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nikkigorman's review against another edition
3.0
The three-star review as written by user Jessica pretty much encapsulates all of my feelings about this book, and is written so well that I’m not going to waste my time trying to analyze this book any more than she did. I will say what still sticks out as one of the sharpest thorns from this text was Ricketts nonchalantly stating that Latino/a/e/x peoples are white…I’m pretty sure that the Latinx people I know would find that statement highly problematic (as do I). I’d say 3 stars for effort and adding to the cannon of antiracist literature, 2.5 stars for the actual content, and 2 stars for editing (I think different editing choices could’ve made this a stronger work all around).
fern_gulley's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
ecn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
Something of note - I thought it would focus a lot more on spirituality/spiritual activism and how it can either tie into white supremacy (WS) when ~down wrong~ and how it can be used against W.S. But was moreso centered on white supremacy and fighting against it (with a bit of spirituality sprinkled in).
Also, I could NOT get past the usage of “women+“ and “men+”. I get what the intention was, but is definitely missing the mark and accidentally placing trans+ people into unhelpful or completely incorrect groups. As the author mentioned, they’ll fuck up and probably said something wrong and this was definitely that. Better, informed terminology would help get readers (specifically trans+ readers) through the book in a less painful way.
Also, I could NOT get past the usage of “women+“ and “men+”. I get what the intention was, but is definitely missing the mark and accidentally placing trans+ people into unhelpful or completely incorrect groups. As the author mentioned, they’ll fuck up and probably said something wrong and this was definitely that. Better, informed terminology would help get readers (specifically trans+ readers) through the book in a less painful way.
meha's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
krissymartini's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the great majority of this book - Rachel’s personal experience with anti-Blackness is so crucial to anti-racist activism and all white women could learn from her lessons.
That said - I did take some issue with a few aspects of the intersectionality - most prominently that she mentions Black + Indigenous POC throughout but rarely offers examples of the specific racism Indigenous folx experience (I’m sure there’s overlap with the racism Black folx experience but I did hope for some anecdotes from anyone she mentioned in her acknowledgements).
Also - there were some inconsistencies around gendered terms (women+ vs women & femmes) as well as one particularly confusing statement that all heterosexual people are transphobic. Not arguing with how prevalent transphobia is in society BUT trans people can be heterosexual, so this struck me as unnecessarily inflammatory. She was otherwise fairly spot on with queer terminology and intersectionality so it stood out.
That said - I did take some issue with a few aspects of the intersectionality - most prominently that she mentions Black + Indigenous POC throughout but rarely offers examples of the specific racism Indigenous folx experience (I’m sure there’s overlap with the racism Black folx experience but I did hope for some anecdotes from anyone she mentioned in her acknowledgements).
Also - there were some inconsistencies around gendered terms (women+ vs women & femmes) as well as one particularly confusing statement that all heterosexual people are transphobic. Not arguing with how prevalent transphobia is in society BUT trans people can be heterosexual, so this struck me as unnecessarily inflammatory. She was otherwise fairly spot on with queer terminology and intersectionality so it stood out.
outtoexist's review against another edition
5.0
This was another great entry level anti-racism book! I want to say right off the bat - to other reviewers who say they stopped reading because of the language in this book, please Google tone policing and then sit with your decision... And also pick the book back up.
I actually loved this book specifically because it was written in AAVE and because the author didn't pull her punches (as she shouldn't). It made me uncomfortable at times, but that discomfort is exactly what I'm working on overcoming. Because it is internalized racist bullshit (specifically tone policing). I also loved the focus on spiritual activism since that isn't language I've heard before. Ricketts has so much insight & wisdom, and I'm so grateful she shared!
I actually loved this book specifically because it was written in AAVE and because the author didn't pull her punches (as she shouldn't). It made me uncomfortable at times, but that discomfort is exactly what I'm working on overcoming. Because it is internalized racist bullshit (specifically tone policing). I also loved the focus on spiritual activism since that isn't language I've heard before. Ricketts has so much insight & wisdom, and I'm so grateful she shared!
milbelmama's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Woah, I need to find some white girls to read this with. Coming back…
Came back- my white friends have helped. This is a great overall study on how to be anti racist from a feminine perspective. Love her anger and her candor. FYI!
Came back- my white friends have helped. This is a great overall study on how to be anti racist from a feminine perspective. Love her anger and her candor. FYI!
notnicolebrewer's review against another edition
5.0
Wow - this book does not mess around. This book does not walk you gently through anti-racism, it does not applaud your effort to be an ally, and it does not give you a gold star for educating yourself; in fact, at every turn, this book says: Do Better. There was *so much* in this book that had my hackles up, in a way similar to how I imagine men's hackles rise and prompt them to "Not all men" a situation. This book was for me, a white woman, but not for my *benefit*, and I think we all need a little more practice doing things not for our benefit. I'm grateful to Rachel Ricketts for this book.
I work in the arts, so I've had the privilege of attending many types of anti-oppression training workshops - I think it's fantastic the way that this book provides so many of the resources, guides, and calls to action that those (paid) training sessions provide, because now that comprehensive training is accessible to anyone.
I feel a key element of appreciating this book lies in taking absolutely none of its contents as exclusively correct, and instead critically examining the contexts, backgrounds, and anecdotes that Ricketts writes into this guidebook, understanding how all of the content is real and true for *many* individuals. Although many recommendations from this book are written as though they are unequivocal, keep in mind there is no unequivocal advice, and consider that Ricketts's recommendations will be the best course forward in some situations, but others may require you to draw on the knowledge she has shared with readers in order to evaluate a new best course of action. This book is not a one-stop-shop for doing better (surprise: there isn't one), but is one of the most direct and compassionate books I've encountered so far on doing better at fighting white supremacy, and is likely to be the book that lights a fire under you if you let it. (Let it move you forward! Don't put it out!)
I work in the arts, so I've had the privilege of attending many types of anti-oppression training workshops - I think it's fantastic the way that this book provides so many of the resources, guides, and calls to action that those (paid) training sessions provide, because now that comprehensive training is accessible to anyone.
I feel a key element of appreciating this book lies in taking absolutely none of its contents as exclusively correct, and instead critically examining the contexts, backgrounds, and anecdotes that Ricketts writes into this guidebook, understanding how all of the content is real and true for *many* individuals. Although many recommendations from this book are written as though they are unequivocal, keep in mind there is no unequivocal advice, and consider that Ricketts's recommendations will be the best course forward in some situations, but others may require you to draw on the knowledge she has shared with readers in order to evaluate a new best course of action. This book is not a one-stop-shop for doing better (surprise: there isn't one), but is one of the most direct and compassionate books I've encountered so far on doing better at fighting white supremacy, and is likely to be the book that lights a fire under you if you let it. (Let it move you forward! Don't put it out!)
slynn's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0