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Silencing White Noise: Six Practices to Overcome Our Inaction on Race
★ Publishers Weekly starred review
"A superior volume on Christian antiracism."-- Publishers Weekly
Racism is omnipresent in American life, both public and private. We are immersed in what prominent faith leader Willie Dwayne Francois III calls white noise--the racist speech, ideas, and policies that lull us into inaction on racial justice. White noise masks racial realities and prevents constructive responses to microaggressions, structural inequality, and overt interpersonal racism.
In this book, Francois calls people of all racial backgrounds to take up practices that overcome silence and inaction on race and that advance racial repair. Drawing from his anti-racism curriculum, the Public Love Organizing and Training (PLOT) Project, Francois encourages us to move from a "colorblind" stance of mythic innocence to one that takes an honest account of our national history and acknowledges our complicity in racism as a prelude to anti-racist interventions.
Weaving together personal narrative, theology, and history, this book invites us to engage 6 "rhythms of reparative intercession." These are six practices of anti-racism that aim to repair harm by speaking up and "acting up" on behalf of others. Silencing White Noise offers concrete ways to help people wrest free from the dangers of racism and to develop lifelong Christian anti-racist practices.
"A superior volume on Christian antiracism."-- Publishers Weekly
Racism is omnipresent in American life, both public and private. We are immersed in what prominent faith leader Willie Dwayne Francois III calls white noise--the racist speech, ideas, and policies that lull us into inaction on racial justice. White noise masks racial realities and prevents constructive responses to microaggressions, structural inequality, and overt interpersonal racism.
In this book, Francois calls people of all racial backgrounds to take up practices that overcome silence and inaction on race and that advance racial repair. Drawing from his anti-racism curriculum, the Public Love Organizing and Training (PLOT) Project, Francois encourages us to move from a "colorblind" stance of mythic innocence to one that takes an honest account of our national history and acknowledges our complicity in racism as a prelude to anti-racist interventions.
Weaving together personal narrative, theology, and history, this book invites us to engage 6 "rhythms of reparative intercession." These are six practices of anti-racism that aim to repair harm by speaking up and "acting up" on behalf of others. Silencing White Noise offers concrete ways to help people wrest free from the dangers of racism and to develop lifelong Christian anti-racist practices.
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2022
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October 22, 2022
There have been droves of books on antiracism, both for the general market and specifically designed for the Christian market. Silencing White Noise is the latter, written by Willie Francois III, president of the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality. Dr. Francois is an assistant professor of liberation theology at New York Theological Seminary, directs a master’s program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, and pastors Mount Zion Baptist Church. He also created the PLOT (Public Love Organizing and Training) Project, which features prominently in the book.
Silencing White Noise identifies six practices—what Francois calls “rhythms of reparative intercession”—to combat racism and overcome what he sees as racial inaction. Writing in the time post-George Floyd in the wake of protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, including the proliferation of literature on antiracism in secular and Christian circles, that contention that we still tend toward inaction regarding race at first seems a little naïve. Have we really not been acting? But look around and listen and you’ll find that while, yes, there has been movement forward and, yes, there is more awareness, all of that progress is still surrounded and contained within “white noise” that provides superficial changes while not really addresses the systemic and cultural realities of racism and inequality.
Francois is clear in the book’s introduction that when he speaks of “Whiteness,” he has in mind not skin color but the “conscious or unconscious deference to unfounded notions of White superiority.” Silencing White Noise also takes the position that people of all ethnic and social backgrounds—not just white Europeans—bear the responsibility for change. While some of his book is a call to White people to repent and change, some of it is also a call to Black and other minority communities to rid themselves of the white noise among them and step up and speak up. It isn’t the job of the oppressed to teach the oppressor to be better. Or is it? That’s a difficult statement, but Francois argues that non-White people must take decisive action to silence white noise and not wait around on oppressive people or systems to change themselves.
