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Lies about Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why It Matters
From the Black Lives Matter movement to the health and economic disparities exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have been forced to reckon with our country’s fraught history – and present – of racial bias and inequality. Now that we have scratched the surface on courageous conversations about race, many are what is the next step towards healing and justice? Lies About Black How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why it Matters is designed for anyone who wants to examine their own biases and behaviors with a deeper critical lens in order to take action, make change, and engage positively in the fight for racial equality.
In this honest and welcoming book, diversity and inclusion expert, professor, and award-winning speaker Dr. Omekongo Dibinga argues that we must embark on a massive undertaking to re-educate ourselves on the stereotypes that have proven harmful, and too often deadly, to the Black community. Through personal anecdotes, nuanced historical inquiry, and engaging analysis of modern-day events and their historical context and implications, this invaluable guide will break down some of the most powerful lies told about Black people. Whether those lies are pernicious, like the idea that “most black people are criminals,” or seemingly innocuous, like the notion that “black people can’t swim,” all of the lies and stereotypes combatted in this book are rooted in hate and continue to undermine not only Black people in America, but our society as a whole. Beyond combatting these harmful lies, Dr. Dibinga also provides readers with powerful insights on our racial vocabulary, reflective hands-on exercises that will allow readers to confront and change their own biases, and an honest discussion about how to move beyond misplaced shame and use privilege to serve others.
Featuring personal surveys alongside real-life interviews with those who have been affected by racial biases first-hand, this open and thoughtful guide will lead readers on a path to understanding, action, and change.
In this honest and welcoming book, diversity and inclusion expert, professor, and award-winning speaker Dr. Omekongo Dibinga argues that we must embark on a massive undertaking to re-educate ourselves on the stereotypes that have proven harmful, and too often deadly, to the Black community. Through personal anecdotes, nuanced historical inquiry, and engaging analysis of modern-day events and their historical context and implications, this invaluable guide will break down some of the most powerful lies told about Black people. Whether those lies are pernicious, like the idea that “most black people are criminals,” or seemingly innocuous, like the notion that “black people can’t swim,” all of the lies and stereotypes combatted in this book are rooted in hate and continue to undermine not only Black people in America, but our society as a whole. Beyond combatting these harmful lies, Dr. Dibinga also provides readers with powerful insights on our racial vocabulary, reflective hands-on exercises that will allow readers to confront and change their own biases, and an honest discussion about how to move beyond misplaced shame and use privilege to serve others.
Featuring personal surveys alongside real-life interviews with those who have been affected by racial biases first-hand, this open and thoughtful guide will lead readers on a path to understanding, action, and change.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2023
78 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 11, 2023
“As Duke University’s audio director John Biewen said in a TEDx talk, racism did not start with a misunderstanding. It started with a lie. He said that it is a story people decided to tell and that this “tool of Whiteness” is still “doing the job” it was invented to do today—to set up and perpetuate systems to keep us divided. It did not start with anything related to deficiencies based on color.”
A combination of anti racism scholarship, diversity, equity and inclusion ideas for schools, organizations, and corporations and snippet interviews for those working towards anti racism. I believe Omekongo Dibinga is a scholar/diversity lecturer we will hear from again and again. This isn’t his first book, but this may be the one that exposes him to a larger audience. He does an excellent job of setting the table for an in-depth discussion about the lies that have been told about Black people and how those lies lead to all sorts of disruption in the daily lives of Black people.
“being Black in America is like being constantly connected to a lie detector. You are constantly asked or even demanded to prove that you are truly qualified to work at your job, go to school where you do, and live where you live: • “You want to be president of the United States? Show us your college transcript.” • “You want to be a Supreme Court justice? Show us your LSAT scores.” • “You want to be a doctor? Didn’t you only get into med school because of affirmative action?” •“You want to be an NFL team owner? Show us . . .” (Well, we’re still waiting on that one.)”
