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A review by inessova
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
3.0
This is a very hard book to rate, and I don't think I'm eloquent enough to put my thoughts into words, but I'll try
What the author tried to tell is very important, but her way of relaying it didn't sit well with me.
This is the voice of a black british woman describing how her community suffers because of racism, and how most white people aren't open to discuss the constant struggles minorities face in England. I understand her frustration, her anger, why she decided to not talk about race to white people even if I don't agree with her.
First, talking to people when angry is never a solution. They get defensive, and they stop listening, which is counterproductive.
Second, when talking to people who disagree with you, it's always good to try and empathize with them, understand where they're coming from (specially when they're wrong), in order to know how to change their mind, and convince them they are actually wrong. The author didn't do that once.
So even when she was right in her indignations, I was on the defensive (I'm not a white english person) but the speech just rubbed the wrong way.
Finally, I feel the need to say that I believe it's the majority's responsibility to be inclusive and to fight for minorities so that they can be equals. Ignoring others' hardships because you're privileged is not how we live in society.
What the author tried to tell is very important, but her way of relaying it didn't sit well with me.
This is the voice of a black british woman describing how her community suffers because of racism, and how most white people aren't open to discuss the constant struggles minorities face in England. I understand her frustration, her anger, why she decided to not talk about race to white people even if I don't agree with her.
First, talking to people when angry is never a solution. They get defensive, and they stop listening, which is counterproductive.
Second, when talking to people who disagree with you, it's always good to try and empathize with them, understand where they're coming from (specially when they're wrong), in order to know how to change their mind, and convince them they are actually wrong. The author didn't do that once.
So even when she was right in her indignations, I was on the defensive (I'm not a white english person) but the speech just rubbed the wrong way.
Finally, I feel the need to say that I believe it's the majority's responsibility to be inclusive and to fight for minorities so that they can be equals. Ignoring others' hardships because you're privileged is not how we live in society.