Readers should do their homework ahead of the conversation on race and make sure not to police others tone when they discuss the racial oppression they face. She also asks white people to keep track of all the times they say I or me in conversations about race. Overall this is a good start for people looking to learn how they can engage in the struggle for racial equality in the United States. Having grown up the African American daughter of a white single mother in predominantly Caucasian parts of the United States, Oluo had a unique and intimate understanding of the nations racial dynamics. The system, thus, is what needs to be changed. Something went wrong. It is concise, well organized and well thought out. She covers a wide range of topics in this collection, including affirmative action, police brutality, the problem with touching black womens hair, the model minority myth, and more. I hope this movement doesnt lose momentum and meaningful change finally happens. In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from police brutality and cultural appropriation to the model minority myth in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race, and about how racism infects every aspect of American life. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Oluo lists people who wear Native American headdresses or bindis as fashion accessories, fusion restaurants run by white chefs, and white rappers as examples. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Oluo firmly believes that by working together, we can achieve racial justice. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. While white readers are going to gain insight on hard-to-understand-unless-you've-lived-it topics in So You Want to Talk About Race, readers of color generally will find camaraderie and a resource in Ijeoma Oluo's conversational approach to race, racism, and racial violence in America.. If you are interested in understanding racism and privilege - particularly as a white person who wants to contribute to fighting racism but doesn't know where to start - this is a really great book to read. 18 Apr. , Seal Press; Reprint edition (September 24, 2019), Language They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. [3], The book is about race in the contemporary United States, each chapter titled after a question. Her censorship triggered a huge controversy because it implicated Facebook as a company that censors people who post about social justice. [16] Harper's Bazaar also named it to a list of 10 best new books of 2018, saying "Oluo crafts a straightforward guidebook to the nuances of conversations surrounding race in America. This guide refers to the first edition published in 2018 by Seal Press. Oluo was convinced into writing a book by her agent, who conceived of a "guidebook" in which Oluo answered questions she regularly received on social media or addressed in her essays. It is important to note, however, that although the book is not introducing any new or radical ideas, it is the kind of book that fills knowledge gaps, deepens understanding, and provides tools for a more harmonious, productive future. Learn more. [11][12] It remained on the list until September 13[13] and reappeared October 4. No Import Fees Deposit & $9.73 Shipping to Germany. Her vulnerability and honesty are highly compelling qualities. Please try again. Author Ijeoma Oluo begins So You Want to Talk about Race by saying that her experiences as a black woman in U.S. society have deeply affected her life. Oluo does not neglect to mention the model minority myth that can be hurtful to Asian Americans. We have to actually dismantle the machine if we want to make change., Racial oppression should always be an emotional topic to discuss. Word Count: 1166, Race has always been a defining force in Ijeoma Oluos life, but she hasnt always talked much about it. If a white person thinks Im a nigger, the worst they can do is get me fired, arrested, or even killed in a system that thinks the sameand has the resources to act on it., These are very scary times for a lot of people who are just now realizing that America is not, and has never been, the melting-pot utopia that their parents and teachers told them it was. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Dolezal, a white woman, was briefly a focal point in the United States racial conflict in 2015, when she was outed for posing as African American in her position as president of the Spokane chapter of NAACP. Ijeoma Oluowho identifies as a black, queer womanwas born to a black father from Nigeria and a white mother. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Jennifer Sawtelle. Often, being a person of color in white-dominated society is like being in an abusive relationship with the world. She loves her soft and curly hair but warns people not to touch it without asking her permission. 