“I do not use the term minority to refer to Black and Brown people unless I am quoting someone. The reason for this is that my parents taught me that I am part of a global majority, so I never limited myself to the United States. I always knew that much of the world was closer to my complexion than the complexion of White people, so the term minority never made sense to me” That passage is but one example of how clear he intends to be about words. I have for years screamed about the term minority and have always thought that at the very minimum it should have been qualified with the descriptor, ‘numerical’, so that was a welcome and affirming passage.
“Furthermore, we must understand that we must start with the same points of departure if we are to arrive at the same destination.”He was very clear in making sure that readers understood the definition of the various terms because as he often finds in his diversity work, if you don’t start with clear definitions the session could devolve into chaos. And that can be easily avoided when the definitions of the terms that will dominate the discussion are clearly stated up front.
He adds simple activities throughout the book that are mainly designed for you to challenge your racism and your support of racist ideas and language. And to top it all off, he is also a poet and shares some of his poetry that acts as a strong pillar of support for his diversity work and scholarship. There is work to be done, and with scholar/authors like Omekongo Dibinga pushing and prodding the future tends to shine a bit more optimistically. Get this book and share it with everyone. Leave it on a coworkers desk! Book will be out July 15, 2023. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advanced digital copy.
A combination of anti racism scholarship, diversity, equity and inclusion ideas for schools, organizations, and corporations and snippet interviews for those working towards anti racism. I believe Omekongo Dibinga is a scholar/diversity lecturer we will hear from again and again. This isn’t his first book, but this may be the one that exposes him to a larger audience. He does an excellent job of setting the table for an in-depth discussion about the lies that have been told about Black people and how those lies lead to all sorts of disruption in the daily lives of Black people.
“being Black in America is like being constantly connected to a lie detector. You are constantly asked or even demanded to prove that you are truly qualified to work at your job, go to school where you do, and live where you live: • “You want to be president of the United States? Show us your college transcript.” • “You want to be a Supreme Court justice? Show us your LSAT scores.” • “You want to be a doctor? Didn’t you only get into med school because of affirmative action?” •“You want to be an NFL team owner? Show us . . .” (Well, we’re still waiting on that one.)”
“I do not use the term minority to refer to Black and Brown people unless I am quoting someone. The reason for this is that my parents taught me that I am part of a global majority, so I never limited myself to the United States. I always knew that much of the world was closer to my complexion than the complexion of White people, so the term minority never made sense to me” That passage is but one example of how clear he intends to be about words. I have for years screamed about the term minority and have always thought that at the very minimum it should have been qualified with the descriptor, ‘numerical’, so that was a welcome and affirming passage.
“Furthermore, we must understand that we must start with the same points of departure if we are to arrive at the same destination.”He was very clear in making sure that readers understood the definition of the various terms because as he often finds in his diversity work, if you don’t start with clear definitions the session could devolve into chaos. And that can be easily avoided when the definitions of the terms that will dominate the discussion are clearly stated up front.
He adds simple activities throughout the book that are mainly designed for you to challenge your racism and your support of racist ideas and language. And to top it all off, he is also a poet and shares some of his poetry that acts as a strong pillar of support for his diversity work and scholarship. There is work to be done, and with scholar/authors like Omekongo Dibinga pushing and prodding the future tends to shine a bit more optimistically. Get this book and share it with everyone. Leave it on a coworkers desk! Book will be out July 15, 2023. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advanced digital copy.
June 29, 2023
I don’t often describe a book as important but in this case, there is no better way to recommend this book. It is an important book to add to your anti-racist bookshelf and to share with your community regardless of your demographics.