To do this, he advocates for six practices of combating white noise:
1. Embrace Difference as a Gift. I don’t see color. We’re all the same in Christ.
2. Confront the Histories of Whiteness. It’s not my fault. Slavery was so long ago.
3. Honoring our Interdependence. I’ve had it hard too, but I worked hard.
4. Exploring our Fuller Selves. Why does everything have to be about race?
5. Sacrificing our Power and Privilege. It’s not my job to fix racism.
6. Naming our Complicity. I’m scared of the backlash.
I found it interested—perhaps taking a cue from his chapter on naming our complicity, that Francois lists ways in which he has been complicit in racism. He talks about how, in his past, white noise affected his view of the Black church and how he believed and engaged in racist tropes. That personal admission allows him space to not just be saying to white people “This is what you need to do” but gather in all Christians under a big tent and say “Let’s work together to fix this.”
In some sense, there’s not much that’s new in this book. There’s nothing revolutionary. Well. Revolutionary meaning never-before-said. The whole book is revolutionary in the best of ways. Where Silencing White Noise stands out is in its framing and in Francois’s personal experience. He clearly, cogently, and compassionately calls believers to step back from the culture war fracas, examine our biases, and make real substantive change to our thinking and our systems.
Silencing White Noise identifies six practices—what Francois calls “rhythms of reparative intercession”—to combat racism and overcome what he sees as racial inaction. Writing in the time post-George Floyd in the wake of protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, including the proliferation of literature on antiracism in secular and Christian circles, that contention that we still tend toward inaction regarding race at first seems a little naïve. Have we really not been acting? But look around and listen and you’ll find that while, yes, there has been movement forward and, yes, there is more awareness, all of that progress is still surrounded and contained within “white noise” that provides superficial changes while not really addresses the systemic and cultural realities of racism and inequality.
Francois is clear in the book’s introduction that when he speaks of “Whiteness,” he has in mind not skin color but the “conscious or unconscious deference to unfounded notions of White superiority.” Silencing White Noise also takes the position that people of all ethnic and social backgrounds—not just white Europeans—bear the responsibility for change. While some of his book is a call to White people to repent and change, some of it is also a call to Black and other minority communities to rid themselves of the white noise among them and step up and speak up. It isn’t the job of the oppressed to teach the oppressor to be better. Or is it? That’s a difficult statement, but Francois argues that non-White people must take decisive action to silence white noise and not wait around on oppressive people or systems to change themselves.
To do this, he advocates for six practices of combating white noise:
1. Embrace Difference as a Gift. I don’t see color. We’re all the same in Christ.
2. Confront the Histories of Whiteness. It’s not my fault. Slavery was so long ago.
3. Honoring our Interdependence. I’ve had it hard too, but I worked hard.
4. Exploring our Fuller Selves. Why does everything have to be about race?
5. Sacrificing our Power and Privilege. It’s not my job to fix racism.
6. Naming our Complicity. I’m scared of the backlash.
I found it interested—perhaps taking a cue from his chapter on naming our complicity, that Francois lists ways in which he has been complicit in racism. He talks about how, in his past, white noise affected his view of the Black church and how he believed and engaged in racist tropes. That personal admission allows him space to not just be saying to white people “This is what you need to do” but gather in all Christians under a big tent and say “Let’s work together to fix this.”
In some sense, there’s not much that’s new in this book. There’s nothing revolutionary. Well. Revolutionary meaning never-before-said. The whole book is revolutionary in the best of ways. Where Silencing White Noise stands out is in its framing and in Francois’s personal experience. He clearly, cogently, and compassionately calls believers to step back from the culture war fracas, examine our biases, and make real substantive change to our thinking and our systems.
March 29, 2022
To start, I just want to say I am very grateful to Dr. Francois for writing this book and even more grateful that I have gotten a chance to read and review it before it is published. I don't believe it should be the job of people who are most harmed by systemic racism to be the ones to educate us about it, but that's part of the whole problem that Dr. Francois writes about in this book. I've only been through the book one time so far, and I have to admit that the language is so deep and rich that at times some of it went over my head. But even so I have a lot to think about from just the first read through.
I am not a religious person, but I didn't feel excluded from reading even though the book is in the Christian category. I would describe this as more of a scholarly work. I do think I am part of the target demographic - a 40ish year old White woman who in the past has said things like (with all seriousness), "ok, I know my parents paid for college and I've never had any debt in my life, but I still worked really hard in school to get where I am today". I appreciated that Dr. Francois shared a few times in his own life where he took a certain stance and then later changed his mind, which takes a little bit of the sting out of this reckoning.