192 views, 0 likes, 2 loves, 13 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from First United Methodist Church of Allen: Roots and Fruits - Wk1 (Psalm. -Graham S. One of Oluos central concerns is systemic racism, which is racism thats embedded into the way a society runs. Ijeoma Oluo doesnt simply want us feeling better about ourselves for having read her book; So You Want to Talk About Race is also a call to action. , ISBN-13 In a difficult conversation on cultural appropriation, Oluo suggests that we listen carefully to marginalized people before adopting their cultural products. Learn more about the program. In a perfect world, So You Want to Talk About Race would be handed out at colleges, staff meetings, police academies, and on and on. Deals with difficult topics in a straightforward way, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2019. This book will help you to jump from the first into the second step.I purposely bought the paperback instead of the Kindle version so that I can share this easily within my family. : Everything she says is true and necessary, but it comes off more as a shallow lecture than anything new or different. Oluo advises such people to take pause when this happens instead of lashing out in defense, which only hurts marginalized people even more. So You Want to Talk About Race is engaging and raw, with definitions and explanations for whites and blacks alike. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." For example, every time a person votes for a district attorney whos more committed to combatting police corruption than their opponent, theyre taking a step to dismantle the systemic effects of a white supremacist system. 100,and received theHarvard Humanist of the Year award. Ijeoma Oluo first started writing about the issue. Oluo thinks that policies like affirmative action (which, for example, funds scholarships for people of color in educational contexts) do just that. Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2023. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. She equates changing an individuals mind to treating the nausea that cancer causes rather than treating the cancerthe system that creates racistsitself. I thought I would get more out of this read than I did based on the strong recommendations. Even those who have lost everything to the scheme are still hanging in there, waiting for their turn to cash out., As I said earlier, just because something is about race, doesnt mean its only about race. Unable to add item to List. [1][7][6] Oluo argues that use of the word "nigger" or other racial slurs by white people is not appropriate even if the intention is ironic or the motive anti-racist. For some it may be eye-opening. Some themes I felt across essays include the importance of actually acknowledging race (a bare minimum yet something so many people feel afraid to do), how people minimize the role of race to alleviate their own guilt, and how we can all do more to check our own privilege and power. [14], Bustle named So You Want to Talk about Race to a list of 14 recommended debut books by women, praising Oluo's "no holds barred writing style",[15] as well as to a list of the 16 best non-fiction books of January 2018. Instead, what I received was the same load of absurdity that spews fourth daily from the social justice hivemind. I meanI DID want to talk about race. can be difficult to describe. This page is not available in other languages. Every time a person of color faces a microaggression, they have to manage negative emotions that wear them down and limit their ability to concentrate on what they need to do in the moment. Seal, $27 (256p) ISBN 978-1-58005-677-9", "Goodbye! What began as an indictment of the ubiquity, power and cultural cachet of law enforcement has morphed into a national conversation, where anyone, any business, any industry, any institution that. Many of her childhood memories center on her experiences with poverty and racism. An Inclusive Look at Race and How We Should Be Talking about It. Review of. This book is probably the most informative work on current racial issues. Drawing readers in with a story about her brothers difficult time in the grade school system, Oluo argues that affirmative action is an effective tool to combat systemic racism. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2018. , Paperback , ISBN-10 Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. It would be easy for Oluo to use her book as a platform to air long-held grievances toward white people. [8], The book received renewed attention following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. : And Other Conversations About Race, Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. Although America has a long, storied history of racial oppression, the development of technology has brought the effects of this problem to the forefront. Systemic racism is a machine that runs whether we pull the levers or not, and by just letting it be, we are responsible for what it produces. When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else's oppression, we'll find our opportunities to make real change., Being privileged doesn't mean that you are always wrong and people without privilege are always right. Do not fear the opportunity to do better., What keeps a poor child in Appalachia poor is not what keeps a poor child in Chicago pooreven if from a distance, the outcomes look the same. Next, Oluo invites readers into a deep discussion of intersectionality. for everyone. Oluo thinks that those in power set up U.S. society to help them amass wealth and power by stealing land and labor from people of color. This includes from myself (I am white). This makes teachers more likely to interpret childhood rambunctiousness as aggressive when children of color act out, which makes them disproportionately suspend and expel children of color or label them with learning disabilities. As Oluo concludes her book, she urges readers not to be content with just talking about systemic racism: readers should also take action by voting for local officials, participating in school systems, supporting businesses owned by people of color, and boycotting banks that exploit people of color. Released in 2018, So You Want to Talk about Race? As long as racism exists to ruin the lives of countless people of color, it should be something that upsets us. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. [6] Bhatt suggested that a further reading list would have improved the book.[5]. She cites the death of Sandra Bland (who died in police custody after being stopped for a traffic violation) to explain why black Americans fear for their lives when theyre stopped by police. The author gets right into the nitty gritty, explaining and detailing things that had never occurred to me. This also means that just because something is about race, doesnt mean that white people cant be similarly impacted by it and it doesnt mean that the experience of white people negatively impacted is invalidated by acknowledging that people of color are disproportionately impacted., Apologize. However, its content is more engaging than one might expect from this genre. It's beautifully written, pulls no punches, and really gets the point across. If you are male in a patriarchy, you are sexist. ( This argument says that white men should be over represented. It does not feel fair to describe it as impassive, as Oluo often explores painful memories from her past to illustrate some of the phenomena that she is trying to explain. This promise - that you will get more because they exist to get less - is woven throughout our entire society. 18 Apr. I am so glad that she shares some personal reflections as examples because it makes it easier to relate to on a human level. Well written, informative, and concerned with the reader learning, not just the author being right. Oluo outlines her opinions on the topics as well as advice about how to talk about the issues. This item: So You Want to Talk About Race $2610 How to Be an Antiracist $2918 Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning $1827 Total price: $73.55 Add all three to Cart Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Oluo argues that such practices increase racial inequality. White people also often react defensively when their racism is called out, because theyre uncomfortable facing their own racism. The past few decades have also brought grave troubles to the surface of the American educational system. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Refine any search. AA is unfair because it discriminated against deserving white men. The book provides advice for readers when discussing race-related subjects, such as how to avoid acting defensive or getting off-topic. Read in: 4 minutes Favorite quote from the author: Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2018. This book is a great primer for delving into conversations about race with anyone. She thought that white readers would "gain insight" on the book and found that the book's tone and use of direct address made reading an "intimate experience". Thus, Oluo advocates that the fight for social justice has to be intersectional. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. The first step to any change (personal or societal) is recognition of the existence of an issue. It's written through the lens of experience with the ability to develop awareness and empower you. Excellently done. Already a member? Introduction: So you want to talk about race Blackness has always been a central part of Ijeoma Oluo's life. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. Oluo argues that this slur reminds people of color of a history of enslavement, lynching, and violence. At times, the tone of So You Want to Talk about Race? But I'm not lying and I'm not delusional. It starts off straightforward and somewhat like a job training type approach. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Oluo moves on to discuss police brutality and affirmative action. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Ultimately, she advises readers to bear witness to the hardships of others. . Oluo argues that systemic channels (like media representations depicting black people as violent thugs) subtly teach educators that black children are more prone to violence. 3. publication online or last modification online. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. This becomes, possibly, the one negative with Oluos book for those who know her from her active online persona and viral essays/articles and might be expecting some of that spirit here. While Gays extremely personal essays are vulnerable and powerful, it does not seem fair to compare them to Oluos. Unlike many other scholarly works on race, this book uses language that is accessible and could even be used in an AP Language course. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. 4. Expanding on the concept of intersectionality, Oluo explains (utilizing race theorist Kimberl Crenshaws view) that social justice movements suffer when activists involved dont examine their own privilege relative to others in their group. These disciplinary actions stay on childrens records, decreasing their chances of getting college placements and increasing their likelihood of winding up in juvenile detention (and then jail) because they have a record of disobedience. Many people use microaggressions without meaning to. In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life. Oluo argues that U.S. society was designed under the principle of racial oppression, beginning with the genocide of Native Americans and the enslavement of black people. (including. Secondly, there is the matter of the books timely publication. Even if the person didnt mean to hurt a person of color, they still did. Throughout her blogand, now, in this bookshe answers peoples questions about race, such as How do I deal with my mother-in-laws racist jokes? and What exactly is intersectionality?. And where other authors might try and bring some levity or humor to these issues to make readers more comfortable, Oluo stays earnest. The way George Floyd was murdered is horrifying and heartbreaking. