personally, as a "brown" person, I have experienced acts of racism directed at me by black people. Since moving to the Washington DC area, there have been many such acts. Not all of it is microaggressions either. There was straight up assault. During one particularly bad instance, I was terrified and chose to dodge cars and run out into traffic to escape. Want to dismiss this as an overreaction and say I'm racist because I'm just scared to be in a crowd of black people? Let me assure you that was not it. They were grabbing at my backpack, shoving me and yelling at me. The incident was several years ago, and it is still a painful memory that I have been working to overcome. And guess what? These were "peaceful" BLM protestors near the White House. I was minding my own business waiting to cross the street on the way home from work when I looked up from my phone and was surrounded by people shouting and getting in my face before they began shoving me. I was in shock. I don't know that the people who attacked me were actually part of the protest, but at best, the protestors looked on without intervening. I know this incident is not supposed to embody the BLM movement and I was partly interested in this book because I was hoping for a different, more welcoming and inclusive view of the "anti-racist" movement. This book sure didn't provide it. After reading the statement that black people can't be racist, this incident and others were brought back to the forefront of my mind and I not only was forced to relive the trauma, but got to read about how I am wrong to think black people can be racist, and have my experiences invalidated.
I experienced many other racist events before and since this, but I lack the energy to detail it here. And let's face it. A book review isn't exactly the place for this.
So let me call YOU "in" Lecia Michelle. Use some of these questions in your book to examine YOUR racist thoughts and feelings towards "brown" people. Let me assure you that you and your fellow black people are in fact racist and have work to do. Educate yourself. Think that maybe we should just focus on white vs. black racism first and deal with the rest later? Let me direct you to Chapter 6 where you complain about white suffragettes doing just that with black women. Let me also remind you of one giant privilege YOU have: you grew up speaking English. For many "brown" people, English is the second language of them or their family. I know many people who came to the US, and not only was it a giant culture shock, but their native tongue is about as far from English as you can possibly get. Even for those of us who were born here, many have parents who don't speak English, or don't speak English well. Can you imagine having to be a translator for your father? Can you imagine how difficult it would have been for you to learn English in the first place when nobody else in your household speaks it?
I knew this book was focused on how to help black women, but I wasn't expecting to be excluded and dismissed so quickly and thoroughly. I am extremely disappointed. This is the context in which I read the rest of the book and found it to be patronizing and insulting. Through her Facebook safe space, I suppose, Michelle claims to know everything about white people, but claims nobody except black people can understand black people. "Brown" or other people of color are mentioned about a handful of times (<10) in the entire book, and typically as an afterthought. Michelle, use your own teachings to explore your attitudes toward "brown" people. Then maybe we can all actually work together in this.
Several studies are cited throughout the book, but Michelle also makes plenty of assertions with no citation to back them up. As a former data analyst, the methodology of some of the cited studies was also a bit questionable to me, but honestly, I didn't want to expend enough effort on this book to do more than glance through a few of the abstracts.
In Chapter 6, Michelle actually states that there is a need to educate white women so they don't vote Republican. Can I just say that personally, I find both parties to be racist. The Democrats just tend to be more subtle about it. Not to get too political (although this book had no issue with that) we need better candidates in both parties. They have all been disappointing at best. Later in the book (Chapter 10), she does admit that many white liberals are very fake in their supposed support of equality and that they are in actuality, very racist too. This was a bright spot I found in the book. I have met too many white liberals who want me to know they are liberal and support equality. They tend to grill me the most and ask the most uncomfortable questions about my background that I don't want to answer. They then proceed to tell me about every connection they have to areas that are sort of kind of close to where the different sides of my family are from. It is extremely irritating. Although probably my most uncomfortable grilling about my background came from a black airline gate agent. He saw the name on my boarding pass and asked if it was real. Then asked "Why is it so weird? Is that how it is really spelled? That's not even a real name." loudly in front of a line of people. Great. But it wasn't racist, because he was black and as I learned in Chapter 1, black people can't be racist. Sorry. Ranting again. This book has reopened several old wounds.
But back to Chapter 10, I did enjoy the discussion about performance allyship. Everyone is so fake and hypocritical these days it drives me crazy. On this we can agree.
One thing that really bothered me in the conclusion was the discussion about how police are the enemy of black people. I admit, I am fortunate to have mostly avoided encounters with police, but saying that police are the enemy is not the way to fix this. There are definitely bad and racist cops out there, and they need to be held accountable. But saying cops are the enemy is only going to exacerbate the problem. Work WITH police departments to build better relationships with the communities. And if there are any young people out there who don't know what they want to do with their lives, maybe a career in law enforcement isn't the worst thing they could do.
February 27, 2022
Practical. Clear. Very, very helpful.
If you are white and want to be a better ally, if you're already immersed in your anti-racist journey but know there is always more to learn and practice, or if you are just coming to terms with the idea of white privilege, this is a terrific handbook to work through. It has clear examples, exercises, and advice that will guide you to a deeper understanding and commitment in how best to be a white ally in the fight for racial justice.
I am a college professor. I like a good lesson plan. This is a good lesson plan. I am also a white woman that believes in intersectional feminism. We will not achieve true intersectionality until we recognize, understand, and dispose of our white belief that we somehow deserve our privilege.
Ms. Michelle's handbook will help you get there. It will make you question yourself and you won't like all the answers you find because you will have to deal honestly with some buried truths. But you WILL be a better ally for doing so.
