So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
"Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy--from police brutality to the mass incarceration of African Americans--have made it impossible to ignore the issue of race. 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."
“When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else's oppression, we'll find our opportunities to make real change.”
― Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race
I read this book, like many others have, for a book club spurred on by the events that reached national attention in June. I know that reading and educating myself is only the first step and that it needs to be followed up with action. But I also know that listening is key. So if you have no idea where to start, I highly recommend this book.
Much of it was a review for me. A lot of it seems like common sense, though if it didn't need saying, I doubt Oluo would have dedicated the time to it in this book. But the one thing that I found set this book apart from others I have read, was the generous personal stories that Oluo shares in this So You Want to Talk About Race. She beautifully weaves each chapter with a personal story along with actionable bullet points. No BIPOC should have to lay out their personal stories of all the terrible, racist things that have happened to them in their life to be taken seriously. But Oluo generously does it anyway and also gives really helpful step by step actions on what to do, what not to do, and how to do better. The combination made this one of the more engaging books I've read in a while.
Helpful note: If you buy the second edition copy, there's also a helpful discussion guide in the back that may help with your discussions.
Genre: non-fiction
Representation: BIPOC, Asian American
Content Warnings: racism, sexism, use of the n-word