This thorough study on the lies about blacks people that we are told by media, our education system, politicians, and members of our community is insightful, infuriating, and eye-opening. Deep looks into the history of these lies and how they are perpetuated and supported by our country and the world should make you both angry and hopeful. The interspersed anti-racism accounts are relatable and the end of chapter questions make this more a readable book than a difficult textbook. Best of all is Dr. Dibinga’s specific call to action complete with anti-racist steps that can be taken by all readers, be they parents, teachers, doctors, or any members of their communities.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This thorough study on the lies about blacks people that we are told by media, our education system, politicians, and members of our community is insightful, infuriating, and eye-opening. Deep looks into the history of these lies and how they are perpetuated and supported by our country and the world should make you both angry and hopeful. The interspersed anti-racism accounts are relatable and the end of chapter questions make this more a readable book than a difficult textbook. Best of all is Dr. Dibinga’s specific call to action complete with anti-racist steps that can be taken by all readers, be they parents, teachers, doctors, or any members of their communities.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 21, 2023
This book was great in detailing the tremendous effort undertaken to instill the myth of black inferiority in American society. One of my biggest takeaways was the sense that the anti-black propaganda machine truly reflects white fragility. Many of the most heinous acts committed against black people in America were responses to social gains that challenged white notions of superiority. My other takeaway was the importance of EXPOSURE. In many of the antiracist reflections individuals admit their preconceived notions of black people and described how quickly those notions were diminished by simply being exposed to more black people. This is why many fight for neo-segregated arrangements such as private/charter schools and the defunding of public spaces and services. The lies crumble when faced with reality. My wife and I are both graduates of PWIs and we always joke about how our white friends often invite us into spaces and rarely consider the lack of diversity in those environments. As individuals experienced in these environments we manage to maintain a sense of comfort while also being vigilant, but we quickly notice a change in comfort when the roles are reversed. These are not racist individuals but it highlights how little exposure they have to black people outside of the few relationships they were able to make in spaces where they are the majority. I fear that the small encounters with select black individuals fail to completely dismiss the lies, as they may see us as an exception. This is how we see the result of individuals supporting policies with clear racist motivations intended to harm black communities but reject accusations of racism because of their token black friend.
Great book that I would recommend to anyone, the only reason I rated 3 stars rather than 4 or 5 was because I would have preferred the poems to collect at the end. The switch disrupted the flow as I was looking forward to reading more of his insights on a particular topic but had that flow disrupted by poems that were often very good but not something I was looking forward to digesting at that moment. Also, some of the examples used I found to stretch the reality to push a narrative. I feel as though sometimes in an effort to push a pro-black message, we reject discomforting realities such as black-on-black crime. Yes, the majority of crime committed is intraracial, but if we can't acknowledge the alarming number of violent crimes committed by black people most often against other black people, or the other realities that black people are also leading in other categories of violent interracial crime, then we refuse to hold one another accountable and fail to work to address the causes and correct the wrongs. I don't see it as anti-black or perpetuating negative black stereotypes by acknowledging realities even when they are discomforting, because I know there are other more determining factors such as poverty, lack of education, lack of opportunity, and lack of resources that lead to negative outcomes.
Great book that I would recommend to anyone, the only reason I rated 3 stars rather than 4 or 5 was because I would have preferred the poems to collect at the end. The switch disrupted the flow as I was looking forward to reading more of his insights on a particular topic but had that flow disrupted by poems that were often very good but not something I was looking forward to digesting at that moment. Also, some of the examples used I found to stretch the reality to push a narrative. I feel as though sometimes in an effort to push a pro-black message, we reject discomforting realities such as black-on-black crime. Yes, the majority of crime committed is intraracial, but if we can't acknowledge the alarming number of violent crimes committed by black people most often against other black people, or the other realities that black people are also leading in other categories of violent interracial crime, then we refuse to hold one another accountable and fail to work to address the causes and correct the wrongs. I don't see it as anti-black or perpetuating negative black stereotypes by acknowledging realities even when they are discomforting, because I know there are other more determining factors such as poverty, lack of education, lack of opportunity, and lack of resources that lead to negative outcomes.
