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A review by selfmythologies
exit RACISM: rassismuskritisch denken lernen by Tupoka Ogette
5.0
listened to this as an audiobook yesterday and today, the first in my current endeavor to read more books on antiracism (it's high time i do that)
it was definitely very worth it. i've been engaged with critical race theory and postcolonial studies for uni before, so a lot of the general content of this book, on a purely informative level, was familiar to me (such as racism being the norm and not the deviation, the concept of Othering and how it is perpetuated through language, microagressions as well as institutionalized practices, or the 'colonial glasses' that are still in use in the media when looking at and talking about African countries)
at the same time, it is one thing to know something in abstract terms, and quite another to think about it on a personal level, learn about the ways racism actually impacts people's lives, and also -crucially - to reflect your own place in a society that is systemically racist. This books is modeled after the author's own antiracist workshops, and as such, it does not only inform, but also actively encourages its reader/listener to reflect on how the information relates to their own lives. (There was one section where you were supposed to reflect on how white privilege manifests itself, and though I came up with a quite sizable list in my own mind, it turns out there were still so many privileges I was not aware of. just one of the examples on how this book actively encourages you to widen your awareness, reflect, and change perspective)
I appreciated the chapter on the history of racism, especially because it explained very well how racism was an invention to legitimize slavery (which makes it very clear how it works as a 'social construct' without actually having to use the term), and also the specific focus on German colonial history, which has so absolutely been erased from our collective consciousness and which I didn't learn anything about at school. (which absolutely needs to be changed)
there's also a lot of focus on the psychological aspects of the journey toward antiracism, and the phases you typically go through (from anger and denial, to shame, to responsibility). i liked the way the book encourages you to actually experience and live with these emotions as you're faced with them, but then turn them into productive action.
Overall, I liked the language of this book a lot - it used a high level of terminology and such, but at the same time, never came off as unaccessible to me - it felt very grounded, like an actual workshop. Which makes this book seem to me an excellent way to bridge the gap to people who might never have been engaged with the topic of racism at all, and still making them familiar with the level of theory they need to understand how it works.
by making you understand the mechanisms of racism, and then pushing you to see and recognize these mechanisms in everyday life, the behavior of others and your own behavior, this book gives you the tools you need to become actively antiracist. which is of course always a journey and a process, and never entirely finished.
next, i'll get to Alice Haster's book, and then some English books on the topic. in the meantime, i felt strengthened in my convictions and my awareness by this book, and i also felt challenged at points, which is equally important, if not more.
highly recommended to all German white people. this is definitely worth it no matter where on your educational journey you're at, but also a great place to get started imo
it was definitely very worth it. i've been engaged with critical race theory and postcolonial studies for uni before, so a lot of the general content of this book, on a purely informative level, was familiar to me (such as racism being the norm and not the deviation, the concept of Othering and how it is perpetuated through language, microagressions as well as institutionalized practices, or the 'colonial glasses' that are still in use in the media when looking at and talking about African countries)
at the same time, it is one thing to know something in abstract terms, and quite another to think about it on a personal level, learn about the ways racism actually impacts people's lives, and also -crucially - to reflect your own place in a society that is systemically racist. This books is modeled after the author's own antiracist workshops, and as such, it does not only inform, but also actively encourages its reader/listener to reflect on how the information relates to their own lives. (There was one section where you were supposed to reflect on how white privilege manifests itself, and though I came up with a quite sizable list in my own mind, it turns out there were still so many privileges I was not aware of. just one of the examples on how this book actively encourages you to widen your awareness, reflect, and change perspective)
I appreciated the chapter on the history of racism, especially because it explained very well how racism was an invention to legitimize slavery (which makes it very clear how it works as a 'social construct' without actually having to use the term), and also the specific focus on German colonial history, which has so absolutely been erased from our collective consciousness and which I didn't learn anything about at school. (which absolutely needs to be changed)
there's also a lot of focus on the psychological aspects of the journey toward antiracism, and the phases you typically go through (from anger and denial, to shame, to responsibility). i liked the way the book encourages you to actually experience and live with these emotions as you're faced with them, but then turn them into productive action.
Overall, I liked the language of this book a lot - it used a high level of terminology and such, but at the same time, never came off as unaccessible to me - it felt very grounded, like an actual workshop. Which makes this book seem to me an excellent way to bridge the gap to people who might never have been engaged with the topic of racism at all, and still making them familiar with the level of theory they need to understand how it works.
by making you understand the mechanisms of racism, and then pushing you to see and recognize these mechanisms in everyday life, the behavior of others and your own behavior, this book gives you the tools you need to become actively antiracist. which is of course always a journey and a process, and never entirely finished.
next, i'll get to Alice Haster's book, and then some English books on the topic. in the meantime, i felt strengthened in my convictions and my awareness by this book, and i also felt challenged at points, which is equally important, if not more.
highly recommended to all German white people. this is definitely worth it no matter where on your educational journey you're at, but also a great place to get started imo