So You Want to Talk About Race
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- Create Date：2021-04-01 11:57:01
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Ijeoma Oluo
- ISBN：1580058825
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Summary
In this New York Times bestseller， Ijeoma Oluo offers a hard-hitting but user-friendly examination of race in America
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。 Still， it is a difficult subject to talk about。 How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist？ Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair--and how do you make it right？ How do you explain white privilege to your white， privileged friend？
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。
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。 Still， it is a difficult subject to talk about。 How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist？ Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair--and how do you make it right？ How do you explain white privilege to your white， privileged friend？
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。
Reviews
Stephanie Ramones
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Great entry into anti racist work for anyone， as the author put it， focused on wanting to be a better person， instead of just looking like a good person。
Jjohn_galt
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The West really needs a book that helps people of different races to have open dialogues about our shared heritage and the ways we can improve the lives and prospects of minority groups。 "So You Want to Talk About Race" is not that book。 Ijeoma Oluo instead gives us a 240-page diatribe that draws from all the worst ideas of critical race theory （CRT） and intersectionality。 SYWTTAR has many flaws， both factually and rhetorically。 But several of the flaws actively undercut Ms。 Oluo's stated goal o The West really needs a book that helps people of different races to have open dialogues about our shared heritage and the ways we can improve the lives and prospects of minority groups。 "So You Want to Talk About Race" is not that book。 Ijeoma Oluo instead gives us a 240-page diatribe that draws from all the worst ideas of critical race theory （CRT） and intersectionality。 SYWTTAR has many flaws， both factually and rhetorically。 But several of the flaws actively undercut Ms。 Oluo's stated goal of enabling discussions about racial matters。1） Flawed definitions of "racism。" For much of the book， Ms。 Oluo uses the CRT definition of racism - "prejudice against someone based on race， when those prejudices are reinforced by systems of power。" （Chapter 2）。 This conveniently places the sin of racism solely on whites and absolves minorities of any possibility of being racist， a convenience that Ms。 Oluo no doubt desires given how much of her own racial prejudices she reveals in the book。 （Example: "My mother loved our blackness as much as was possible for any nonblack person to do。" [Chapter 3]）。 Prejudice against white people （even your own mother） is OK， because it can't be racist if you don't have societal power。Ms。 Oluo then further expands the definition of racism to encompass everything from societal inequities to sub-conscious racial stereotypes。 The moment you "clutch your purse a little harder when a black man walks by you。。。 you are being racist。" （Chapter 16）。 The problem， of course， is that when everything is racist， then nothing is。 These broad and one-sided definitions don't give us any handle on actually solving problems or reducing the impact of racism in our society。 And when we abstract racism to the level of systems and institutions， we take the discussion out of the place that truly matters: the human heart。 The true sin of racism is either racial arrogance （viewing oneself as superior to people of another race） or racial animosity （hatred toward others based on their race）。 Ms。 Oluo gets racism exactly backwards。 She explictly rejects the concept of dealing with racist attitudes in favor of working on systems。 She wants to forbid certain language and actions and to remake institutions without recognizing that all of these flow out of individual decisions that come from individual heart。 2） Historical and cultural ignorance。 Ms。 Oluo repeated asserts， without any evidence， that the concept of race was created in the West specifically to justify our current economic system and support the economic and political supremacy of whites。This line of reasoning ignores the obvious fact that racial prejudice and the classification of people into racial groups has been a feature of basically every human society。 The Greeks defined the world as made of Greeks and barbarians。 Japanese defined people into Japanese and gaijin。 Many Native American tribes named themselves "the people" or "the true people"， distinguishing the rest of humanity as "not true people。" This isn't to excuse racist attitudes or actions from anyone of any background。 Racism （racial arrogance or animosity） are always wrong。 The point is that， if we refuse to recognize racism as a universal feature of humanity and instead try to make it out to be a uniquely American issue， we'll never come up with effective solutions。 If you don't know what's causing the symptoms， you can't cure the disease。3） A racialized view of the world。 In Chapter 1， Ms。 Oluo defines what issues are about race。 According to her， it's about race if a person of color thinks it is， or if it differently affects people of color。 Taking this lens， every life event can be turned into a racial issue if Ms。 Oluo decides to perceive it that way。 The book is then full of personal anecdotes that show the self-inflicted pain this thinking results in。 Chapter 6 （on police brutality） opens with a story of when Ms。 Oluo and her brothers got pulled over and given a speeding ticket。 The whole episode is described in scary tones - texting friends to express worry， fear among the siblings， a brusque but professional police officer。 And yet， nothing remotely racial happened。 The officer "did not shout or reach for his gun。 He simply wrote out my ticket and then drove off。" Yet because of her racialized view of the world， this must necessarily be a race-focused incident in Ms。 Oluo's mind。 The fact that the ticket was for one MPH over the speed limit is interpreted as evidence that she was singled out from among other drivers， rather than evidence of the officer being lenient in writing the ticket。There are many examples of this。 In Chapter 2， Ms。 Oluo voluntarily engages in a four-hour internet argument about welfare with a colleague from work。 And somehow it's the fault of a racist society that she feels exhausted。 She then accuses her colleague of being a racist to a friend of hers。 When that friend doesn't agree that differences of opinion about welfare qualify as racist， she decides that this isn't a "safe" friend for her。By holding a racialized view of the world， by deciding in her own mind that these are racial incidents， Ms。 Oluo creates the very stress for herself that she spends most of the book railing against。 Holding this mindset and making these assumptions about other people will be antithetical to having open conversations about race。 。。。more