July 13, 2023
An absolutely vital read!
Whoever you are (especially if you are white like me), you need to read this book. It challenges the lies that we taught - both subtly and not so subtly - about Black people. As it states multiple times through the book, being ignorant in this day and age is inexcusable. But it can also feel a bit overwhelming, because where do you start. START WITH THIS BOOK.
It was an engaging quick read that I know I will be thinking of for a long time to come.
Whoever you are (especially if you are white like me), you need to read this book. It challenges the lies that we taught - both subtly and not so subtly - about Black people. As it states multiple times through the book, being ignorant in this day and age is inexcusable. But it can also feel a bit overwhelming, because where do you start. START WITH THIS BOOK.
It was an engaging quick read that I know I will be thinking of for a long time to come.
July 17, 2024
MASTERPEICE!
September 21, 2023
picked up Dibinga's book after hearing an interview with him on NPR. There have been entire books written on the systematic racism that perpetuates the lies he covers in individual chapters (Black people are bad with money and lazy, which is why they are poor; Black people can't swim; Black people are inferior academically but superior athletically; Black people don't feel pain like White people); however, he added voices from many people of different ages, sexes, and identities in a workbook style meant to interact with the reader's own critical thinking about implicit biases. He also included several of his own poems and raps that are quite poignant. Diblinga also had a powerful rebuttal against adopting BIPOC as shorthand for 'nonwhite'. Being a middle-aged woman dripping in white privilege (in a predominately white, affluent suburb), my anti-racist training starts with academics but hopefully doesn't end there.
January 3, 2025
3.75
The author is a professor and diversity and inclusion expert and this book is meant to enlighten folks - not indoctrinate, or shame. Simply, to educate people about stereotypes in history, current bias and inequalities. Black and other racially marginalized groups are included.
Unfortunately, these kinds of books are not in favor with many who would benefit MOST from it.
This isn't the best book I've read on the topic, but there are nuances he adds that make it unique and worthwhile. There are useful exercises that accompany each chapter.
One such exercise isn't easy for even Black people to complete successfully - it is as follows:
Name Ten living, popular Black male athletes
Name Ten living, popular Black male musicians
Name Ten living, popular Black male actors
Name Ten living, popular Black male doctors or scientists
Name Ten living, popular Black male authors
Name Ten living, popular Black male educators
For a bigger challenge swap out male for female, or Asian, or Hispanic/Latin Americans
Most people can easily name 10 athletes, musicians, and perhaps 10 actors. But for the latter 3 categories people are generally stumped (Black people can usually come up with the authors if they are readers).
The reason for the disparity is that media feeds us content on the first three, but generally we do not hear about the latter three. The fact is there are far more doctors and scientists than there are NBA and NFL players, yet they are not mentioned with the regularity of the athletes and entertainers.
You can't know about what you don't see - but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I think this one exercise demonstrates how stereotypes are what we tend to see in media and it is not at all representational of the an entire racial demographic of people.
The author is a professor and diversity and inclusion expert and this book is meant to enlighten folks - not indoctrinate, or shame. Simply, to educate people about stereotypes in history, current bias and inequalities. Black and other racially marginalized groups are included.
Unfortunately, these kinds of books are not in favor with many who would benefit MOST from it.
This isn't the best book I've read on the topic, but there are nuances he adds that make it unique and worthwhile. There are useful exercises that accompany each chapter.
One such exercise isn't easy for even Black people to complete successfully - it is as follows:
Name Ten living, popular Black male athletes
Name Ten living, popular Black male musicians
Name Ten living, popular Black male actors
Name Ten living, popular Black male doctors or scientists
Name Ten living, popular Black male authors
Name Ten living, popular Black male educators
For a bigger challenge swap out male for female, or Asian, or Hispanic/Latin Americans
Most people can easily name 10 athletes, musicians, and perhaps 10 actors. But for the latter 3 categories people are generally stumped (Black people can usually come up with the authors if they are readers).