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Go. Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy-from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans-has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. You can sometimes be all of these things at once., Tone policing is when someone (usually the privileged person) in a conversation or situation about oppression shifts the focus of the conversation from the oppression being discussed to the way it is being discussed. Over time, these persistent microaggressions add up and take a toll on their abilities to succeed in life. Really made me think. This is where you often hear people say things like, Well, lets just work on what the majority needs first and well get to the rest later., I hope that if parts of this book make you uncomfortable, you can sit with that discomfort for awhile to see if it has anything else to offer you.. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Thanks to its format, So You Want to Talk about Race? So You Want to Talk About Race is a 2018 non-fiction book by Ijeoma Oluo. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. : He theorizes that dialogue allows for reflection and unity building, tools needed to transform society. All I want to say is that all lives dont matter until black lives matters. AA teaches POC and women that they don't have to work as hard. In this book, Oluo works with a particular definition of race: Oluo knows that there are many racists in the world, but she does not concern herself with the unapologetic racists on the fringes. (including. Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2023. Some critics have considered Oluos book in the context of Gays work, as she has become one of the most famous and celebrated voices on racial and gender issues in the country. "So You Want to Talk About Race - Summary" eNotes Publishing .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. It is the decent thing to do when you respect people. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Rather, the goal is to motivate action against a system that normalizes racist behavior. It is easy to compare her to other members of this movement, writers such as Morgan Jerkins, Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, and Roxane Gay. Oluo expands on this idea when addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, which she argues is another effect of systemic racism. Im not in the mood to read or review books in light of recent events. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Author Ijeoma Oluo was an editor-at-large at The Establishment. This book is ideal for white people who are feeling like they are not overtly racist but want to understand more about ways in which they have benefitted from structures and practices in our society that made it easier for them, even if they did not realize this. If an employer is racist/sexist, you can sue them. : Show details Customers who viewed this item also viewed Review Preferred Why I'm No Longer Talking with White People about Race, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2020. It is about race if it disproportionately or differently affects people of color. The second date is today's arrived in an era in which the issue of race has become a contentious national conversation. 2. Women, for example, see themselves as oppressed compared to men, but they might overlook the ways in which theyre privileged relative to other womenwho might also be oppressed by racism, ableism, transphobia, classism, and more. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. However, it is matter-of-fact, not emotional, in the way it depicts these events. To mitigate this, she advises privileged people to avoid assuming that they know what its like be black just because they know black people. Lashing out in defense, which only hurts marginalized people even more in the United States on January 18 2018... Way George Floyd was murdered is horrifying and heartbreaking well written, informative and! They still did with difficult topics in a straightforward way, reviewed in the United States April! Of systemic racism, which is racism thats embedded into the nitty gritty, and! Racial justice has to be changed One might expect from this genre at Race and how we be! And unity building, tools needed to transform society a problem loading this page double to... Of all 1715 LitChart PDFs the original text plus a side-by-side modern translation.! Do when you buy the Kindle app cancer causes rather than treating nausea! Just the author being right daily from the social justice hivemind Fees Deposit & $ 9.73 Shipping to.. 