ronja
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how did this take me two months to read
Obscure Lump Fruitful Earth Runner
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I want to breath through the hurt。 Ijeoma provides great anecdotes。 The politic of oppression for being a leader is inevitable within the life of Earth。 I am not free from hurting others relative to our presence here upon Earth。
Dan Geiger
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Reminds me that racial prejudice is so subtle that us white folks don't recognize our own prejudices and certainly don't want to admit we have them。 Reminds me that racial prejudice is so subtle that us white folks don't recognize our own prejudices and certainly don't want to admit we have them。 。。。more
Tracey Mcd
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This is an easy to read but meaty book。 So many things to think about and challenges to execute。 Read this as part of a book discussion and it’s already provided actionable changes。
Jess
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Would give 6 stars if I could。 I love how Oluo framed the chapters in questions that are common responses to discussing racism。 I appreciate that she shared many stories about her experiences- something that must’ve been difficult to experience， let alone write and put into the world。 Although written a few years ago， her chapter on the model minority myth is incredibly relevant today， with the recent uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans。 Must read！
Rachel
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Great breakdown of systemic racism。 I actually wish chapter had been longer and had more discussion on each topic - this is a great first read for starting antiracism work。
Ruta H
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This book is phenomenal。Ijeoma oluo did a great job touching upon A bunch of different topics related about race hence the name。 As a black female I was really able to relate to her experiences but also learn about how to kind of maneuver around those situations。 There was also moments that I could reflect on myself and privileges that I had。This is a great book and I think everyone-especially white people- should read。
Maia Williams
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A description of the history and impact of the book and its author。For my second deep book I read So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo。 Ijeoma Oluo is a Nigerian-American writer that was born in 1980。 She attended Western Washington University where she received a BA in political science。 After her graduation， she was engaged and pregnant with her second child。 Oluo has 2 kids but got divorced in 2005。 So You Want To Talk About Race is a #1 New York Times Bestseller。 Her writings have b A description of the history and impact of the book and its author。For my second deep book I read So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo。 Ijeoma Oluo is a Nigerian-American writer that was born in 1980。 She attended Western Washington University where she received a BA in political science。 After her graduation， she was engaged and pregnant with her second child。 Oluo has 2 kids but got divorced in 2005。 So You Want To Talk About Race is a #1 New York Times Bestseller。 Her writings have been featured in Washington Post， NBC News， Elle Magazine， TIME， The Stranger， and TheGuardian。 She talks about the impact of microaggressions， cultural appropriation， police brutality and the power of the “N word。”How the book changed you in a major wayThis book showed me that I am not the only one who has problems with the way that this society driven by white culture treats the minorities in this country。 It showed me that it is important to stand up to the microaggressions and racism that I face when dealing with ignorant uncultured people。 The way that this book has also changed me was it made me think about the ways that white people have made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin because of things I can't change。 She talks about how as African American women we often compare ourselves to white women when it comes to hairstyles and physical features。 The major questions raised by the book and character description While I was reading the book， all I could think about was if more people were educated we wouldn’t be surrounded by so much racism and ignorance。 It also made me question why there are so many stereotypes surrounded by African American females specifically。 Another question that this raised for me was how come African American women know so much about white women’s hair but they don't know anything about our hair。Author’s style and voiceOne aspect of her style shows in the way that she chose to name the chapters。 The name or the chapter was the topic that she was talking about。 She talks about the struggles of being black in a white based society and how racism is very much still around。 Some of the chapter titles are questions that are often asked in the African American community as stereotypes。 All of the chapters go into depth about how she's experienced so much discrimination from white people that see nothing wrong with the things that they say and do。 This book is written in a non traditional way that is more effective when it comes to having a conversation about race。 Who would I recommend this book To？I recommend this book to everyone because it is important to always be aware of other races。 We as a society need to be more open to having the uncomfortable conversations about the way that racism still exists。 I personally feel like this book needs to be talked about in schools because it talks about the things that some kids might be doing that makes others not want to go to school due to racism。 。。。more
Lan Aidan
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Essential read for everyone。 This is the book that should be essential for the children to read in high schools and then talk about it with a teacher。
Sam Bronstein
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Incredible book with powerful points and tools to create internal and external change both personally and on all larger scales。 this book should be used consistently as a tool to grow and create change。
Maribel Maldonado