The reason for the disparity is that media feeds us content on the first three, but generally we do not hear about the latter three. The fact is there are far more doctors and scientists than there are NBA and NFL players, yet they are not mentioned with the regularity of the athletes and entertainers.
You can't know about what you don't see - but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I think this one exercise demonstrates how stereotypes are what we tend to see in media and it is not at all representational of the an entire racial demographic of people.
July 15, 2023
This book addresses some of the racial stereotypes about Black folks (often but not exclusively African Americans), how they originated, and why they're harmful. It also offers some strategies for countering these stereotypes.
The book is smart and thoughtful. It challenges the reader to think differently. It made me aware of some things I didn't know. It definitely deserves a place on everyone's shelf of antiracist literature.
I struggled with the fact that the proposed solutions mostly seem to be reactive and confrontational. There's a place for those solutions. But there is perhaps greater value in actively modeling your values and the behavior you expect from others. The book touches on this, but barely. Some people are just not confrontational by nature. There are gentle and non-confrontational ways to express disapproval.
White people have intersectionality, too. People can be white and female, white and LGBTQ+, white and disabled, etc. Let's please acknowledge that it might be unsafe for white people to take antiracist action in some situations. The bystander/upstander discussion needs to include the caveat that it's okay to choose not to act when acting could place you in danger.
Overall, the book is informative about stereotypes and useful in offering strategies to combat racism. The author achieved what he set out to do. No one book has all the answers, but this book is one more in the arsenal for achieving a more just world.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The book is smart and thoughtful. It challenges the reader to think differently. It made me aware of some things I didn't know. It definitely deserves a place on everyone's shelf of antiracist literature.
I struggled with the fact that the proposed solutions mostly seem to be reactive and confrontational. There's a place for those solutions. But there is perhaps greater value in actively modeling your values and the behavior you expect from others. The book touches on this, but barely. Some people are just not confrontational by nature. There are gentle and non-confrontational ways to express disapproval.
White people have intersectionality, too. People can be white and female, white and LGBTQ+, white and disabled, etc. Let's please acknowledge that it might be unsafe for white people to take antiracist action in some situations. The bystander/upstander discussion needs to include the caveat that it's okay to choose not to act when acting could place you in danger.
Overall, the book is informative about stereotypes and useful in offering strategies to combat racism. The author achieved what he set out to do. No one book has all the answers, but this book is one more in the arsenal for achieving a more just world.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 2, 2023
This book is an incredible resource for DEI work. It is written in a way that bridges accessibility, academia, and art to create something that truly meets many audiences where they are and helps them to see the issues and possible solutions to the problems racism creates in America. Unlike many texts that try to reach a broad audience, this DEI text does not center Whiteness and offers an honest perspective from a Black man while incorporating narratives from other identities all helping the audience come to understand and contextualize history by walking them through how someone else has come to that understanding. The writing is direct and informative and well-researched, but also includes poetry blended throughout, and it brings principles of DEI theory and historical analysis to an updated examination of our most recent history, helping us to understand this moment we’re living in right now.
April 4, 2025
An excellent - if emotional presentation rooted in truth.
As invisible, but active pioneer in attacking racial inequities all my life. It is refreshing to see real truths about race and its impact on everything that happens in this country. I am a pragmatic person, but I understand why his book is full of emotional reactions to the circumstances that are so troubling. Nonetheless, I am glad he can still speak to rational and deliberate action designed to change things in both meaningful and substantive ways.
I was responsible for developing a comprehensive diversity management program in the analytic arm of the Central Intelligence Agency in the late 1980s and directed that program until the mid 1990s. I served as a consultant in this area for another ten years. A critical issue sticks in my mind - no matter how well things work while fighting these battles, the war never ends.
