Take a photo of a barcode or cover
185 reviews for:
How to Be Less Stupid about Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide
Crystal M. Fleming
4.36 AVERAGE
185 reviews for:
How to Be Less Stupid about Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide
Crystal M. Fleming
4.36 AVERAGE
(4.5 stars). This book was a challenging, yet rewarding read. Every time I put it down between chapters, I felt more informed and empowered, but I also felt called out on my ignorance. This read was written in a great style, but it’s content was demanding. I now feel more well rounded in regards to historical background and societal analysis surrounding the foundational basis of racism. I know I have a lot more learning and action to do, but I feel this book was a great start, and provided recourses on where to turn next to better educate myself. I would highly recommend this book, even if you aren’t into nonfiction - truly inspiring.
soooooooo good, so funny, so important. had to physically stop myself from highlighting the hell out of this book bc i have a weird thing about highlighting hardcovers but basically every chapter needs to be shouted from every rooftop.
I enjoyed this book as a good intro into becoming anti-racist. I feel like Dr. Fleming does a really good job of helping white people to confront white supremacy and how to fight against it. While it has its moments of feeling a little academic it is mostly written in a way that is relatable and easy to read for lay persons. I'm docking it one star only because of the ableist language in the title and throughout. Once pointed out to me it was really hard not to notice. If that is a trigger for you this book isn't for you.
This book is good, but it was hard to read. I’m not saying the content was too hard. It’s the way it was written. It feels like it was written for a college paper. All the big fluffy words and concepts made this hard to digest.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a book that we NEED right now. It’s a no-nonsense look at where we are and how we’re inundated with denial and misunderstandings about what white supremacy is and how it works. For those struggling to understand why things are the way they are and why people seem so brazen about their racism now, this is the book for you! Fleming shows just how deeply entrenched white supremacy is in our culture and explains that things aren’t really any different than they used to be–people are just now being more honest about how things are.
I really appreciated the personal touch this book has; Fleming gives us lessons about race by walking us through her own journey to being someone who actively studies, educates, and tries to dismantle the ignorance we live in about race. This is really what makes the book special–it’s super informational, but also a memoir of one amazing woman’s growth and journey to being who she is. What I love most about this book is that Fleming does not take a holier-than-thou approach. She fully admits to her own biases and prejudices, examining them and using them as examples to give a more personal look at exactly what she’s talking about.
For those just delving into learning more about critical race theory and interested in challenging your own complicity in holding up the current power structure, be prepared! It’s a rough journey but one that is so worth it. Fleming is compassionate in her approach to calling us out and cheering us on to do and be better. She also gives some great resources as an addition that can help you learn more about yourself, your biases, and what work you can accomplish to be less ignorant about race. Definitely give this a read! I’m going to be buying this for my friends and family, regardless of whether or not they think they need to read this. Also, give Crystal Marie Fleming a follow on Twitter–her tweets are amazing!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
This is a book that we NEED right now. It’s a no-nonsense look at where we are and how we’re inundated with denial and misunderstandings about what white supremacy is and how it works. For those struggling to understand why things are the way they are and why people seem so brazen about their racism now, this is the book for you! Fleming shows just how deeply entrenched white supremacy is in our culture and explains that things aren’t really any different than they used to be–people are just now being more honest about how things are.
I really appreciated the personal touch this book has; Fleming gives us lessons about race by walking us through her own journey to being someone who actively studies, educates, and tries to dismantle the ignorance we live in about race. This is really what makes the book special–it’s super informational, but also a memoir of one amazing woman’s growth and journey to being who she is. What I love most about this book is that Fleming does not take a holier-than-thou approach. She fully admits to her own biases and prejudices, examining them and using them as examples to give a more personal look at exactly what she’s talking about.
For those just delving into learning more about critical race theory and interested in challenging your own complicity in holding up the current power structure, be prepared! It’s a rough journey but one that is so worth it. Fleming is compassionate in her approach to calling us out and cheering us on to do and be better. She also gives some great resources as an addition that can help you learn more about yourself, your biases, and what work you can accomplish to be less ignorant about race. Definitely give this a read! I’m going to be buying this for my friends and family, regardless of whether or not they think they need to read this. Also, give Crystal Marie Fleming a follow on Twitter–her tweets are amazing!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
I feel like I need to give this to everyone I know
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
About 2/3 of the way through this book, I texted the friend who recommended it to me and said “I feel like [Dr. Fleming’s] arguments are just a series of airtight mic drops.” I can’t get enough of a book that consistently makes me think: “that makes perfect sense! I can’t believe I’ve never heard it framed that way before!” This is not to say that it was page after page of validation; it was a tough read that—as it should—frequently made me question my world view and confront some harsh realities.
For those who might be interested in checking this out (and I unequivocally think you should), I’ll note that it was more on the academic and historical side than some of the antiracism books I’ve read lately. This may make it more or less appealing to some readers, but it suited me just fine.
For those who might be interested in checking this out (and I unequivocally think you should), I’ll note that it was more on the academic and historical side than some of the antiracism books I’ve read lately. This may make it more or less appealing to some readers, but it suited me just fine.
challenging
informative
medium-paced