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ate_nina_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
tolutolu9597's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
Such an edifying and refreshing read on race.
In this time where staying hopeful about the situation of antiblackness in our world is so damn difficult, this book not only understood and saw me , it embraced me and gave me the energy i need to keep fighting the good fight (and also to save that energy for worthwhile causes and encouraging me to not give that energy to those that have no care to change).
needed this.
In this time where staying hopeful about the situation of antiblackness in our world is so damn difficult, this book not only understood and saw me , it embraced me and gave me the energy i need to keep fighting the good fight (and also to save that energy for worthwhile causes and encouraging me to not give that energy to those that have no care to change).
needed this.
nmsaunde's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Great depiction of what it’s like to have relationships with white people, particularly enjoyed the parts about the challenges with race in romantic relationships and the importance of Black love and reclaiming hope as a core tenant of the revolution
christie_esau's review against another edition
5.0
A very good read about anti-Black racism in America and the ways in which white people made themselves a burden to the author. A blend of autobiography and more general sociological writing, which I always appreciate, that has a lot of clear examples/scenarios. I particularly liked the section about hope, as well as his reclaiming spirituality. Highly recommend!
unladylike's review against another edition
5.0
Like 10 stars!
This was even better than I'd hoped. The title and cover design grabbed me while working, so I immediately put a hold on the audiobook, narrated by the author. Andre Henry's personal journey into Blacktivism and his deep dive into Nonviolent Resistance/Liberation/Revolution, all of which he calls an "apocalypse," somehow manages to be both a primer or intro to anti-racism AND an advanced text on the tension between Christian faith and oppression.
I welcomed the messages of this book as someone who is treated with white privilege and has committed to ongoing internal interrogation of the ways white supremacy crops up in my own thoughts, words, and actions.
The only point about which I currently disagree is the exclusive validation of nonviolent means. While I strongly prefer an intention and strategy of wrecking systems of oppression, my politics acknowledges that direct violent action towards certain oppressors are sometimes admissible. However, I remain open to changing my stance on that and am interested in following some of the same learning paths Andre Henry took regarding Nonviolence.
Mostly though, I strongly agreed with everything he was saying - that self-identified white "allies" have a tendency to swoop into movements for liberation of non-white people and act entitled to lead or help "save" the people directly affected. We risk "acting as overseers rather than comrades," as Henry so aptly puts it. That polarization is actually a necessary good to instigate radical cultural change, and aiming for "unity" across the whole nation is counterproductive. We don't want agreement and unity with oppressors! I learned through four years of studying the history of philosophy that the taboos or radical ideas of one century have repeatedly become the default notion of the next, and usually these radical ideas have been conceived and advanced by just a few people. So in order to take down a dysfunctional, anti-democratic, abusive and carceral government like we have in the U.S., we don't need to get to a point of having all or most of the votes, so to speak. We DO need well-planned and trained groups of people who want to "live for the movement" and make informed, consensual risk decisions.
Anyway, I loved listening to this whole book and highly recommend it. And if/when any of my Black friends decide they can no longer "keep" me in their lives, I'll do my best to bow out gracefully and continue to unlearn racism more, and if possible, to help repair harm I've done.
This was even better than I'd hoped. The title and cover design grabbed me while working, so I immediately put a hold on the audiobook, narrated by the author. Andre Henry's personal journey into Blacktivism and his deep dive into Nonviolent Resistance/Liberation/Revolution, all of which he calls an "apocalypse," somehow manages to be both a primer or intro to anti-racism AND an advanced text on the tension between Christian faith and oppression.
I welcomed the messages of this book as someone who is treated with white privilege and has committed to ongoing internal interrogation of the ways white supremacy crops up in my own thoughts, words, and actions.
The only point about which I currently disagree is the exclusive validation of nonviolent means. While I strongly prefer an intention and strategy of wrecking systems of oppression, my politics acknowledges that direct violent action towards certain oppressors are sometimes admissible. However, I remain open to changing my stance on that and am interested in following some of the same learning paths Andre Henry took regarding Nonviolence.
Mostly though, I strongly agreed with everything he was saying - that self-identified white "allies" have a tendency to swoop into movements for liberation of non-white people and act entitled to lead or help "save" the people directly affected. We risk "acting as overseers rather than comrades," as Henry so aptly puts it. That polarization is actually a necessary good to instigate radical cultural change, and aiming for "unity" across the whole nation is counterproductive. We don't want agreement and unity with oppressors! I learned through four years of studying the history of philosophy that the taboos or radical ideas of one century have repeatedly become the default notion of the next, and usually these radical ideas have been conceived and advanced by just a few people. So in order to take down a dysfunctional, anti-democratic, abusive and carceral government like we have in the U.S., we don't need to get to a point of having all or most of the votes, so to speak. We DO need well-planned and trained groups of people who want to "live for the movement" and make informed, consensual risk decisions.
Anyway, I loved listening to this whole book and highly recommend it. And if/when any of my Black friends decide they can no longer "keep" me in their lives, I'll do my best to bow out gracefully and continue to unlearn racism more, and if possible, to help repair harm I've done.
rachelkc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced