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A review by bookishwithsarah
Whites: On Race and Other Falsehoods by Otegha Uwagba
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Otegha is recalling events that happened at the start of the summer of 2020 - the death of George Floyd, and with him many more before him.
Whites is a book that should make white people feel uncomfortable and that is exactly what it did to me.
There was a quote early in the essay that stood out to me and from my point of view perfectly describes the events surrounding the death of George Floyd - 'George Floyd's murder would be the kerosene on an already volatile situation, igniting an unprecedented reckoning that extended far beyond the frequently bias of the criminal justice system, abruptly ripping back the bedcovers from the many systems and institutions that have anti-Blackness at their core.' (page 14)
Otegha described the outpoor of support by white people, logic would have her be grateful to those white people, however from what I understood, she felt that this should be considered normal. Unmoved by the white people that grapple with the reality of racism for the first time. (page 16)
It also makes it clear that white people can be oblivious and ignorant towards racism, where black people have no choice but to learn it along the way.
The book shows the gap between white people and black people, especially the lack of true history that one teaches their children, or is written about. The stories coming forth out of history are predominantly written by white people and their views. Whereas, stories told by black people would be discarded and deemed as lies.
Othegha grew up in London - and describes aswell that while the injustice towards black people in America is often in the media, that does not mean britain is much better. Britain itself was largely involved in slavery trade, however in the shadow of USA it may seem otherwise. It is good to remember that USA is not the only country in the world facing injustice towards their black community.
While the above is interesting and food for thought, later in the book, she also writes about her own experiences and views about white people and their guilt. It gives me, as a white person, the perception of how a black woman sees the world and that it is not her job to teach white people.
I thoroughly enjoyed Otegha's style of writing and will read this again to annotate. She had some great quotes in the book, that will stay with me for a long time.
Whites is a book that should make white people feel uncomfortable and that is exactly what it did to me.
There was a quote early in the essay that stood out to me and from my point of view perfectly describes the events surrounding the death of George Floyd - 'George Floyd's murder would be the kerosene on an already volatile situation, igniting an unprecedented reckoning that extended far beyond the frequently bias of the criminal justice system, abruptly ripping back the bedcovers from the many systems and institutions that have anti-Blackness at their core.' (page 14)
Otegha described the outpoor of support by white people, logic would have her be grateful to those white people, however from what I understood, she felt that this should be considered normal. Unmoved by the white people that grapple with the reality of racism for the first time. (page 16)
It also makes it clear that white people can be oblivious and ignorant towards racism, where black people have no choice but to learn it along the way.
The book shows the gap between white people and black people, especially the lack of true history that one teaches their children, or is written about. The stories coming forth out of history are predominantly written by white people and their views. Whereas, stories told by black people would be discarded and deemed as lies.
Othegha grew up in London - and describes aswell that while the injustice towards black people in America is often in the media, that does not mean britain is much better. Britain itself was largely involved in slavery trade, however in the shadow of USA it may seem otherwise. It is good to remember that USA is not the only country in the world facing injustice towards their black community.
While the above is interesting and food for thought, later in the book, she also writes about her own experiences and views about white people and their guilt. It gives me, as a white person, the perception of how a black woman sees the world and that it is not her job to teach white people.
I thoroughly enjoyed Otegha's style of writing and will read this again to annotate. She had some great quotes in the book, that will stay with me for a long time.