I believe in the power and the truth that black women share with us in politics, in education, in art. We need to hold them up as they lead us to a different, more just way of thinking about the world.
If you are white and want to be a better ally, if you're already immersed in your anti-racist journey but know there is always more to learn and practice, or if you are just coming to terms with the idea of white privilege, this is a terrific handbook to work through. It has clear examples, exercises, and advice that will guide you to a deeper understanding and commitment in how best to be a white ally in the fight for racial justice.
I am a college professor. I like a good lesson plan. This is a good lesson plan. I am also a white woman that believes in intersectional feminism. We will not achieve true intersectionality until we recognize, understand, and dispose of our white belief that we somehow deserve our privilege.
Ms. Michelle's handbook will help you get there. It will make you question yourself and you won't like all the answers you find because you will have to deal honestly with some buried truths. But you WILL be a better ally for doing so.
I believe in the power and the truth that black women share with us in politics, in education, in art. We need to hold them up as they lead us to a different, more just way of thinking about the world.
June 16, 2022
The fact that this book states that black people can’t be racist tells you everything you need to know. You are really going to play that card that’s already been disproven?
Here’s the problem you are complaining about social media? Have you seen the online trolls? A lot of people are not on social media and yet you write this book about an online encounter?
Why not the Latino or Indian or Asian…I mean the list goes on and on. By dividing, the races will never bring people together. It will only divide further. It will never bring them together. The less you push the more people get along.
Racism will never disappear. It’s impossible. It happens all over the world.
Also, wow yes bring in that Trump is bad. What a shock.
Here’s the problem you are complaining about social media? Have you seen the online trolls? A lot of people are not on social media and yet you write this book about an online encounter?
Why not the Latino or Indian or Asian…I mean the list goes on and on. By dividing, the races will never bring people together. It will only divide further. It will never bring them together. The less you push the more people get along.
Racism will never disappear. It’s impossible. It happens all over the world.
Also, wow yes bring in that Trump is bad. What a shock.
March 3, 2022
A thorough and engaging curriculum aimed at white people serious about dismantling racism. Organized in categories that progress from just waking up, to personal education and growth, to allyship, to... well... dismantling. It's an orderly and logical approach that avoids being dry or overly academic by maintaining the tone of a friend who wants to help you do this -- "this" being what's called "doing the work". Michelle uses personal examples and anecdotes to illustrate her points and walk the reader through the world Black people navigate and white people do not see. Most importantly, she follows every significant point with probing and thought-provoking questions. It's what makes this a handbook, rather than a textbook. All of these questions ask the reader to consider being in a similar situation, to imagine what simple action might change the situation, to confront the countless ways that being white insulates us and confers advantages - those things that make up "white privilege". The reader is absolutely meant to sit with those questions and put in the effort to confront them with real honesty.
Besides questions, the book is packed with concrete advice and directives - the 'how tos' someone absolutely new to (and perhaps even sceptical of) anti-racism work will find helpful. Primary among these is that one have an 'accountability partner'. This would be another white person doing this work with you, so that you can challenge and check each other and hold each other accountable when you falter. White people may find it counterintuitive that we should be working with other white people to educate ourselves about racism, when Black people are clearly the experts. But as Michelle points out, we are its perpetrators and its beneficiaries - it's our problem to fix. And there exist useful and well-written guides like this to help.
Is it really a four-week program? Not really - it's abundantly clear from the reading that true allyship is a lifelong effort to unlearn an entire system and worldview. But I have little doubt that dedicating four weeks to progressing through the steps and honestly addressing its challenges would get one well on the way to being a better and more effective ally.
Besides questions, the book is packed with concrete advice and directives - the 'how tos' someone absolutely new to (and perhaps even sceptical of) anti-racism work will find helpful. Primary among these is that one have an 'accountability partner'. This would be another white person doing this work with you, so that you can challenge and check each other and hold each other accountable when you falter. White people may find it counterintuitive that we should be working with other white people to educate ourselves about racism, when Black people are clearly the experts. But as Michelle points out, we are its perpetrators and its beneficiaries - it's our problem to fix. And there exist useful and well-written guides like this to help.
Is it really a four-week program? Not really - it's abundantly clear from the reading that true allyship is a lifelong effort to unlearn an entire system and worldview. But I have little doubt that dedicating four weeks to progressing through the steps and honestly addressing its challenges would get one well on the way to being a better and more effective ally.
March 13, 2022
If you care about what is happening to Black women in the US, this book is a must read. Lecia Michelle asks and answers questions that get to the heart of the racism we all carry inside us from growing up in a racist society. This handbook challenges white women to embrace the discomfort that comes from confronting racism in ourselves, our loved ones, and society at large, in order to help dismantle the white privilege and white supremacy that harms Black women in a million ways on a daily basis. If you, like me, want to help but don’t know how to begin, Lecia’s book has a clear, practical program for you to follow. Get a copy for yourself and another for a friend or family member.
September 15, 2022
Every white woman needs to read this book. I have been called out on my own racism, hate, and white privilege and can only learn to do better moving forward. An absolute MUST read on how to be a meaningful ally to our Black sisters.
