White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo

All white people have racist tendencies, but we often don’t see them or understand they are there.

If you agree and understand the implications of this statement, like really understand, then you probably don’t need to read “White Fragility.”

If you are rolling your eyes or getting angry or defensive at that statement, then you 100 percent need to read it.

This isn’t a book you review, because it’s about reflection that is deeply personal.

So here’s mine: white progressives often do more to perpetuate continued racism rather than dismantling it. Why? Because we think we’re not racist, therefore don’t need to work on things related to racial inequities.

I’m guilty of this.

As a gay man, I can empathize with the microaggressions people of color face and other minorities face. I understand the frustration and hurt in feeling less than by a majority because of something you cannot change.

But at the end of the day, I’m still a cis-gender white man. And that’s a big difference.

I didn’t create systemic racism in Western culture, but my whole life I have benefited from it. Even though at some level I’ve always understood that, I never challenged it further. Why would I when I’m willing to fight for other minorities, defend injustices and speak up to elevate others?

Yes, those things are important — and they always will be — but it simply isn’t enough.

Racism ends not by dismantling institutions that were built by white people to oppress people of color (although it is important), it begins by continuing to challenge myself and fellow white people on privilege and fragility on topics related to race.

We’re not infallible, and the belief that we are — or that we don’t need to apologize for the privileges afforded to us by our whiteness — is exactly why this book is an important step in making real change.

Rating (content): 5/5 stars

Rating (narration): 3/5 stars

Format: Audiobook (SIL’s library)

Dates read: June 6 - June 11, 2020

Multi-tasking: I don’t recommend this as an audiobook. Get a physical copy so you can highlight passages and take notes.