A review by serendipitysbooks
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

 The Sum of Us looks at institutional racism, discriminatory laws and practices, in the United States, clearly demonstrating what this has cost not just Blacks and other people of colour but white citizens as well. Time and again the author shows how white citizens lost out because people didn’t want Black citizens to receive any benefits. From public pools (We have to allow Blacks to use the public pools -which their taxes helped pay for? Then we’ll close the pools. And maybe sell them for a nominal amount to a private club which will only allow wealthy whites to join. The result? Many whites lost access to swimming pools as well) to workers rights to health care McGhee repeatedly demonstrates the fallacy of the zero sum game. Whites do not have to lose out in order for Blacks to make gains. In fact she cites plenty of evidence and examples showing the gains to be made for all when different races cooperate and work together. Racism costs everybody but if people realise that and work together everybody benefits.
 
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