Essential reading/listening

Framing racial issues in an anecdotal way, then strongly backing up these experiences with evidence, this book provided an incredible insight of the fatigue of dealing with the same old tropes about race and immigration, while still providing the hope that we can work towards a better, and more inclusive, future. Dealing with chapters on feminism, class, and more, this book should be essential reading for everyone.

2 people found this helpful

Must read

This book is a must read for all. There is no true knowledge unless you have seen both sides. For if you look at mug from the side without the handle you may think there is no handle. Not until you look from the other side or spin it around will you see that handle. Reni Eddo-Lodge invites you to take a walk around to the other side. It’s not to make you feel bad for not knowing about the handle, but give up what you think to be true and take a walk around. Powerful book.

2 people found this helpful

An educational experience for white people

I’ve never really thought about the black history of England before, probably because I’m Australian so I’m more focused on the black history of Australia.

This book made me realise it’s not enough just to be anti-racist, I’ve got to take anti-racist action whenever possible. Notice things and say something. Make changes where I can affect change.

At times I felt guilt or denial when listening and i had to check myself and my attitudes. There is always room for improvement.

Thanks for writing this book, Reni.

8 people found this helpful

Recommended

I admire Reni for being so open and honest about her struggle with the denial that goes on about racism and how we as a society and as a race (white people) don't want to take ownership of our attitudes and perceptions, that have been handed down to us. I would like to say that here in Australia we don't have that kind of thing but that is not the case at all, and trying to get people to admit that the casual jib about another race or minority group was not OK is like trying to shove shit up a hill, so I can't even imagine how much harder it must be for people of the actual group to try to get people to see reason.

It only seems to be getting worse at the moment as politicians point the blame for their F ups onto minority groups that look different and have a different experience, and it is happening all around the world. So we need this conversation now, but it is also becoming more dangerous to bring it up and be the one trying to expose the ugly hidden side of our social structures. And the more people take up the blame the more and more minority groups are targeted and the more and more people are in danger. This is something that people of color have had to deal with for a very long time, the fear of losing a loved one to some random act of fear induced hatred. It is something they shouldn't have to live with, we all deserve to live our lives without fear of being targeted.

Of the book it's self it was well written and flowed naturally. Hearing Reni read out some of the interviews she had was disturbing, for several reasons but it really dose point out how the "freedom" of speech is being used and abused when people are refusing to listen to rational requests. The disparity between races on the actual freedom to speak is horrendous enough but it shows that we have more than just a problem with race and otherness (or strangers as people from different backgrounds were labeled), we have a massive problem with perception, and also with our understanding of what things like freedom of speech actually mean.

So basically it was very eye opening. I also had no idea that people in Britten were largely unaware of their part in the history of slavery. Having grown up knowing a little bit about it I took it for granted that they would also know about it. I have read a few reviews criticizing this book for not being more well researched or for only being a headline grabber but that is not what this book is. It is the pent up frustration boiling up and it is a conversation starter. This book is about the experiences of the author and how the color of her skin and the bias of the social structure of the society she was born into affecting her life experiences. It is about being open and honest and about opening peoples eyes to the problems we face as a community.

Um if you have managed to get this far, I recommend the book if that wasn't clear.

8 people found this helpful

Must read

Such an important book on race and colonial politics. A must read for anyone who wants to learn about history and the concept of structural racism.

1 person found this helpful

Thank you.

This book is informative and has helped develop my vocabulary when speaking on the topic of racism. The author has taken the time to educate and put words to concepts I have felt but been unable to articulate, for which I am grateful.

5 people found this helpful

Good, but repetitive.

I’m a white person so this book was never going to be an easy read, but it is an essential read. For everyone. It’s also hard to review something that doesn’t call for my opinion on it. This is not like other books where I can say they are good or bad, enjoyable or not. It’s not even about if I agree with it or not.

It’s not a comfortable feeling having these issues laid out on the page in front of you. But this isn’t about me, it’s about a wider societal problem. Very important to keep that in mind when reading - Eddo-Lodge is not attacking me so I shouldn’t get defensive. But she is criticising something I’m a part of by default and recognising my part in that is critical to coming away from this with positivity and not despondency or frustration. Because I think it is positive overall, despite the title that on the surface seems like the author has given up. She hasn’t - she’s just pointing out that the conversation itself, and those who participate in it, needs changing.

The biggest take away for me, and perhaps what Eddo-Lodge meant with the title, is that it’s not up to others to educate us. I need to do that myself by really hearing what those who have actually experienced racism, both in the everyday and as part of the structure of Western society. In this case, as a white person, it’s not about how I might feel when someone addresses white privilege - it’s about recognising that I have it, and accepting that. It’s the same thing feminists ask men to do, so why is it received so negatively here? Think mansplaining, but this time it’s about race and intersectionality. Intersectionality has been criticised for creating division, but all it really does is acknowledge that different experiences exist across gender, politics, social class, race, education, etc and looks at how they interact. As Eddo-Lodge says: “If feminism can understand the patriarchy, it’s important to question why so many feminists struggle to understand whiteness as a political structure in the same way”. There is greater complexity of course, but that’s just it in a nutshell. In an ideal world this wouldn’t matter and we wouldn’t need broad identifiers like race, class and gender to be the first thing we consider when we see a person. But this is not an ideal world. That’s the reality of the world we live in whether I like it or not.

I give this three stars due to the repetitiveness off the book, which I understand is to have the point come across. However it did kind of make me want to skip forward a little. It could have easily been cut down.

For myself, I’ll be doing more listening, less assuming, and more acknowledging going forward.

5 people found this helpful

A first step

I am a white man with an honours degree in history that focused on the colonial experience of Australian Aborigines. I thought I knew about race. But this book shows me that though I have taken the first step, it is only the first step of a one thousand mile march.

9 people found this helpful

Very important topic and good arguments

The narration is very good, the book content as well.

But as someone who is not well read on the subject it was sometimes hard for me to understand all the ideas at its nuances.

Extraordinary book!!!

What an imperial sum of effort and truth this book delivers is outstanding, impeccably delivered and researched, you can not help but to feel empathic and reassured. Absolutely brilliant.