Also, the part about how "even the choir needs continuous rehearsal" resonated really strongly with me.. I have definitely been guilty of attending a discussion about racism and thinking that I already knew all of this and how can I get the people who "really" need this to show up.
I've read several books about race, racism, discrimination, etc. prior to reading this one. I would not recommend this as a first foray into this topic. It is heavy and real and needs to be approached with a true determination to go from belief that racism exists to actually doing something about all the White Noise out there. If that's where you are in your journey, then this is the book for you, and you need to read it urgently.
A note for the editors, there is a typo on page 132/440 (iphone pages) where there is a quote "It's my fault. Slavery was so long ago. Get over it". I believe this should be "It's NOT my fault".
Thank you to Brazos Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I am not a religious person, but I didn't feel excluded from reading even though the book is in the Christian category. I would describe this as more of a scholarly work. I do think I am part of the target demographic - a 40ish year old White woman who in the past has said things like (with all seriousness), "ok, I know my parents paid for college and I've never had any debt in my life, but I still worked really hard in school to get where I am today". I appreciated that Dr. Francois shared a few times in his own life where he took a certain stance and then later changed his mind, which takes a little bit of the sting out of this reckoning.
Also, the part about how "even the choir needs continuous rehearsal" resonated really strongly with me.. I have definitely been guilty of attending a discussion about racism and thinking that I already knew all of this and how can I get the people who "really" need this to show up.
I've read several books about race, racism, discrimination, etc. prior to reading this one. I would not recommend this as a first foray into this topic. It is heavy and real and needs to be approached with a true determination to go from belief that racism exists to actually doing something about all the White Noise out there. If that's where you are in your journey, then this is the book for you, and you need to read it urgently.
A note for the editors, there is a typo on page 132/440 (iphone pages) where there is a quote "It's my fault. Slavery was so long ago. Get over it". I believe this should be "It's NOT my fault".
Thank you to Brazos Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2023
The subtitle is Six Practices To Overcome Our Inaction On Race and I found the focus on practices to be extremely helpful. I’ve been heavily invested in the ‘books about anti-racism’ genre for the past couple of years and I’m finding myself at a point where I’m realizing I need to read less about anti-racism and begin to practice it more. So having the six practices outlined in that way was great. Each chapter begins with a common idea that Francois considers to be ‘white noise’ and suggests a practice to counter it. The white noise phrases are phrases that I’ve encountered and even found myself saying or thinking such as , “Why does everything have to be about race?” Or “I don’t see color.”
The practice that I want to implement the most is divesting myself of privilege for the sake of the underrepresented. I acknowledge that being a straight white male affords me a certain unearned status in life. So I can do what I can to jump off that pedestal as often as I can, or else use that status and privilege to help someone else that doesn’t have it. I realized that being serious about being anti-racist is going to cost me something. And it should. But I can joyfully count the cost and lay down my privilege in the name of Jesus for the sake of the disinherited.
Even if you feel like you’ve been over saturated with anti-racism books and talk, I still recommend Silencing White Noise. It gets practical in a way I appreciated. It challenges white folks to be better without demonizing us.* Give it a shot.
*If you’re unfamiliar with the language of Whiteness in anti-racist discourse and you’re a White person, you may feel demonized. Francois contends that Whiteness is sinful and demonic. The distinction is that Whiteness does not refer to the state of having white skin, but rather the ideology that white skin is normative or preferable to dark skin. What Francois refers to as Whiteness, some people refer to as White Supremacy, but I suspect the author wanted to avoid conjuring images of Klan robes and wanted to refer instead to the more subtle and insidious forms of White Supremacy that permeate the world. This is what he means when he uses the word “Whiteness.” He is not saying that people with white skin are demonic, but he is saying that the de facto preference for and elevation of people with white skin is outright sinful. I agree with that assessment.
