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A review by sarahbc93_
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
4.0
I’ve had this book sat on my shelves for an embarrassingly long time, and it was literally only because I saw it in the 2 for 1 selection on audible and realised it was short enough to listen to during one of my shifts, that I thought I would finally get around to reading it.
And I have to say that I’m glad that I did.
The first chapter where it focuses on the history of Black people in Britain both during and after the period of the transatlantic slave trade, going right up to the modern day. While there were elements of this history that I already knew, there were a few things that I didn’t know and was quite surprised to learn. It is correct that the history of Black Britons is almost never mentioned or discussed in any way, shape or form in this country so we tend to imagine that Black people suddenly appeared here which, as is proven later in the book, tends to cause more upset and racial tensions.
When Black history is taught in Britain, it’s almost always in a glancing mention towards the American civil rights movement, as if that is the only Black history that matters. So it’s no surprise that there are so many uninformed people who have no idea what it means to be Black or a Person of colour in Britain.
I’ve seen so many comments about this book, raving about the title and the perceived tone of the contents, raging at bring told that your worldview is not the norm, is not the baseline for everyone else’s experiences. And I’ve seen so many people call this book and it’s author racist, purely because they don’t like having their own privileges pointed out to them, that all it does is just prove the point of the book.
If you’re not mature enough to have the conversation or do the work then sit back down. The world will change around you whether you like it or not.
And I have to say that I’m glad that I did.
The first chapter where it focuses on the history of Black people in Britain both during and after the period of the transatlantic slave trade, going right up to the modern day. While there were elements of this history that I already knew, there were a few things that I didn’t know and was quite surprised to learn. It is correct that the history of Black Britons is almost never mentioned or discussed in any way, shape or form in this country so we tend to imagine that Black people suddenly appeared here which, as is proven later in the book, tends to cause more upset and racial tensions.
When Black history is taught in Britain, it’s almost always in a glancing mention towards the American civil rights movement, as if that is the only Black history that matters. So it’s no surprise that there are so many uninformed people who have no idea what it means to be Black or a Person of colour in Britain.
I’ve seen so many comments about this book, raving about the title and the perceived tone of the contents, raging at bring told that your worldview is not the norm, is not the baseline for everyone else’s experiences. And I’ve seen so many people call this book and it’s author racist, purely because they don’t like having their own privileges pointed out to them, that all it does is just prove the point of the book.
If you’re not mature enough to have the conversation or do the work then sit back down. The world will change around you whether you like it or not.