August 20, 2022
𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
•𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
•𝗕𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲
•𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮
•𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟰.𝟬 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀
•𝟯𝟬𝟮 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 4/5 stars
I'd seen some ARCs of this book floating around Bookstagram in early July, and so I reached out to the publisher @kensingtonbooks and asked for a copy, and was delighted when it showed up last week.☺️ This seemed right up my alley, and it seemed as if I was the target audience.
As it turns out, I am not the intended audience. This book is written for women who are just beginning their allyship journey. I have been doing anti-racist work for years, so it was clear almost instantly that this was not written for me. That said, there were many good reminders here. I read the entire thing, cover to cover, because we can ALL use a good refresher course now and then. ❤️
"The White Allies Handbook" is an introduction to white allyship to Black women, specifically. It is written in second person, so the author is speaking specifically to YOU, the reader. It is no-nonsense and assertive. The author doesn't sugarcoat a dang thang. She wants you know how you're failing at being an ally and what you can do to fix it.
I made it a point to read the book through the lens of someone new to allyship work, and I was able to appreciate the author's directness through that lens.
The book is broken up into 4 one-week sections, and includes chapters about white privilege, lifting Black women's voices, and performative allyship, to name a few. It is very readable and contains some great information to help give direction to folks wanting to step into the role of being an ally to Black women. ❤️
Thank you @thatgirlrightthere and @kensingtonbooks for my gifted copy in exchange for my review. ☺️
.
.
.
•𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
•𝗕𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲
•𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮
•𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟰.𝟬 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀
•𝟯𝟬𝟮 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 4/5 stars
I'd seen some ARCs of this book floating around Bookstagram in early July, and so I reached out to the publisher @kensingtonbooks and asked for a copy, and was delighted when it showed up last week.☺️ This seemed right up my alley, and it seemed as if I was the target audience.
As it turns out, I am not the intended audience. This book is written for women who are just beginning their allyship journey. I have been doing anti-racist work for years, so it was clear almost instantly that this was not written for me. That said, there were many good reminders here. I read the entire thing, cover to cover, because we can ALL use a good refresher course now and then. ❤️
"The White Allies Handbook" is an introduction to white allyship to Black women, specifically. It is written in second person, so the author is speaking specifically to YOU, the reader. It is no-nonsense and assertive. The author doesn't sugarcoat a dang thang. She wants you know how you're failing at being an ally and what you can do to fix it.
I made it a point to read the book through the lens of someone new to allyship work, and I was able to appreciate the author's directness through that lens.
The book is broken up into 4 one-week sections, and includes chapters about white privilege, lifting Black women's voices, and performative allyship, to name a few. It is very readable and contains some great information to help give direction to folks wanting to step into the role of being an ally to Black women. ❤️
Thank you @thatgirlrightthere and @kensingtonbooks for my gifted copy in exchange for my review. ☺️
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.
.
March 27, 2022
Many books have been published recently about race, about white privilege and fragility, about the systemic issues and societal forces that sustain and promote racial discrimination, microaggressions, and inequality. While that education is an incredible first step, this book is different - it provides concrete steps for anyone looking to progress in their anti-racism journey. This is less of a theoretical textbook and more of an applied workbook, complete with exercises and real-life examples with questions. Michelle suggests finding a fellow white person to work though the guide together; having an accountability partner is helpful, as many of the exercises are necessarily uncomfortable. Learning to become an ally is a difficult process, requiring introspection and self-awareness. Michelle’s book poses the important questions to guide white people along that path, without requiring a Black person to do it for them. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in taking the next step in their anti-racism journey.
April 16, 2022
Extremely well writen self guide to explore one's views as an anti-racist.
Very educational and appropriate for anyone who chooses to explore this topic.
Very educational and appropriate for anyone who chooses to explore this topic.
May 27, 2022
THIS IS THE BOOK WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
As a white male anti-racist teacher education professor, I am so blessed that Lecia Michelle’s publishers sent me an advanced copy of her new book, ”The White Allie’s Handbook: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women”.
This book takes the foundations of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s anti-racist work, with the fire from Dr. Bettina Love’s abolitionist teaching, and the brilliance and reflective nature of Dr. Anneliese Singh’s racial healing handbook, and center’s black women in incredibly thoughtful and curated way - educating white folx how to take off those performative pants and put on the armor of real anti-racist work to be a genuine ally. I have so many ideas of how I’m going to teach with this and use this in my field.
This is a critically reflective (journaling-based) and informative roadmap for allyship white people have always needed. And, some of y’all ain’t ready for this. You think you are, but you’re not. And that’s ok - it’s exactly the point of the book. (We need to stop this performative nonsense. It does more harm than good). Pick it up this book. Read. Journal with other white people. Do the work. And get out in front, empowered with the knowledge of how to really be supportive of, and fight for and with, Black women.
As a white male anti-racist teacher education professor, I am so blessed that Lecia Michelle’s publishers sent me an advanced copy of her new book, ”The White Allie’s Handbook: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women”.
This book takes the foundations of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s anti-racist work, with the fire from Dr. Bettina Love’s abolitionist teaching, and the brilliance and reflective nature of Dr. Anneliese Singh’s racial healing handbook, and center’s black women in incredibly thoughtful and curated way - educating white folx how to take off those performative pants and put on the armor of real anti-racist work to be a genuine ally. I have so many ideas of how I’m going to teach with this and use this in my field.