As invisible, but active pioneer in attacking racial inequities all my life. It is refreshing to see real truths about race and its impact on everything that happens in this country. I am a pragmatic person, but I understand why his book is full of emotional reactions to the circumstances that are so troubling. Nonetheless, I am glad he can still speak to rational and deliberate action designed to change things in both meaningful and substantive ways.
I was responsible for developing a comprehensive diversity management program in the analytic arm of the Central Intelligence Agency in the late 1980s and directed that program until the mid 1990s. I served as a consultant in this area for another ten years. A critical issue sticks in my mind - no matter how well things work while fighting these battles, the war never ends.
July 9, 2025
Lies about Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why It Matters is written for those who have misconceptions about American Blacks. There are those who believe all American Blacks are the same and this causes an enormous amount of problems in America.
If American Whites don't want to be labeled a Fauci, Hitler, Stalin, Biden, Epstein and the like or other despicable and evil whites then they must stop the tradition of labeling other cultures.
Only whites can get the ball rolling to eradicate hate against other ethnicities and once that ball starts rolling other ethnicities will follow their lead because they will no longer feel they are being punished for not being born white.
Lies about Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why It Matters can help those who are following an evil tradition to change their destructive Mindset.
If American Whites don't want to be labeled a Fauci, Hitler, Stalin, Biden, Epstein and the like or other despicable and evil whites then they must stop the tradition of labeling other cultures.
Only whites can get the ball rolling to eradicate hate against other ethnicities and once that ball starts rolling other ethnicities will follow their lead because they will no longer feel they are being punished for not being born white.
Lies about Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why It Matters can help those who are following an evil tradition to change their destructive Mindset.
July 24, 2023
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I have reviewed this book 3 times, and it keeps getting erased, so here is the abbreviated version.
Lies about Black People is a book that should not have to exist, but it does, and it's eye-opening
The poetry within the book are what spoke to me the most , the works were written with sadness and anger, as they should be..
Although the book itself was an eye-opening read, it is the activities that really cause one a lot of self reflection
Great read that everyone should read.
I have reviewed this book 3 times, and it keeps getting erased, so here is the abbreviated version.
Lies about Black People is a book that should not have to exist, but it does, and it's eye-opening
The poetry within the book are what spoke to me the most , the works were written with sadness and anger, as they should be..
Although the book itself was an eye-opening read, it is the activities that really cause one a lot of self reflection
Great read that everyone should read.
March 3, 2024
An excellent book that identifies and dismantles the dehumanizing stereotypes that persist about Black people. While many of the concepts were familiar to me from other reading, I appreciated how Dr Dibinga keeps a laser focus on each topic explaining the issues with clear examples and definitions. I also liked the activities at the end of each section. More important still he provides workable suggestions to help be an UPstander (as opposed to a bystander) in the fight against racism.
July 31, 2024
If you want a better understanding of the history of racism in America and its impact on the present, Lies About Black People is a great place to start. Because the book contains essays, interviews, poems, self-reflections, and vignettes, it never gets boring. I enjoyed reading such a wide variety of accounts. This is a great book to keep on your "forever shelf" to revisit often and also to share with others.
Thanks to Globe Pequot, Prometheus, and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
Thanks to Globe Pequot, Prometheus, and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
March 9, 2025
Covers Relevant Topics
I found this was more geared for non Black people and even more those who are interested in being anti racist. The people who really need this book I doubt will ever read it.
I found this was more geared for non Black people and even more those who are interested in being anti racist. The people who really need this book I doubt will ever read it.
October 29, 2023
Giving this book 5 stars because it reminded me that I'm still on my antiracist journey. Thank you, Dr. Dibinga for reminding me that the work is never done.
April 26, 2025
Eye opening!!
August 5, 2025
excellent sterotype breaker. Also instruction on anti-racist behavior in action. Suggested read for ALL PEOPLE. especially Educators and law enforcers
November 8, 2025
This is one of the best books I've ever read. I was trying to read it slower so it didn't end as soon.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews