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Malia's Reviews > White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
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I want to preface this review by saying, despite some points I read critically, I do think White Fragility is a thought provoking book. Do I think it's perfect? No. Do I think a white woman, even one who has studied racial inequities with intense devotion, could illustrate the depth of the societal rot that is racism? No. But it's a start, and that is something.
I wrote down all these notes that I made while reading White Fragility, but then I came across this article, and the author puts it more succinctly than I could have (https://theweek.com/articles/921623/l...). While this book is thought provoking, it is also lacking in certain fundamental ways. I recommend reading it, because it certainly made me think, but the more I did, the more I felt frustrated with DiAngelo and felt she veered into "white savior territory". She, being a white woman, offers vast and generalized criticisms and observations, but very limited solutions. This becomes especially evident when she repeatedly emphasizes how unresponsive people in her workshops are when she tells them they're all racists and how ineffective thus her methods seem to be. I thought a lot about this, wondering if I am being defensive, but I don't think that's where my issue with this book comes from. Like so many others, shaken by racial inequity and violence that seems to have become a norm, I am finally taking the overdue step of trying to learn more, of trying to listen and have conversations about an issue, so insidious in this society, that we think it is better to just pretend it doesn't exist. One statement that did really resonate with me in this book was the following, "One cannot change what one refuses to see". I want to move forward with my eyes open. This book did not offer everything I hoped it would, but it is perhaps a start. I would highly recommend Chokehold by Paul Butler, which, though I am only halfway through, has already taught me so much more about systemic racism in this country and how one might consider addressing it at all levels.
If you disagree with my assessment of the book, I would welcome discussion, but let's do so respectfully.
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
I wrote down all these notes that I made while reading White Fragility, but then I came across this article, and the author puts it more succinctly than I could have (https://theweek.com/articles/921623/l...). While this book is thought provoking, it is also lacking in certain fundamental ways. I recommend reading it, because it certainly made me think, but the more I did, the more I felt frustrated with DiAngelo and felt she veered into "white savior territory". She, being a white woman, offers vast and generalized criticisms and observations, but very limited solutions. This becomes especially evident when she repeatedly emphasizes how unresponsive people in her workshops are when she tells them they're all racists and how ineffective thus her methods seem to be. I thought a lot about this, wondering if I am being defensive, but I don't think that's where my issue with this book comes from. Like so many others, shaken by racial inequity and violence that seems to have become a norm, I am finally taking the overdue step of trying to learn more, of trying to listen and have conversations about an issue, so insidious in this society, that we think it is better to just pretend it doesn't exist. One statement that did really resonate with me in this book was the following, "One cannot change what one refuses to see". I want to move forward with my eyes open. This book did not offer everything I hoped it would, but it is perhaps a start. I would highly recommend Chokehold by Paul Butler, which, though I am only halfway through, has already taught me so much more about systemic racism in this country and how one might consider addressing it at all levels.
If you disagree with my assessment of the book, I would welcome discussion, but let's do so respectfully.
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
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Reading Progress
May 30, 2020
– Shelved
May 30, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 2, 2020
–
Started Reading
June 20, 2020
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
June 20, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-25 of 25 (25 new)
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Petra It's a year now, still in a dark place
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Jun 25, 2020 09:01PM
Very interesting review. Thank you.
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Petra-X wrote: "Very interesting review. Thank you."Thanks, Petra!
Reading it soon ,Malia, so I’ll let you know if I agree.
Angela M wrote: "Reading it soon ,Malia, so I’ll let you know if I agree."I'll be curious to hear your thoughts!
Malia, I just finished this today and I have to say I feel much the same. It's a good starting point for reading, but I feel I need more to become even better informed. I'd be really interested to read your final thoughts on Chokehold. I'm going to go ahead and add it now and watch for your review.
Candi wrote: "Malia, I just finished this today and I have to say I feel much the same. It's a good starting point for reading, but I feel I need more to become even better informed. I'd be really interested to ..."And a starting point is important, but I do think books like Chokehold can be more valuable in this instance. DiAngelo is well intentioned, but I ultimately did not find this book to be as impactful as I expected. The one positive is that it did provoke a lot of deeper conversations in my life, so far, which is not to be undervalued. I'll probably finish Chokehold this weekend, but so far, I'd definitely recommend!
I just a zoom meeting with a book group last night and two of the women highly recommended the book and went on and on about it. So I like that your review put a little more perspective on it. There is so much out there now on the reading shelves, it's hard to decide which to read. I heard Stamped was very good.
Sorry, but if I went to one of the author’s workshops and was told by her that being white automatically made me a racist, I would speak out and say that this is as totally one sided and ignorant as claiming that I was a Nazi simply because I am German.
Maya wrote: "Malia, here's a list you might like. lots of interesting recommendations."Thank you, Maya!
Chris wrote: "I just a zoom meeting with a book group last night and two of the women highly recommended the book and went on and on about it. So I like that your review put a little more perspective on it. Ther..."Yes, there are definitely a lot of options and a lot of opinions out there! I haven't read Stamped, but it's on my list. In any case, this book did make me think, but I felt that it could have offered more to make a real impact. But I'm glad so many people are finding it helpful, that's surely a good sign:)
Thanks Malia for your insightful review. I've decided not to read it because I want to support POC for their anti-racism work. I hear from various sources that the author does not use these proceeds for BIPOC communities but is profiting from what she has learned from these communities.
Manybooks wrote: "Sorry, but if I went to one of the author’s workshops and was told by her that being white automatically made me a racist, I would speak out and say that this is as totally one sided and ignorant a..."I had a problem with how generalized she was, not just about white people but also about People of Color, frequently lumping them all together, which I found problematic. As a German person, with a white mother and an Indian father, I have always been treated as white and experienced the privileges that come with that. But people in my family have experienced racism, and in criticizing this book, I am not criticizing the intention to address this issue. I just wonder whether the way she goes about it is reaching the people who most need to learn.
Irene wrote: "Thanks Malia for your insightful review. I've decided not to read it because I want to support POC for their anti-racism work. I hear from various sources that the author does not use these proceed..."I did not know that. There are definitely books I would recommend over this one, in particular books written by People of Color, who can illustrate their experience far better than a scholar could.
Malia wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Sorry, but if I went to one of the author’s workshops and was told by her that being white automatically made me a racist, I would speak out and say that this is as totally one si..."Yes, I really think it makes no sense for the author to think that she can somehow do anything worthwhile to get people to change by telling them they are all racist anyhow just because they happen to be white. Those who are not intolerant, and those who have actually been working to fight against racism, she is insulting, and those who really do need to actively change their ways of thinking, they will actually often not care all that much if they are called racist and in a worst case scenario might even consider this appellation as something of which to be proud.
Irene wrote: "Thanks Malia for your insightful review. I've decided not to read it because I want to support POC for their anti-racism work. I hear from various sources that the author does not use these proceed..."There is also a kind of condescending paternalism present, as though the author wants to be seen as some great white saviour but that African Americans themselves would somehow not be able to help win their own causes.
Manybooks wrote: "Irene wrote: "Thanks Malia for your insightful review. I've decided not to read it because I want to support POC for their anti-racism work. I hear from various sources that the author does not use..."I very much had the feeling she was veering into "white savior" territory as well. She also diminished any other white scholarly work on the subject, seeming to imply only her own was valid, but maybe I am being unfair. I just think it could have been a lot more rounded, and my main concern is that this kind of approach will simply not make people whose eyes most need to be opened respond the way she wants them to. People are people and when they feel attacked they will be defensive and shut down what she is trying to say, even if, in many ways, her arguments are valid. But you have to allow people to learn and change, instead of saying from the onset it is basically hopeless. I feel if People of Color have not lost hope, what right does she have to act as if this is a hopeless effort?
Malia wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Irene wrote: "Thanks Malia for your insightful review. I've decided not to read it because I want to support POC for their anti-racism work. I hear from various sources that the a..."This all does sound not too promising.
Manybooks wrote: "Malia wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Irene wrote: "Thanks Malia for your insightful review. I've decided not to read it because I want to support POC for their anti-racism work. I hear from various sour..."Eek, yes, maybe I should have rated it lower, now that I think about it...
Barry wrote: "Excellent and insightful review Malia!"Thanks so much, Barry! I was a little apprehensive about writing it:)
Such a great review! I'm waiting for this from the library.
Ivonne wrote: "Such a great review! I'm waiting for this from the library."Thank you! I'll be curious to read your thoughts!
Carmen wrote: "Great review."Thanks, Carmen!