The practice that I want to implement the most is divesting myself of privilege for the sake of the underrepresented. I acknowledge that being a straight white male affords me a certain unearned status in life. So I can do what I can to jump off that pedestal as often as I can, or else use that status and privilege to help someone else that doesn’t have it. I realized that being serious about being anti-racist is going to cost me something. And it should. But I can joyfully count the cost and lay down my privilege in the name of Jesus for the sake of the disinherited.
Even if you feel like you’ve been over saturated with anti-racism books and talk, I still recommend Silencing White Noise. It gets practical in a way I appreciated. It challenges white folks to be better without demonizing us.* Give it a shot.
*If you’re unfamiliar with the language of Whiteness in anti-racist discourse and you’re a White person, you may feel demonized. Francois contends that Whiteness is sinful and demonic. The distinction is that Whiteness does not refer to the state of having white skin, but rather the ideology that white skin is normative or preferable to dark skin. What Francois refers to as Whiteness, some people refer to as White Supremacy, but I suspect the author wanted to avoid conjuring images of Klan robes and wanted to refer instead to the more subtle and insidious forms of White Supremacy that permeate the world. This is what he means when he uses the word “Whiteness.” He is not saying that people with white skin are demonic, but he is saying that the de facto preference for and elevation of people with white skin is outright sinful. I agree with that assessment.
November 23, 2022
If I'm rating the audio book on whether or not it made me think, it's a 4-star. The content, however, was a bit too complex to listen to without devoting full attention to the speaker (2-star) and even then I was going back over certain sections multiple times to ensure I understood the intent of the words. I think reading and weighing the written words would have resulted in a combined score higher than 3-star.
_ 'We need to do the unprecedented thing: create ourselves without needing to create an enemy out of our siblings of different social identities (race, citizenship, class, gender and sexuality)"
_ "we must create overwhelming global demand for thinking outside of WHITE boxes."
_ "If I could do anything to end racism, what would I do?"
_ "We must ask ourselves if we have the stamina to give up non-participation"
_ "No-one is inherently racist. We inherit racist ideas, privileges, and practices. You can be racist and a good person: charitable, church involved, altruistic and loving toward black friends and relatives. A person can be married to a black person, birth and raise a black person, and support black owned businesses while being racist. Antiracism requires more than good intentions, strong individual relationships and charitable actions."
_ 'We need to do the unprecedented thing: create ourselves without needing to create an enemy out of our siblings of different social identities (race, citizenship, class, gender and sexuality)"
_ "we must create overwhelming global demand for thinking outside of WHITE boxes."
_ "If I could do anything to end racism, what would I do?"
_ "We must ask ourselves if we have the stamina to give up non-participation"
_ "No-one is inherently racist. We inherit racist ideas, privileges, and practices. You can be racist and a good person: charitable, church involved, altruistic and loving toward black friends and relatives. A person can be married to a black person, birth and raise a black person, and support black owned businesses while being racist. Antiracism requires more than good intentions, strong individual relationships and charitable actions."
February 21, 2023
A very dense book with many concepts to ruminate on. I like the Christian point of view but it can be read and taken to heart by anyone. A call to action, not to sit on the sidelines but to engage and actively participate. I can see how many would be put off by this book and ones like it if you were to just pick it up and cherry pick passages. Talk of the sin of Whiteness and evil of it could make people shy away or even call for burning of it, but when focused on Francois's definition of “Whiteness,” we realize he's not talking about skin color but rather the “conscious or unconscious deference to unfounded notions of White superiority.”
November 3, 2025
A Challenge with Hope
Dr. Francois writes with compelling lucidity of the challenge our society is facing when racism remains unaddressed . And he challenges those of us who are privileged to do more than learn or talk. Racism must be confronted and diversity celebrated. For those of us who engage in what he terms ,”spiritual bypassing” where we accept racism as something that just has been and always will be, Francois cites Peter Gomes. “It s not what would Jesus do. But what would Jesus have me do.” Deeply profound book. It should upset many. And that’s an excellent thing.
Dr. Francois writes with compelling lucidity of the challenge our society is facing when racism remains unaddressed . And he challenges those of us who are privileged to do more than learn or talk. Racism must be confronted and diversity celebrated. For those of us who engage in what he terms ,”spiritual bypassing” where we accept racism as something that just has been and always will be, Francois cites Peter Gomes. “It s not what would Jesus do. But what would Jesus have me do.” Deeply profound book. It should upset many. And that’s an excellent thing.
