Scan barcode
A review by bobthebookerer
Nice Racism : How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm by Robin DiAngelo
4.0
After the runaway success of 'White Fragility', it seemed almost inevitable that DiAngelo would release another book, and indeed, she shares her long history of experience of being a white person engaging with other white people about race, racism and anti-racist work.
She details many circumstances in which a white person can analyse their behaviour and make proper change, i.e. making sure that in being 'nice' (hence the title of the book), we are not accidentally using that as an excuse for doing nothing, or enacting racial harm in another way- for example, not speaking up, or talking about how we are 'one of the good ones' and thereby excusing ourselves from any racism we may have enacted.
In many ways, this book looks at some harmful actions and behaviours that many people wield, consciously or not, and in those scenarios, this book is very helpful.
However, there are two linked problems that I had with the book that I couldn't quite shake whilst listening to it. And those are audience and purpose.
Although DiAngelo is (rightly) quick to both announce that she herself is not an expert in experiencing racism, but rather a very experienced facilitator (a strength that she shares effectively in many parts of the book), and quick to quote and cite Black writers and thinkers who have led her to the conclusions in the books, I found myself wondering why the book needed to exist when there are so many brilliant books by Black writers, who share experiences they themselves have experienced.
As a result, I got lost in the who the intended audience for this book would be, and therefore what its purpose would be.
For example, if the book is aimed at those who read 'White Fragility' and wanted to delve into next steps, this book feels like it might go in too high after that, or assumes knowledge of many other writers, whereas a book like Reni Eddo-Lodge's 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race' or Ijeoma Oluo's 'So You Want To Talk About Race' might be a better point of entry.
If the book is aimed at those who are more experienced and are ready to be challenged, then I also question if 'Nice Racism' is the right book, or rather, the right book over the work of a Black writer or thinker.
This is not to say that people will only pick up one book on anti-racism- many people don't- but I think it has to be recognised that many people do, as evidenced by 'White Fragility' massively outselling many other books on race and racism last year.
I recognise I am saying this all as a white person, and, to follow some of the learnings from 'Nice Racism', not to position myself as having 'solved it' or showing that I am 'one of the good ones', but rather to question whether this book, and DiAngelo's platform, could have been better used as a co-authored book, uplifting and featuring voices directly affected by racism, and/or supporting in another way.
Again, this is not to say that the book is without merit- there was a lot in this book that made me deeply reflect, often with horror, on my own behaviours and actions, and DiAngelo is clearly very skilled and experienced as a facilitator, and therefore in seeing reactions before they arise. There is also a lot of value in white people owning the problem and talking to each other about it, as DiAngelo does with a presumed white audience for the book.
But I do wonder if this book relies too much on readers finishing this book, and immediately picking up books by Black authors, when the middleman could have just been cut out, and her platform could have just lifted up those authors themselves.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She details many circumstances in which a white person can analyse their behaviour and make proper change, i.e. making sure that in being 'nice' (hence the title of the book), we are not accidentally using that as an excuse for doing nothing, or enacting racial harm in another way- for example, not speaking up, or talking about how we are 'one of the good ones' and thereby excusing ourselves from any racism we may have enacted.
In many ways, this book looks at some harmful actions and behaviours that many people wield, consciously or not, and in those scenarios, this book is very helpful.
However, there are two linked problems that I had with the book that I couldn't quite shake whilst listening to it. And those are audience and purpose.
Although DiAngelo is (rightly) quick to both announce that she herself is not an expert in experiencing racism, but rather a very experienced facilitator (a strength that she shares effectively in many parts of the book), and quick to quote and cite Black writers and thinkers who have led her to the conclusions in the books, I found myself wondering why the book needed to exist when there are so many brilliant books by Black writers, who share experiences they themselves have experienced.
As a result, I got lost in the who the intended audience for this book would be, and therefore what its purpose would be.
For example, if the book is aimed at those who read 'White Fragility' and wanted to delve into next steps, this book feels like it might go in too high after that, or assumes knowledge of many other writers, whereas a book like Reni Eddo-Lodge's 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race' or Ijeoma Oluo's 'So You Want To Talk About Race' might be a better point of entry.
If the book is aimed at those who are more experienced and are ready to be challenged, then I also question if 'Nice Racism' is the right book, or rather, the right book over the work of a Black writer or thinker.
This is not to say that people will only pick up one book on anti-racism- many people don't- but I think it has to be recognised that many people do, as evidenced by 'White Fragility' massively outselling many other books on race and racism last year.
I recognise I am saying this all as a white person, and, to follow some of the learnings from 'Nice Racism', not to position myself as having 'solved it' or showing that I am 'one of the good ones', but rather to question whether this book, and DiAngelo's platform, could have been better used as a co-authored book, uplifting and featuring voices directly affected by racism, and/or supporting in another way.
Again, this is not to say that the book is without merit- there was a lot in this book that made me deeply reflect, often with horror, on my own behaviours and actions, and DiAngelo is clearly very skilled and experienced as a facilitator, and therefore in seeing reactions before they arise. There is also a lot of value in white people owning the problem and talking to each other about it, as DiAngelo does with a presumed white audience for the book.
But I do wonder if this book relies too much on readers finishing this book, and immediately picking up books by Black authors, when the middleman could have just been cut out, and her platform could have just lifted up those authors themselves.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.