A review by jainabee
The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph

challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This book is excellent. The best gift I've received in ages. A gift in the sense that the author is quite generous in what he offers here. I got it in the Banned Books Box subscription. A friend of mine saw me reading it and said, "Why would that be banned?" Well, because it talks honestly —and from lived experience— about racism—and the many ways that denying that racism exists continues to perpetuate racism and white supremacy. I hope that I may appreciate this gift by taking what I've learned and applying it in my life. Thank you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Self harm, Police brutality, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Slavery

Of course these content warnings are directly related to the topic of the book, and is entirely appropriate in this context. The publishers list it as "for ages 12 and up." I wish I had read this when I was 12.