Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

9 reviews

anjasshelf's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Ableism, Classism, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Bullying, Racism, and Violence

sophieja's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

If you're looking for an educational book covering social issues that almost reads more like fiction, this is a great start! Packed with facts and anecdotes, this book left me jaw dropped. I especially liked that new terms introduced were thoroughly explained, making it more accessible and easily digestible. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism

frantically's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

I learned so much from this book and I'd recommend it to all my white friends. Let's be better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Classism, Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Slavery, Mental illness, War, and Panic attacks/disorders

196books's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs

skudiklier's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I'm a white person, so my opinions on books about racism don't really matter, and speaking as if they do feels weird. However, if my (more detailed) positive review of this book can get anyone to read it, I think that's worth maybe coming across poorly to others who think I should just say it's good and move on. Happy to hear others' opinions on this though if anyone finds anything I say in this review off-putting! 

So, that said: I feel like a lot of books on race/racism and related topics (policing, the criminal punishment system, racial justice) often lean towards either A) being too broad and not challenging enough, so that (white) people can feel like they understand without ever being made to feel uncomfortable, or B) starting from a place of understanding farther along in the process so that they maybe end up preaching to the choir a bit, because very few people will fully read them who weren't already in agreement. There are benefits to this and I'm not saying books in that second category aren't necessary and useful--they very much are. But still, I wouldn't recommend them to my older family members, for instance, or to people who want to understand but just don't get it yet.

This book, in my (again, definitely white) opinion, strikes a really good balance between those two sides. It very clearly and unapologetically lays out hard truths and things that might make readers uncomfortable, especially white readers who haven't had to think much about their own racism or complicity in white supremacy. However, it also argues so well a lot of the common points people make. Like, there are some people close to me who I've had conversations with about race where I've ended up frustrated because I couldn't get them to understand what I was trying to say. And this book, again and again, explained things in a way I feel like those people would actually get. I want every white person I've tried to discuss race with (and came away frustrated) to read this book. It's obviously not going to fix everything, but it might get them to a similar page where we can then start to talk about more actions and solutions, rather than getting bogged down in things like why white people can't say the N word or why focusing on addressing class on its own won't solve racism.

tl;dr, So You Want to Talk About Race is full of good, clear, solid explanations for people who are learning this for the first time, or may feel defensive or disinclined to believe basic truths about race and racism. 

There are also lots of examples of actionable ways to use privilege for good, help make conversations about race easier, etc. This book is useful for people at many stages of knowledge and experience with racial issues and theories, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested, but especially white people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Classism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Bullying, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Slavery

Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and War

thedisabledreader's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Sexual harassment

offbrandclubsoda's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Classism and Cultural appropriation

erikabee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book hits the exact right point of being both incredibly informative, while also being accessible and practical. The content is such that I will keep this book and refer back to it throughout my life. Everyone should read this!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism

juliebergmann's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality and Misogyny

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Sexism, Slavery, and Xenophobia