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travis_read's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This book is a very quick read about White privilege in the United States, something many Americans refuse to acknowledge. There is a lot of great information on the systematic challenges people of color in our country face that even the most self aware white people may have never considered or given much thought to. Although the book is not going to solve generations of disinvestment and systems the country is built on, I still thought it was an important read for and white people who want to see these systems of oppression dismantled.
edefelice's review against another edition
I’ve decided this year i’m going to read more non-fiction from various topics. (I don’t rate non fictions because it feel strange to put a rating on someone’s life or current topics and events)
I enjoyed this book and it’s explanation on race and how white people still do not understand or actively work on being anti racist from different examples through the past few years. Although this book was written by a white man it shows good explanations of micro aggressions and outright racist things. I shall continue my journey reading more literature to promote more BIPOC authors and be actively anti racist, I recommend you all do too.
I enjoyed this book and it’s explanation on race and how white people still do not understand or actively work on being anti racist from different examples through the past few years. Although this book was written by a white man it shows good explanations of micro aggressions and outright racist things. I shall continue my journey reading more literature to promote more BIPOC authors and be actively anti racist, I recommend you all do too.
seeker1161's review against another edition
4.0
short. sweet, to the point... and right on all levels.
kstep1805's review against another edition
I don't know what to say about this book. It started out powerfully moving. I often "write" reviews in my head as I go along. And it started out: this is a very important book that should be read by everyone to help understand privilege and race in America. He goes to great length to paint a picture that makes it hard to ignore racism today and invites readers to join him in making a change. Then at around page 95 it turns into a tirade against people on the right. Perhaps it is deserved, but personal attacks are a huge turn off and what is important will once again be lost in the political bickering of left verses right. It comes back a little bit, but racial reconciliation should not be a political issue. I'd like to see a book that has ideas to bridge politics and bring forth racial healing, and this book which seemed so promising just doesn't do it. The people who will read this aren't the ones who need it.
yttap's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, if only your Foxnews-watching relatives would read this.....
wegmama's review against another edition
2.0
I had a lot of trouble getting through this book.
First, it's troublesome to me that the first piece of information in the notes section (bibliography) is cited from Wikipedia.
Second, it would be helpful even for an open letter such as this, to have some sort of organization through topics. Perhaps Wise's other books are organized this way. I've not read them.
Third, this letter seems to have slipped from an open letter to White America to an open letter to Anyone Ever Associated with Fox News, the Tea Party, and/or Extreme Conservatism. So for a book/letter that was originally addressing me, a white American, it has veered far off course and I'm left feeling like I just read the comments on a Yahoo! Political news article.
In all honesty, I couldn't finish it. It was too hard to take seriously given my first and third complaints.
First, it's troublesome to me that the first piece of information in the notes section (bibliography) is cited from Wikipedia.
Second, it would be helpful even for an open letter such as this, to have some sort of organization through topics. Perhaps Wise's other books are organized this way. I've not read them.
Third, this letter seems to have slipped from an open letter to White America to an open letter to Anyone Ever Associated with Fox News, the Tea Party, and/or Extreme Conservatism. So for a book/letter that was originally addressing me, a white American, it has veered far off course and I'm left feeling like I just read the comments on a Yahoo! Political news article.
In all honesty, I couldn't finish it. It was too hard to take seriously given my first and third complaints.
best_you_ever_read's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.25
I listened to the audible version of this book which was 4 chapters and about 3 hours long. It was read by the author. The book was written in 2012 and this version had a brief update written in 2016.
I found it very informative without bogging one down in too many facts. He is a white author explaining racial justice and modern US racial history to challenge the more established narrative. He challenges current cultural narratives that white Americans have as core beliefs and challenges you to look at it in a different way.
This book certainly wasn't written an admonishment of white people for all the sins of white people. It was more like, "Hey white Americans, you're the victims of this racial propaganda you've been fed your whole lives, too. Here's how you've been victimized. Don't feel bad for being human and imperfect, but here's a new perspective and how we can work towards a better future for everyone."
If you're already an ally, you still may find some of his facts and perspective new information or help you to articulate what you already believed. You may want to share this with others who are open-minded enough to consider looking at racial justice in a new way and challenge the "traditional" ways we're taught to looking at racial issues.
I found it very informative without bogging one down in too many facts. He is a white author explaining racial justice and modern US racial history to challenge the more established narrative. He challenges current cultural narratives that white Americans have as core beliefs and challenges you to look at it in a different way.
This book certainly wasn't written an admonishment of white people for all the sins of white people. It was more like, "Hey white Americans, you're the victims of this racial propaganda you've been fed your whole lives, too. Here's how you've been victimized. Don't feel bad for being human and imperfect, but here's a new perspective and how we can work towards a better future for everyone."
If you're already an ally, you still may find some of his facts and perspective new information or help you to articulate what you already believed. You may want to share this with others who are open-minded enough to consider looking at racial justice in a new way and challenge the "traditional" ways we're taught to looking at racial issues.