This is a critically reflective (journaling-based) and informative roadmap for allyship white people have always needed. And, some of y’all ain’t ready for this. You think you are, but you’re not. And that’s ok - it’s exactly the point of the book. (We need to stop this performative nonsense. It does more harm than good). Pick it up this book. Read. Journal with other white people. Do the work. And get out in front, empowered with the knowledge of how to really be supportive of, and fight for and with, Black women.
June 13, 2022
Having found this book not only thought provoking and challenging, I am richer for having read it. I want to express to a potential reader that you will gain much by not only reading this book, but also following the well-defined and practical steps that will assist anyone who wants to be, as a white woman, a genuine white ally to black women. Talk is cheap, but doing the work is the key.
I am a 65-year old woman and white retired attorney. I thought that I had lived my life in a way that I could consider myself an educated, thoughtful ally. Then I read this book and realized that I was not doing nearly enough. I would suggest that this could be the case for many of us. One thing that can definitely help you in what is a life-long journey: buy and read this amazing book!
I am a 65-year old woman and white retired attorney. I thought that I had lived my life in a way that I could consider myself an educated, thoughtful ally. Then I read this book and realized that I was not doing nearly enough. I would suggest that this could be the case for many of us. One thing that can definitely help you in what is a life-long journey: buy and read this amazing book!
June 1, 2022
I received an advance copy of this book and highly recommend it. Lecia has done us a service by giving white people who want to be allies, insight into how to show up effectively. It is direct, it creates discomfort (or it should if you're being honest with yourself), and it offers guidance. As Lecia points out, black people shouldn't have to educate white people about discrimination and racism. Yet she does just that, and then some. If you are ready to lean into the discomfort, if you're ready to look for your own blind spots, and if you're actually ready to be more of an ally than you think you already are - and trust me you're not there yet - then this is an excellent read.
October 27, 2022
Be prepared to do the work. This is not a passive read to add to your social justice shelf. This book will likely trigger your defense mechanisms and make you uncomfortable. Lean into those feelings, journal them, and do the work. Impactful!
March 31, 2023
This was the missing piece of the puzzle for me to go from reading to doing.
May 2, 2022
If you are committed to a lifetime of learning and joining the racial justice fight for Black women, The White Allies Handbook is for you.
In this easy-to-read handbook, Michelle gives readers a step-by-step guide filled with personal examples, questions and exercises that challenge the reader to question their biases, prejudice and privilege. It also provides advice that guides you to a deeper understanding AND how to take the steps necessary to advocate for systemic change and become an ALLY - a person of privilege who WILL take the actions necessary to dismantle racism.
For organizations committed to taking the steps necessary to address systemic racism - Michelle’s handbook sets the standard by providing the guidance and resources necessary to make a positive impact and promote change.
In this easy-to-read handbook, Michelle gives readers a step-by-step guide filled with personal examples, questions and exercises that challenge the reader to question their biases, prejudice and privilege. It also provides advice that guides you to a deeper understanding AND how to take the steps necessary to advocate for systemic change and become an ALLY - a person of privilege who WILL take the actions necessary to dismantle racism.
For organizations committed to taking the steps necessary to address systemic racism - Michelle’s handbook sets the standard by providing the guidance and resources necessary to make a positive impact and promote change.
December 15, 2022
I believe this book is more specifically targeted to white women who care about Black women in the US but are sitting on the sidelines (like me). Michelle “wrote this book because [she] want[s] white people to learn from each other and listen to Black women.” It encourages us to become self-aware, set aside our fear of shame, stand up and use our white privilege to open doors for Black women and then pass them the mic. Do not center on ourselves when reacting to racism, do not seek praise, do not ask Black women to educate us and impact>intent. Resources are out there to be found. Michelle was paid to educate us. Following Black women on Twitter has further opened my eyes.
Michelle also makes the case that white women need to stop supporting the white patriarchy here and ally with Black women. This is the path to equality for women.
Michelle also makes the case that white women need to stop supporting the white patriarchy here and ally with Black women. This is the path to equality for women.
May 22, 2022
The White Allies Handbook is a must-read for anyone interested in racial equity and activism. The book functions as a step-by-step guide to become educated and involved within the racial justice movement. The White Allies Handbook not only carries important racial themes, but more general lessons as well. It shows how to make true progress in any movement and its advice on effectively changing people's minds is superb. In short, The White Allies Handbook is a crucial read for anyone who hopes to be a better person.
July 31, 2022
A thorough and well researched handbook on how to undo years of institutionalised racism.
Built on self reflection and self directed learning from a comprehensive reading list.
This handbook asks the reader a series of questions over several weeks with the aim for you to do the reading reflect on your answer and be held accountable by someone else who's also doing the handbook.
While I found this useful and a great resource to return to again and again, this seemed very USA centric and there were a few odd cultural differences that I had to seek clarification on.
Overall a fantastic tool for self development and to continue on with becoming an ally.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Built on self reflection and self directed learning from a comprehensive reading list.
This handbook asks the reader a series of questions over several weeks with the aim for you to do the reading reflect on your answer and be held accountable by someone else who's also doing the handbook.
While I found this useful and a great resource to return to again and again, this seemed very USA centric and there were a few odd cultural differences that I had to seek clarification on.
Overall a fantastic tool for self development and to continue on with becoming an ally.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2022
This is not a book for the faint hearted. If you are serious about wanting to be an active ally in the fight to dismantle racism, and you are ready to confront your own complicity as a white woman, and you are prepared to get comfortable with feeling discomfort, then this is the book for you.