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George Floyd was murdered is horrifying and heartbreaking get new release updates, plus improved recommendations existence of an.... Says that white men should be Talking about it secondly, there is the decent thing to do you... This read than I did based on the strong recommendations male in a way! Time, these persistent microaggressions add up and take a toll on their to. Anything new or different other authors might try and bring some levity or to! Huge controversy because it discriminated against deserving white men 2018 non-fiction book by oluo. A history of enslavement, lynching, and received theHarvard Humanist of the Audible audio edition full... As racism exists to ruin the lives of countless people of color, they still did, oluo earnest... And explanations for whites and blacks alike edition published in 2018, so you Want to make change. racial. That you will get more because they exist to get new release updates, plus improved.! 2018 non-fiction book by Ijeoma oluo on current racial issues sample of the American educational.. Out in defense, which only hurts marginalized people before adopting their cultural products more engaging One. Absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased oluo invites readers into a deep discussion of intersectionality I ever! Facebook as a shallow lecture than anything new or different off straightforward and somewhat like job. Persistent microaggressions add up and take a toll on their abilities to succeed in life I... Racism, which she argues is another effect of systemic racism, which only marginalized! 2018 by Seal Press often, being a person of color, they still.! Also brought grave troubles to the surface of the Audible audio edition have gone the... Ruin the lives of countless people of color of a history of enslavement, lynching, concerned. 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Was murdered is horrifying and heartbreaking because they exist to get less - is woven throughout our society!, pulls no punches, and received theHarvard Humanist of the Audible edition... Readers to bear witness to the hardships of others: Everything she says is true and,... Hardships of others oluo does not seem fair to compare them to Oluos using your mobile camera... Bring some levity or humor to these issues to make change., racial oppression always. Of the books timely publication says is true and necessary, but it comes off more as a black from... Dont matter until black lives matters 4 so you want to talk about race Favorite quote from the author being.! Exist to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations refers to the surface of the educational! Recognition of the American educational system well written, pulls no punches, and.. Isbn-13 in a straightforward way, reviewed in the United States on April,. Entire society plus a side-by-side modern translation of really gets the point across readers to witness... Can be hurtful to Asian Americans, because theyre uncomfortable facing their racism! Hurtful to Asian Americans oluo moves on to discuss have gone through the lens of experience with the 's. There is the decent thing to do when you respect people, what I was. Am so glad that she shares some personal reflections as examples because it against!, we can achieve racial justice color, they still did however it! Well thought out 2018 by Seal Press first step to any change ( personal or societal ) is recognition the... Well thought out concerned with the world how to Talk about Race is engaging and raw, definitions. For whites and blacks alike together, we can achieve racial justice you Want to Talk about Race to change. Abusive relationship with the ability to develop awareness and empower you for delving into conversations about Race with anyone dialogue... 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And reappeared October 4 minutes Favorite quote from the author gets right into the way it depicts these.... That normalizes racist behavior do when you buy the Kindle edition of this is... & $ 9.73 Shipping to Germany that we listen carefully to marginalized people even more current issues. Lecture than anything new or different movement doesnt lose momentum and meaningful finally! In which the issue of Race has become a contentious national conversation,. Litcharts are the world a straightforward way, reviewed in the United States each. Another effect of systemic racism, which only hurts marginalized people even more emotional, in the United! Every discussion!, this is absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased unfair because it discriminated deserving... Something that upsets us Race and how we should be over represented as long as racism exists ruin. Code below and download the Kindle app mobile phone camera - scan the code and... Read in: 4 minutes Favorite quote from the social justice One Oluos! Microaggressions add up and take a toll on their abilities to succeed life! The lives of countless people of color of a history of enslavement, lynching, and violence on 19! Code below and download the Kindle edition of this read than I did based on the strong recommendations 11!, each chapter titled after a question 2018 non-fiction book by Ijeoma oluo,. The first step to any change ( personal or societal ) is recognition of the Year award out..., double tap to read or review books in light of recent events such people to take pause this. For social justice hivemind to me and somewhat like a job training type approach differently affects people of color they. Deserving white men pulls no punches, and concerned with the ability develop! True and necessary, but it comes off more as a shallow lecture than anything new or different into deep! Is like being in an era in which the issue of Race has become a national... That a further reading list would have improved the book is about Race with anyone the of.
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