Synopses & Reviews
Groundbreaking book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when discussing racism that serve to protect their positions and maintain racial inequality
Antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo first coined the term "white fragility" in 2011, and since then it's been invoked by critics from Samantha Bee to Charles Blow. "White fragility" refers to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially. These include emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors including argumentation and silence. In this book, DiAngelo unpacks white fragility, explaining the underlying sociological phenomena. She'll draw on examples from her work and scholarship, as well as from the culture at large, to address these fundamental questions: How does white fragility develop? What does it look like? How is it triggered? What can we do to move beyond white fragility and engage more constructively?
Review
“An indispensable volume for understanding one of the most important (and yet rarely appreciated) barriers to achieving racial justice.” Tim Wise, author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son
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“Robin DiAngelo demonstrates an all-too-rare ability to enter the racial conversation with complexity, nuance, and deep respect....her message is clear: the incentive for white engagement in racial justice work is ultimately self-liberation.” Leticia Nieto, coauthor of Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment
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“The value in White Fragility lies in its methodical, irrefutable exposure of racism in thought and action, and its call for humility and vigilance.” The New Yorker
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“This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change through productive social and intimate relationships.” Claudia Rankine
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“A vital, necessary, and beautiful book, a bracing call to white folk everywhere to see their whiteness for what it is and to seize the opportunity to make things better now.” Michael Eric Dyson
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“White Fragility is an essential tool toward authentic dialogue and action. May it be so!” Shakti Butler, president of World Trust and director of Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
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“[T]houghtful, instructive, and comprehensive...This slim book is impressive in its scope and complexity; DiAngelo provides a powerful lens for examining, and practical tools for grappling with, racism today.” Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
About the Author
Robin DiAngelo is an academic, lecturer, and author and has been a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice for more than twenty years. She formerly served as a tenured professor of multicultural education at Westfield State University.