So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
I loved
this book. I finished it in a day simply devouring Oluo’s word. I can relate to
so much of what Oluo was sharing and in so many ways it was validating but also
depressing. I feel better knowing that I’m not the only person experiencing
these microaggressions, working through these issues and surviving day to day
but at the same time having these similar lived experiences makes me very well
aware of how far we have to come in the U.S. when it comes to dealing with
race, racism and equality.
So You Want To Talk About Race is a
really well written, comprehensive look at the issue of race and how race relates
to inequality, success, poverty, education and much more. When I took a look at
the contents of the book I was blown away because I could recognize immediately
that these topics were geared towards having a thorough conversation about race
and not just placating people who want to feel like they are putting in the
work. She included topics like intersectionality, privilege, affirmative action
and addressed them head on, pointing out the arguments in each and encouraging
readers to recognize and acknowledge where they stand on these different
issues. I was hooked from the first page of the introduction. Oluo has a very
straightforward writing style and she is extremely well grounded in herself and
her voice. That assuredness allowed Oluo to expose herself and her personal
experiences in ways that I could never imagine.
I hope
this book speaks to you. I hope this book challenges you and makes you rethink
your past experience. And that goes for every person regardless of race,
gender, religion or anything in between. There were people that I had in mind
while reading this book. Mostly people whose friendships I had to reevaluate in
the last year because I realized how much of me they didn’t see and how much of
my experience they didn’t recognize. Oluo’s book saw me and saw the struggle
taking place right now. I am so thankful for this book and the effect that it
could have on those willing to learn, willing to talk and willing to make a
change when it comes to race. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve just finished ‘Why I’m no longer talking to White people about race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge and it is phenomenal. It speaks to the British experience of being a black woman and it refreshed my soul. I’ve pre-ordered Ijeoma’s book and I can’t wait to read it.
ReplyDeletePs. Thank you for your review - it’s made me even more excited about the book.
DeleteThank you for reading it! I've heard of that book and I plan on getting my hands on that one too! I really hope you enjoy this one. I genuinely could not put it down.
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