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Forthright。 Full of plain truths， many of which hurt a lot。 But necessary。 The most practical book on racial injustice I've ever read。 Strongly recommend。 I wish we could get the entire country to read it。 Forthright。 Full of plain truths， many of which hurt a lot。 But necessary。 The most practical book on racial injustice I've ever read。 Strongly recommend。 I wish we could get the entire country to read it。 。。。more
Maggie
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A practical gateway read on a difficult and often uncomfortable topic。
Tyann Smith
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“I write from perspectives that I think many people don’t get to hear。” - Ijeoma OluoAbsolutely excellent read and for some inner self-reflection。 A part in my education was lacking in intersectionality even though I knew exactly what it is。 It’s repetitive but it wasn’t out place because as she says， it’s evident to sit with uncomfortableness in learning about racial and systemic oppression。 Definitely a book I’ll read many more times。 The final chapter on many different avenues of action to ta “I write from perspectives that I think many people don’t get to hear。” - Ijeoma OluoAbsolutely excellent read and for some inner self-reflection。 A part in my education was lacking in intersectionality even though I knew exactly what it is。 It’s repetitive but it wasn’t out place because as she says， it’s evident to sit with uncomfortableness in learning about racial and systemic oppression。 Definitely a book I’ll read many more times。 The final chapter on many different avenues of action to take。 Very concise， straight to the point。 Numerous facts and citations to look up。 Anecdotes to read， listen， her and others lived experiences。 Thank you， Ijeoma for this required reading ♥️ 。。。more
Michelle Cordon
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An Absolute Must ReadInformative， painful， cringy， at times， humorous， hopeful， equal portions grief， shame， and at last， resolve to DO BETTER。 THANK YOU。
Megan Mweemba
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4。5 starsA wonderful entry-level look into racial justice， systemic oppression， and white supremacy （particularly in the US）。 Straightforward， easy to understand， and engaging， but doesn’t shy away from difficult truths or make things superficial。 Definitely would recommend this book to everyone， no matter your level of prior knowledge about the subject。
Joclyn Reilly
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Really helpful， concrete information！ I look forward to discussing the book with others in AUU Fellowship in May 2021。
Sasha
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This is a quick book but incredibly comprehensive overview of racism and related bias， I think this should be mandatory reading for high school students and every person。 She breaks down personal experience， conversations she's had and why they're flawed， other bias like ableism， sexism， classism etc along with other forms of racism like the model immigrant。 Truly this is an incredibly well put together， highly readable and well thought out book that everyone should read。 I am familiar with all This is a quick book but incredibly comprehensive overview of racism and related bias， I think this should be mandatory reading for high school students and every person。 She breaks down personal experience， conversations she's had and why they're flawed， other bias like ableism， sexism， classism etc along with other forms of racism like the model immigrant。 Truly this is an incredibly well put together， highly readable and well thought out book that everyone should read。 I am familiar with all of these topics but I pulled out new ways of discussing them with other people which will help me be a better ally。 You have nothing to lose by picking this up no matter what part of the conversation you're in right now。 。。。more
Stefan
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a perspective definitely worth understanding
Jen
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loved this book & how it was formatted， such an important read
Erica Lutes
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Liked her writing style！
Tara
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This was an amazing book。 Very relatable。
Ilse
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this is such an important read。 even though i’m not from the us， all the examples are still representative， and they were all explained in such a clear and direct way。 i could not recommend this book enough i don’t rate non fiction but if i did it would 100% be a 5 star rating
Victoria Lee
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This book is very well written。 I appreciate the author sharing their personal experiences as well as challenging the readers to examine their personal bias in all areas or life。 I am thankful for her willingness to share her experiences。
Ayelet
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A great alternative to White Fragility written by a Black author who shares her experiences
Jess Sanborn
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“You have to get over the fear of facing the worst in yourself。 You should instead fear unexamined racism。 Fear the thought that right now， you could be contributing to the oppression of others and you don't know it。 But do not fear those who bring that oppression to light。 Do not fear the opportunity to do better。” Most notable are the "next steps" at the end of each chapter， really helped shed insight on different aspects of race and provided clear instructions on how to navigate the conversat “You have to get over the fear of facing the worst in yourself。 You should instead fear unexamined racism。 Fear the thought that right now， you could be contributing to the oppression of others and you don't know it。 But do not fear those who bring that oppression to light。 Do not fear the opportunity to do better。” Most notable are the "next steps" at the end of each chapter， really helped shed insight on different aspects of race and provided clear instructions on how to navigate the conversation and "do more than talk"。 。。。more
Heather Jones
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Wonderfully written and very educational。 I learned a lot and I'm grateful！ Wonderfully written and very educational。 I learned a lot and I'm grateful！ 。。。more
Maria Cloos
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Brilliantly written， but more importantly， highly instructive。 She gives specific examples of what is racist and why。 She gives clear and concise advice for how to address racism both verbally and actively。 If you only read one book this year， let it be this one。
Andy
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