Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad

26 reviews

readwithsaray's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Sexism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Hate crime

kirstenf's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, Slavery, and Hate crime

Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Child abuse, and Racial slurs

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

savvylit's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book thoroughly highlights and unveils several delusions that are common in the greater (white) culture of the Western world. Primary among them is the idea that white women have been unaware or innocent during some of history's worst atrocities. For instance, Hamad draws on examples from colonial America & Australia to show that white women were not only complicit in genocidal behavior but also strong proponents of it.

That's not to say that White Tears/Brown Scars is purely about betrayals of the past - it most certainly is not. Hamad discusses the past only to bolster the truth at the heart of this book: that even in modern life, a myth of white female innocence is just as common and damaging as ever. Using examples from real individuals, her own experience, and the media, Hamad outlines the ways that white women willfully use their tears and presumed "innocence" to dismiss and damage women of color. Time after time, white women have shown that if they're even mildly criticized for racist behavior, they will become belligerently sad and defensive. By taking a concern and transforming it into a personal attack, the focus of the argument then becomes centered solely on the white woman's feelings. If there's any sort of audience, other folks do their best to assuage the sad white woman. Thus, the initial concerns and distress of the person of color become completely forgotten. This is a collective delusion that gaslights women of color.

When white womanhood and its insidious associations of presumed innocence are continually prioritized and promoted, the "feminist" movement has failed. Hamad proves that equality among women is only achievable once white women are willing to acknowledge their complicity in upholding whiteness. Throughout history, whiteness has been a self-perpetuating power structure built on outright lies. We need to recognize the delusions that we continue to uphold & promote and stop centering white feelings in discussions of race.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Trafficking, Hate crime, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Genocide, Gaslighting, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

jailynxpaige's review against another edition

emotional informative slow-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Hate crime, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Slavery, Racism, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Violence

breanneisdeadinside's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexual assault, Genocide, Misogyny, Slavery, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Racial slurs

elybelly's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

5.0

Feminism in America is rooted in white supremacy. This read will help you unlearn histories of white feminism even if you are not white. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Sexism

jaiari12's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Genocide, Islamophobia, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Death, Misogyny, Slavery, Torture, War, Xenophobia, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Trafficking, and Violence

thenonbinaryc's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder, Racial slurs, Genocide, Islamophobia, and Medical trauma

anniefwrites's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

Hamad covers a lot of ground with this book--from history to representation in the media, from workplace conflict to current events. I was grateful to learn about this topic from someone who is both passionate and critical. As a reader, I think having subheadings would have helped me keep track of the topics being discussed, but in general, it's a book that I'll be processing and applying over time. Learned a lot, and lots more to learn.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Violence, and Slavery

lucilaroife's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Torture, Violence, War, and Xenophobia