Lecia Michelle gives us a gift with this book, one that should not be taken lightly. She does not coddle; she is open, honest, and unapologetic in her writing. With this book, the reader is given an intensive course in self-reflection, de-centering whiteness, understanding, and ultimately creating a plan to become more active in the fight for racial justice.
One of the items I was thankful for were the authors questions to her readers throughout the chapters. Though there are reflective questions at the end of each chapter, Lecia Michelle paces the reader with reflective questions throughout. The reader is forced to take their time and sit with the discomfort of this endeavor. Aspiring White Allies, particularly white women, have the opportunity to get past their defensiveness and “tears,” while reflecting honestly on these questions. I say this as a white woman who has and sometimes still does feel defensive when faced with specific accusations of complicity and guilt. This is not, however, a book about shame or shaming; it is a book about rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck into the real work of justice.
I would recommend this book for book clubs, activists, and church groups. Though this does work for an independent reader as well. Having read and worked through this book on my own, I am hoping to bring to group soon.
Lecia Michelle gives us a gift with this book, one that should not be taken lightly. She does not coddle; she is open, honest, and unapologetic in her writing. With this book, the reader is given an intensive course in self-reflection, de-centering whiteness, understanding, and ultimately creating a plan to become more active in the fight for racial justice.
One of the items I was thankful for were the authors questions to her readers throughout the chapters. Though there are reflective questions at the end of each chapter, Lecia Michelle paces the reader with reflective questions throughout. The reader is forced to take their time and sit with the discomfort of this endeavor. Aspiring White Allies, particularly white women, have the opportunity to get past their defensiveness and “tears,” while reflecting honestly on these questions. I say this as a white woman who has and sometimes still does feel defensive when faced with specific accusations of complicity and guilt. This is not, however, a book about shame or shaming; it is a book about rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck into the real work of justice.
I would recommend this book for book clubs, activists, and church groups. Though this does work for an independent reader as well. Having read and worked through this book on my own, I am hoping to bring to group soon.
September 1, 2022
I am probably the target audience for this book as a 69 year old white male. This book is incredible valuable and helpful. Unlike some other books addressing race, the author here is not wagging fingers or lecturing. There is little jargon. The author here is in a conversation with the readers and I had the image of her sitting with a group of people, coffee cup in hand, and inviting discussion. The conversation is direct, honest and assumes good intentions on the part of the reader.
Not only does she invite a conversation about racism in America, she invites you to have an internal brutally honest conversation with yourself about institutionalized racism in America. She invites white people like you and me to be allies to Black women. “Ally” is not a title that is self anointed. It is earned through hard and painful work. The author outlines a four week course on how to be a white ally. She makes it plain that you don't get a gold star for being anti-racist. Putting “BLM” on a social media profile or quoting Martin Luther King Jr, one day a year is not being an ally, it is virtue signaling, an empty gesture, so you can feel good. That won’t work for the author at all. This book is a call to action. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem, and if you won’t act, you are part of the problem.
The author begins by pointing out that education is the first step on becoming an ally. She sets out a short survey on racism in America, sufficient to provide resources to begin the educational process. This process is important and never ending. The key to this process is to listen, really listen. Simply listening to Black people talk about their experiences with racism can be shocking, but also very enlightening. Several examples from her own life illustrate the everyday struggle of being Black in America. As an editorial aside, it’s terribly important to listen without judgment and without critiques or analysis when a Black person feels comfortable enough to describe racist events to you. I, a white person, have observed way too many instances of critiquing or questioning the accuracy of events. I am surprised that the author who encounters this response 24/7 doesn't lose her temper more often.
Here, she introduces the concept that racism in America is so intertwined with our history and and society that all people are affected by racism. White people swim in a sea of racism, and it flows through our gills and is absorbed into our blood stream. People have this mistaken idea that they aren’t racist if they don’t have a white robe and don’t burn crosses in front yards. That’s not true at all. Racist attitudes run deep and run in all of us.
Her second step entitled “Get out of Your Head.” This is perfect advice for what may be the most challenging section of the book. The author asks us to consider the effects of racism in our own lives and our thinking. There are a lot of standard defense mechanisms that need to be undone here, such as “I don’t see race” or “Not all white people are racist!” The author points out how these deflections prevent real progress and how harmful they are to progress.
This requires quite a bit of self reflection and the author is very good at posing questions and guiding you through this process of self reflection. I am going to tell a story from my own experience. My wife and I were flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles and got to the airport area in time to stop for lunch. I googled local restaurants and found a nice Cajun seafood restaurant, not 10 minutes from the airport. We entered the restaurant for a nice lunch. There were about 50 people in the restaurant but we two were the only white people in the restaurant. Several people, including us, had surprised looks on their faces. I contemplated turning around. I decided that I was acting prejudiced. The place was good, the people were all friendly , the food smelled great and there was no reason for these people to mistreat me. But, I was apprehensive. Ultimately, we had a great meal and I’d love to go back if we return to Atlanta. My racist thoughts and actions, though, were apparent and affected my interactions with the waiters, bartenders and to the other patrons.