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December 11, 2023Just a really excellent book. I don't know that my experience with this translates to Goodreads star rating system so I won't attempt to force that.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this. As an atheist, I thought this might not be a book for me. And I was really wrong. It was illuminating, thoughtful, and overall taught me a great deal.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this. As an atheist, I thought this might not be a book for me. And I was really wrong. It was illuminating, thoughtful, and overall taught me a great deal.
November 23, 2024
Reparation!
Willie Dwayne Francois III inspires us to silence the noise of White Supremacy.He is eloquent and the reader wants to silence that white noise, to recognize our non-white brothers and sisters.
Willie Dwayne Francois III inspires us to silence the noise of White Supremacy.He is eloquent and the reader wants to silence that white noise, to recognize our non-white brothers and sisters.
March 18, 2025
Francois preaches! I listened to the audiobook, and it felt like listening to a very insightful, motivational sermon. A very Christian book, steeped in the Bible and the traditions of the Civil Rights movement.
December 29, 2022
Dense, and one to come back to. There is much I want to absorb here.
February 26, 2023
Silencing White Noise Six Practices to Overcome Our Inaction on Race by Willie Dwayne Francois III
197 Pages
Publisher: Baker Academic & Brazos Press, Brazos Press
Release Date: August 16, 2022
Nonfiction, Multicultural, Christian, Racial, Racism
The book is divided into the following chapters
Chapter 1: Cues to Color: Embracing Differences as Gift
(White Noise: “I don’t see color We are all the same in Christ.”)
Chapter 2: Momentum to Encounter: Confronting the Histories of Whiteness
(White Noise: “It’s not my fault. Slavery was so long ago. Get over it.”)
Chapter 3: Pattern Recognition: Honoring Our Interdependence
(White Noise: “I’ve had it hard too, but I worked Hard.”)
Chapter 4: Syncopated Identity: Exploring Our Fuller Selves
(White Noise: “Why does everything have to be about race?”)
Chapter 5: Pulse to Risk: Sacrificing Our Power and Privilege
(White Noise: “It’s not my job to fix racism.”)
Chapter 6: Downbeat Truth: Naming Our Complicity with Racism
(White Noise: “I’m scared of the backlash.”)
Conclusion: Invent Hope Every Day
I am so pleased I was able to read and review this book. The author is an amazing writer with the ability to write as if he is talking with you. He touches on many hot topics with a light touch but with a heavy meaning. Each of the subjects he discusses should be discussions held every day by everyone. We need to find ways to remove the white noise from our lives. If you are interested in finding a better way to communicate with others, I highly recommend this book.si
197 Pages
Publisher: Baker Academic & Brazos Press, Brazos Press
Release Date: August 16, 2022
Nonfiction, Multicultural, Christian, Racial, Racism
The book is divided into the following chapters
Chapter 1: Cues to Color: Embracing Differences as Gift
(White Noise: “I don’t see color We are all the same in Christ.”)
Chapter 2: Momentum to Encounter: Confronting the Histories of Whiteness
(White Noise: “It’s not my fault. Slavery was so long ago. Get over it.”)
Chapter 3: Pattern Recognition: Honoring Our Interdependence
(White Noise: “I’ve had it hard too, but I worked Hard.”)
Chapter 4: Syncopated Identity: Exploring Our Fuller Selves
(White Noise: “Why does everything have to be about race?”)
Chapter 5: Pulse to Risk: Sacrificing Our Power and Privilege
(White Noise: “It’s not my job to fix racism.”)
Chapter 6: Downbeat Truth: Naming Our Complicity with Racism
(White Noise: “I’m scared of the backlash.”)
Conclusion: Invent Hope Every Day
I am so pleased I was able to read and review this book. The author is an amazing writer with the ability to write as if he is talking with you. He touches on many hot topics with a light touch but with a heavy meaning. Each of the subjects he discusses should be discussions held every day by everyone. We need to find ways to remove the white noise from our lives. If you are interested in finding a better way to communicate with others, I highly recommend this book.si
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