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White Fragility

Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

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White Fragility

By: Robin DiAngelo
Narrated by: Amy Landon
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo.

Anger. Fear. Guilt. Denial. Silence.

These are the ways in which ordinary white people react when it is pointed out to them that they have done or said something that has - unintentionally - caused racial offence or hurt. After, all, a racist is the worst thing a person can be, right? But these reactions only serve to silence people of colour, who cannot give honest feedback to 'liberal' white people lest they provoke a dangerous emotional reaction.

Robin DiAngelo coined the term 'White Fragility' in 2011 to describe this process and is here to show us how it serves to uphold the system of white supremacy. Using knowledge and insight gained over decades of running racial awareness workshops and working on this idea as a Professor of Whiteness Studies, she shows us how we can start having more honest conversations, listen to each other better and react to feedback with grace and humility. It is not enough to simply hold abstract progressive views and condemn the obvious racists on social media - change starts with us all at a practical, granular level, and it is time for all white people to take responsibility for relinquishing their own racial supremacy.

©2019 Robin DiAngelo (P)2019 Penguin Audio Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination Social justice Inspiring Equality

Critic Reviews

Brings language to the emotional structures that make true discussions about racial attitudes difficult. With clarity and compassion, DiAngelo allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to 'bad people.' This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change through productive social and intimate relationships (Claudia Rankine)
All stars
Most relevant  
I think this book should be part of school required reading.
And I think that if you are a person of colour this book as a gift to your white friends would only be a good thing if they are wanting to have a genuine friendship of any kind with you.

also I think white fragility has a tendency to Gaslight people of colour without even realising it, and to know you have the ability to slip into doing so when you genuinely don't want to be, can only help stop one's selves from doing so....

I just really think this book showed me how many areas I could be doing better in and has truly been so helpful to me in my understanding of how to do better and be better for the people of colour in my life who I want to have true and genuine friendship /relationships / interactions with.
To be/behave worthy of their trust, love and respect.

Every White person should read this book!

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Powerful. Challenging. An incredible reality check. This is a brilliant book for any white person but I strongly encourage anyone who think they're "woke" or that they're "an ally" can use this as a growth opportunity

White people must read this.

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I started the book as one person, and ended it another. My quest for self education will continue.

Transformative!

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It was quite confronting even as a person of colour but explains racism in a comprehensive way with good examples to show it in action in terms of why it's such a difficult thing to tackle. It's made me reevaluate my own way of living in my role to racism and reframe it as well in order to make sense of it. really good read - highly recommend!

Very enlightening!

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Critically needed perspective for anyone who lives in a racially varied society. The narrator sounded like a robot, which may be less threatening and a good thing for listeners who struggle to hear these perspectives, but personally I would have liked to hear the author read it herself and bring all of the colour of her experiences into the narration.

Critically needed

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I loved this book. There is so much learning for me to do. It is fast paced so I had to pause to consider the concepts and I will listen again to be able to take in more detail. A very good book, now and ongoing!

Eye-opening

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If you are genuinely interested in learning how you can improve yourself, especially from unconscious bias/racism; then this is your book.

Again, must emphasis you need an open mind and have willingness to change or you probably won’t finish it.

My only critique is that the voiceover tone was very bland. I’m talking, Siri & Alexa’s cousin. Maybe that was the idea, to have someone sound so completely neutral giving that this is a book on white fragility. Still, would have been easier listening a more vocal tone.

What a open, thought provoking and enlightening read

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I rarely give reviews but this book hit me so hard I just needed to. I HIGHLY recommend ALL white people read this book, it's comfronting and eye-opening!! A must read!

This is exactly what I needed to read

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So much of this book resonates with me in enlightening but often painful ways. I've become more aware in recent years how privileged my life has been as a white male growing up in a white society and that the rhetoric around people of colour, (particularly Aboriginal people in Australia) just doesn't hold together.

The authors message is confronting but too truthful to ignore. Thankyou.

This is a book I need to listen to a few times over.

Hard to listen to but worth the effort.

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At times confronting, this book is a must for all white people no matter your level of understanding and experience on the matter!

Fantastic Read!! A must for everyone

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