Now, three is a serious flip side to this type of interracial transaction that the author asks us to address. I encounter a situation where i am the only non-Black about once a decade. Black people encounter the reverse situation where they are the only Black people in a white world on a daily basis. Imagine if you had to carefully consider the way you dress, the way you speak, your hairstyle, the car you drive and the music you play every time you step out the door. Imagine what it’s like to walk into a room full of people who are surprised that you speak English, surprised that you have advanced education, experience or training, and wonder out loud whether you are “affirmative action.” This everyday racism is exhausting to Black people. This burden simply wears you down.
The author asks potential allies to consider all of this. Black people don’t need their own allies adding to this burden.
The third step is holding yourself accountable. This means having an accountability partner. Obviously, this partner should not be an already exhausted Black person. The author invites you to consider national issues of such as policing, healthcare, housing and education and examine with your accountability pattern your own attitudes and how racism affects all aspects of our society. Journaling may assist here.
The final step is a call to action. It does no good to just have the right attitude. What is needed is action and support. The author has many suggestions. Local Facebook groups, attending meetings, writing to public officials, and patronizing local Black-owned businesses. This last one has been a great discovery for me. I now have a local source for activist T-shirts, books, gifts and holiday decorations.
The easiest first step is to follow Black people on social media. The author is active on twitter. Many who follow her are also worth a follow. There are local Black Lives Matter Facebook groups and many web resources. All of these deserve your support.
A final word, Quite often there is an observation made on social media about a group of people acting in an unhelpful manner. This is almost inevitably followed by a protest of “Not all….” This comment isn’t really helpful to the discussion. I’ll pick a sample demographic that includes me — ”White men over 65 voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Obviously, that doesn't include every single white man over 65. That goes without saying and is an unnecessary qualification to the basic truth. It diverts the discussion into unimportant side issues and quibbling. We shouldn’t expect Black people to be ambassadors for an entire race. We aren’t called to be ambassadors for our own particular demographics. When we do so we do sound defensive and combative. Just don’t.
This is a detailed review because this is an important well-written book on a subject that is essential to the health and vitality of our country. Thanks very much to the author for her time and efforts in writing this book.
Not only does she invite a conversation about racism in America, she invites you to have an internal brutally honest conversation with yourself about institutionalized racism in America. She invites white people like you and me to be allies to Black women. “Ally” is not a title that is self anointed. It is earned through hard and painful work. The author outlines a four week course on how to be a white ally. She makes it plain that you don't get a gold star for being anti-racist. Putting “BLM” on a social media profile or quoting Martin Luther King Jr, one day a year is not being an ally, it is virtue signaling, an empty gesture, so you can feel good. That won’t work for the author at all. This book is a call to action. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem, and if you won’t act, you are part of the problem.
The author begins by pointing out that education is the first step on becoming an ally. She sets out a short survey on racism in America, sufficient to provide resources to begin the educational process. This process is important and never ending. The key to this process is to listen, really listen. Simply listening to Black people talk about their experiences with racism can be shocking, but also very enlightening. Several examples from her own life illustrate the everyday struggle of being Black in America. As an editorial aside, it’s terribly important to listen without judgment and without critiques or analysis when a Black person feels comfortable enough to describe racist events to you. I, a white person, have observed way too many instances of critiquing or questioning the accuracy of events. I am surprised that the author who encounters this response 24/7 doesn't lose her temper more often.
Here, she introduces the concept that racism in America is so intertwined with our history and and society that all people are affected by racism. White people swim in a sea of racism, and it flows through our gills and is absorbed into our blood stream. People have this mistaken idea that they aren’t racist if they don’t have a white robe and don’t burn crosses in front yards. That’s not true at all. Racist attitudes run deep and run in all of us.
Her second step entitled “Get out of Your Head.” This is perfect advice for what may be the most challenging section of the book. The author asks us to consider the effects of racism in our own lives and our thinking. There are a lot of standard defense mechanisms that need to be undone here, such as “I don’t see race” or “Not all white people are racist!” The author points out how these deflections prevent real progress and how harmful they are to progress.
This requires quite a bit of self reflection and the author is very good at posing questions and guiding you through this process of self reflection. I am going to tell a story from my own experience. My wife and I were flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles and got to the airport area in time to stop for lunch. I googled local restaurants and found a nice Cajun seafood restaurant, not 10 minutes from the airport. We entered the restaurant for a nice lunch. There were about 50 people in the restaurant but we two were the only white people in the restaurant. Several people, including us, had surprised looks on their faces. I contemplated turning around. I decided that I was acting prejudiced. The place was good, the people were all friendly , the food smelled great and there was no reason for these people to mistreat me. But, I was apprehensive. Ultimately, we had a great meal and I’d love to go back if we return to Atlanta. My racist thoughts and actions, though, were apparent and affected my interactions with the waiters, bartenders and to the other patrons.
Now, three is a serious flip side to this type of interracial transaction that the author asks us to address. I encounter a situation where i am the only non-Black about once a decade. Black people encounter the reverse situation where they are the only Black people in a white world on a daily basis. Imagine if you had to carefully consider the way you dress, the way you speak, your hairstyle, the car you drive and the music you play every time you step out the door. Imagine what it’s like to walk into a room full of people who are surprised that you speak English, surprised that you have advanced education, experience or training, and wonder out loud whether you are “affirmative action.” This everyday racism is exhausting to Black people. This burden simply wears you down.
The author asks potential allies to consider all of this. Black people don’t need their own allies adding to this burden.
