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Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

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Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

By: Reni Eddo-Lodge
Narrated by: Reni Eddo-Lodge
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About this listen

"I couldn't have a conversation with white folks about the details of a problem if they didn't want to recognise that the problem exists. Worse still was the white person who might be willing to entertain the possibility of said racism but still thinks we enter this conversation as equals. We didn't then, and we don't now."

In February 2014, Reni Eddo-Lodge posted an impassioned argument on her blog about her deep-seated frustration with the way discussions of race and racism in Britain were constantly being shut down by those who weren't affected by it. She gave the post the title 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race'. Her sharp, fiercely intelligent words hit a nerve, and the post went viral, spawning a huge number of comments from people desperate to speak up about their own similar experiences.

Galvanised by this response, Eddo-Lodge decided to dive into the source of these feelings, this clear hunger for an open discussion. The result is a searing, illuminating, absolutely necessary exploration of what it is to be a person of colour in Britain today, covering issues from eradicated black history to white privilege, the fallacy of 'meritocracy' to whitewashing feminism, and the inextricable link between class and race. Full of passionate, personal and keenly felt argument, Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is a wake-up call to a nation in denial about the structural and institutional racism occurring in our homes.

©2017 Bloomsbury (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
Freedom & Security Politics & Government Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination Social justice Thought-Provoking Funny Emotionally Gripping Civil rights

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Audible Sessions with Reni Eddo-Lodge

Meet the author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race
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everyone who thinks race doesn't affect them should read this book. it's a deep insight into how existing in a world where white is seem as 'normal' and being black or brown is 'other' takes its long grinding toll.

For everyone who thinks race doesn't affect them

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The recording was a bit tinny which I found distracting but the story was educational, enjoyable and energising. Definitely would recommend to a friend.

Recording of voice sounded tinny but listen was educational, enjoyable and energising

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In contradiction with the title, this book doesn't seek to abuse and degrade white people in their ignorance of their privilege. On the contrary it is deeply educational on the universality of white power and empowering in the belief that everyone, including white people can do something to end racism. Eddo-Lodge's style and delivery is direct, sincere, passionate and assertive and, unlike so much racial "discussion" in the media she aims to open up the discussion to everyone. I found this book eye-opening and profoundly moving.

Empowering

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Like any societal or political book I found myself agreeing with parts of this book (the concepts of privilege and structural racism are really well articulated for example) and disagreeing with others (I found the anti modern feminism and class stuff towards the end a bit was a bit broad strokes in it's criticism while simultaneously advocating the subtlety of it's own argument. Plus seeing as intersectionality was discussed so much I feel like that was then missing from the class chapter).

I guess the big difficulty though is that the book is pitching that as a white person if I disagreeing with some of this stuff it's probably because I'm a bit racist in the way that most to all white people reportedly are. That might be true to an extent and the book certainly helped me see how it might be, but it's hard to know to what extent. I try my best not to be and will redouble my efforts in the future in light of this without being colour blind.

So a tentative recommendation. If nothing else it certainly makes you think and question. Which I guess is mostly the point.

Challenging but interesting nonetheless

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I've got the book but found it difficult to get into, so decided the audio book might work for me. I'm glad I listened, it has opened my eyes to inequalities I wasn't aware of, and has made me more aware of the challenges people in Britain still face because of the way that people of colour are portrayed in the media.
We all have a responsibility to call out discrimination in all its forms, and to challenge the stereotypes we are fed by the media.
This book is a great starting point to help us recognise the privilege bestowed on us by an accident of birth.

Thought provoking and eye opening

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