Book Review: Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving
From a white person to other white people, Irving presents a superb description of how the deeply embedded racism in our culture creates a formidable headwind for all who are not “white.” Until exposed to the objective historical facts and the deliberate societal conspiracy to keep too many people blissfully unaware of them, the author illustrates how most white people have no clue as to the harm they are doing to their fellow humans of color.
This book is full of actual and personal experiences of real people, experiences most anyone could relate to. As Irving points out, only white people can effectively solve the white problem—a problem that has been there all along, hidden and doing its destructive work against people of color and white people themselves as well.
Irving provides some clarifying perspectives, practical approaches, and a list of resources for white people to correct their course when they discover the whitewashed malaise we are swimming in. As with most worthwhile things it’s not an easy journey, but the rewards are worth the effort—start your journey today.
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