The third step is holding yourself accountable. This means having an accountability partner. Obviously, this partner should not be an already exhausted Black person. The author invites you to consider national issues of such as policing, healthcare, housing and education and examine with your accountability pattern your own attitudes and how racism affects all aspects of our society. Journaling may assist here.
The final step is a call to action. It does no good to just have the right attitude. What is needed is action and support. The author has many suggestions. Local Facebook groups, attending meetings, writing to public officials, and patronizing local Black-owned businesses. This last one has been a great discovery for me. I now have a local source for activist T-shirts, books, gifts and holiday decorations.
The easiest first step is to follow Black people on social media. The author is active on twitter. Many who follow her are also worth a follow. There are local Black Lives Matter Facebook groups and many web resources. All of these deserve your support.
A final word, Quite often there is an observation made on social media about a group of people acting in an unhelpful manner. This is almost inevitably followed by a protest of “Not all….” This comment isn’t really helpful to the discussion. I’ll pick a sample demographic that includes me — ”White men over 65 voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Obviously, that doesn't include every single white man over 65. That goes without saying and is an unnecessary qualification to the basic truth. It diverts the discussion into unimportant side issues and quibbling. We shouldn’t expect Black people to be ambassadors for an entire race. We aren’t called to be ambassadors for our own particular demographics. When we do so we do sound defensive and combative. Just don’t.
This is a detailed review because this is an important well-written book on a subject that is essential to the health and vitality of our country. Thanks very much to the author for her time and efforts in writing this book.
August 22, 2022
The term "white ally" has been around for decades, but what does it mean and more importantly, what does it mean to actually BE a white ally to Black women?
Lecia Michelle, the book's author, is founder of the Facebook group "Real Talk: WOC & Allies for Racial Justice and Anti-Oprression, an online forum comprised of both women of color and white women. The group has been foundational in growing a committed group of white allies to Black women, which is where Lecia Michelle grounds her work. While racism affects all BIPOC, (as well as white people in the disproportionate advantages that they reap), it is Black women who the author feels are the most disrespected and betrayed, especially by white women, who can be extremely toxic and dangerous.
The author suggests that the reader take four weeks to read the book, and to journal around the questions and situations that she poses. However, she emphasizes that the real work is lifelong, and that white women cannot become complacent, or think that they have reached a threshold where they are done. She also suggests that white women work alongside other white women to teach each other and to hold each other accountable when they stray. (How to accept and learn from harms caused is a huge theme of the book). She suggests numerous actions that white women can take to lift up and support Black women on a continual basis.
There is a lot of wisdom and honesty in these pages, and Lecia Michelle gives solid examples of what she has experienced as a Black woman in the US, while also shining a light on how racism works for those who are not yet familiar with it or are still learning. I recommend this book to white women who have not yet started the work, those who are in it, and especially to those who have been in it for a long time, as it is a reminder of how much work is yet to do -- so in a sense, to everyone!
The book is extremely accessible in that it is reader-friendly and clear. The author does not sugar coat anything, but she is understanding and welcoming in her approach, especially to white women who are unconvinced, afraid or confused as to how to get started.
Lecia Michelle, the book's author, is founder of the Facebook group "Real Talk: WOC & Allies for Racial Justice and Anti-Oprression, an online forum comprised of both women of color and white women. The group has been foundational in growing a committed group of white allies to Black women, which is where Lecia Michelle grounds her work. While racism affects all BIPOC, (as well as white people in the disproportionate advantages that they reap), it is Black women who the author feels are the most disrespected and betrayed, especially by white women, who can be extremely toxic and dangerous.
The author suggests that the reader take four weeks to read the book, and to journal around the questions and situations that she poses. However, she emphasizes that the real work is lifelong, and that white women cannot become complacent, or think that they have reached a threshold where they are done. She also suggests that white women work alongside other white women to teach each other and to hold each other accountable when they stray. (How to accept and learn from harms caused is a huge theme of the book). She suggests numerous actions that white women can take to lift up and support Black women on a continual basis.
There is a lot of wisdom and honesty in these pages, and Lecia Michelle gives solid examples of what she has experienced as a Black woman in the US, while also shining a light on how racism works for those who are not yet familiar with it or are still learning. I recommend this book to white women who have not yet started the work, those who are in it, and especially to those who have been in it for a long time, as it is a reminder of how much work is yet to do -- so in a sense, to everyone!
The book is extremely accessible in that it is reader-friendly and clear. The author does not sugar coat anything, but she is understanding and welcoming in her approach, especially to white women who are unconvinced, afraid or confused as to how to get started.
December 4, 2024
There's a lot of useful information here, as well as direct and needed truthtelling, though I would have liked some tweaks to the format.
This is a really good transition book, as you're moving from more basic Anti-Racism and social justice material to give you a foundation and need to move into action. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a *first* read for a true beginner, but it's a good warm-up for the "sitting with discomfort" part that's so important to the process.
If you really want to use it as a 4-week manual, I'd recommend owning it rather than borrowing (as I did), breaking it up and taking more time with the chapters. With my ADHD I found the structure a bit tough as a straight-through read. There are *excellent* probing questions peppered throughout and the questions are on point but they come so frequently that I feel like there isn't enough space to process each with the full justice it deserves. It also really interrupts the flow. I found myself backtracking over a number of sections.
