Book review | Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race is a discussion on race and racism in Britain.
To be white is to be human; to be white is universal. I only know this because I am not.
RENI EDDO-LODGE
WHY SHOULD YOU READ THIS BOOK?
- You’re interested in Black history and racism
- You want to better understand people around you and the society we live in
DON’T RECOMMEND IF…
- You’re looking for a relaxing read
- You don’t like when your opinion is challenged or you’re racist -in both cases, this blog might not be for you
WHY I’M NO LONGER TALKING TO WHITE PEOPLE ABOUT RACE BOOK REVIEW IN SHORT
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I had planned to read this one after “Why We Sleep”. And as you may already know, I didn’t like the latter and was very disappointed not to. I started to wonder if it was simply because I wasn’t in a reading mood lately… But, well, yes I was!
It’s embarrassing how little I know about black history and racism. This book made me reflect so much about my vision of my life, society and people around me. It opened a new world for me, a world that I will definitely explore!
I believe that (one of) the point made in this book is that we need to listen. So most of this review will be quotes from Reni Eddo-Lodge.
WHAT YOU CAN LEARN
White people are so used to seeing a reflection of themselves in all representations of humanity at all times, that they only notice it when it’s taken away from them.
RENI EDDO-LODGE
What intersectionality is
Here is the definition of intersectionality given by Reni Eddo-Lodge in her chapter about feminism:
The crossover of two distinct discriminations -racism and sexism- that happen to people who are both black and women.
RENI EDDO-LODGE
The Rooney Rule
“When I was four, I asked my mum when I would turn white, because all the good people on tv were white. I considered myself a good person, so I thought that I would turn white eventually. My mum still remembers the crestfallen look on my face when she told me the bad news.”
RENI EDDO-LODGE
Colour blindness
“At best, white people have been taught not to mention that people of colour are “different” in case it offends us.”
RENI EDDO-LODGE
Written by Mathilde, creator of "Just Another Good Story".
Follow Mathilde on Instagram at @just.another.good.story