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

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is the kind of nonfiction that I just eat right up. White Tears/Brown Scars was the perfect balance between personal reflections and experiences from the author and intricately and insightfully woven historical examples to illuminate the myriad of harms caused by patriarchy, colonization, capitalism (et al) on Black and POC bodies. Incorporating work by thought leaders such as Edward Said and Audre Lorde, Hamad roots the origins of white patriarchal harm in a way that makes these ideas clear and conceptually approachable for non-academic readers. And quite frankly, I loved that Hamad never shied away from calling attention to the fact that so many WW are more concerned with "not appearing" racist than with being held accountable for the harm they cause in professional, academic, and social settings. I sometimes struggle to digest nonfiction in its audio format, but it is a testament to Hamad's exceptional writing that the information presented is clear, cohesive, and flowed so well.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Racism, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Misogyny, and Sexism