What works very well are the scenario-based questions at the end of each chapter. I felt like this was a natural pause point and I got a lot out of those exercises. I also appreciated the resource list at the back where Michelle thoughtfully included "places to visit" along with readings.
This is a really good transition book, as you're moving from more basic Anti-Racism and social justice material to give you a foundation and need to move into action. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a *first* read for a true beginner, but it's a good warm-up for the "sitting with discomfort" part that's so important to the process.
If you really want to use it as a 4-week manual, I'd recommend owning it rather than borrowing (as I did), breaking it up and taking more time with the chapters. With my ADHD I found the structure a bit tough as a straight-through read. There are *excellent* probing questions peppered throughout and the questions are on point but they come so frequently that I feel like there isn't enough space to process each with the full justice it deserves. It also really interrupts the flow. I found myself backtracking over a number of sections.
What works very well are the scenario-based questions at the end of each chapter. I felt like this was a natural pause point and I got a lot out of those exercises. I also appreciated the resource list at the back where Michelle thoughtfully included "places to visit" along with readings.
June 24, 2022
I felt as a white woman, I needed to read The White Allies Handbook to learn more about myself and what I can do to uplift women of color. I can not express how this book has opened my eyes to the everyday things we, as white people take for granted. What it has shown to me about how people react to jokes and snide remarks and not really pay attention to the harm it can cause.
My review of this book is, don’t just read it once. Read it over and over. Use it as a gateway to real allyship. Become a true ally with someone of color and learn from them. Listen to them. And take the criticism when called out. And, call out others when needed.
Buy the book. You will not regret it. I promise.
My review of this book is, don’t just read it once. Read it over and over. Use it as a gateway to real allyship. Become a true ally with someone of color and learn from them. Listen to them. And take the criticism when called out. And, call out others when needed.
Buy the book. You will not regret it. I promise.
August 25, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is a four week guided journal and learning experience to begin to put in the work to becoming antiracist. There are reflection questions throughout each chapter, and it is meant to guide you and an accountability partner (or more than one) to challenge your own racist beliefs to become more of an ally. This book would be perfect for a group of white people who want to put in the work but are having trouble figuring out where to start or what to do from there. Definitely recommend!
This book is a four week guided journal and learning experience to begin to put in the work to becoming antiracist. There are reflection questions throughout each chapter, and it is meant to guide you and an accountability partner (or more than one) to challenge your own racist beliefs to become more of an ally. This book would be perfect for a group of white people who want to put in the work but are having trouble figuring out where to start or what to do from there. Definitely recommend!
June 22, 2022
I want to thank Goodreads and the Kensington Publishing Corp. for providing me with an ARC to read for an honest review.
This book was very informative and full of questions to keep the reader thinking and engaged. It took me a while to read this book. It made me think about how I currently respond to certain situations and how I have responded to certain circumstances in the past. I am going to pass this on to my friends and hopefully some good discussions and actions will result from this book.
Thank you!
This book was very informative and full of questions to keep the reader thinking and engaged. It took me a while to read this book. It made me think about how I currently respond to certain situations and how I have responded to certain circumstances in the past. I am going to pass this on to my friends and hopefully some good discussions and actions will result from this book.
Thank you!
July 25, 2022
This book is a 4 week exploration of the racial justice fight for Black women worth your while. Michelle dives into white fragility, the role of the media, education, medical care and voting rights/ results (just to name a few) in her explanation of how to recognize white supremacy in order to confront it. Take action, action, action! You are invited to journal your thoughts step by step as you interact with the author, other allies, and accountability partners. Very well presented and thought out with tools on how to help you on your life-long journey of allyship... Get your copy 7/26!!📚
August 5, 2022
I won a copy of this one in a goodreads giveaway and the best I can say for it is that it does have some good information specifically targeted at white people, however, that information is based on a lot of misguided assumptions and on the author's own prejudices, as opposed to factual data. There's a reason that school curricula are not designed around the opinions of the teacher, and this book highlights why that is. It was free - so I didn't waste anything but time, but this wasn't the best use of my time by a long shot.
May 19, 2023
I love books that have ... not just advice, but practical, followable directions. The one thing I wish she'd discussed more is the issue of what I refer to as splashback: when someone from a dominant group speaks out against injustice towards a marginalized group, any resistance that results may be directed not at them (or not only at them) but at people who are in that group. Obviously, that isn't a reason to avoid speaking or acting against racism (or other isms), but it does mean that we should be aware and thoughtful as we do so.
March 18, 2025
I loved this book. Ms. Michelle is right. It's a white-supremacist and racist world. We are the fish in the water of racism and white-supremacy. I know what the right thing to do is when I witness racism, and I am ashamed to say I haven't done the right thing near often enough. I'm timid and hate confrontations. But Black peoples' rights matter more than my feelings.I need to commit to doing the right thing, all the time, to fight for the rights of Black people. May I, and more white people, commit to becoming actual allies, until the evil of white-supremacy and racism is stamped out.
June 14, 2022
Direct, clear, practical, and unflinchingly focused on how white people, particularly white women, can do better at supporting and standing up for Black women in the United States. I honestly did not fully do it justice in this first read but I was still impacted, and I will keep it and read it again more slowly. Worth sitting with.
NB: I read an advance reading copy sent to me by the publisher.
NB: I read an advance reading copy sent to me by the publisher.
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