Robin DiAngelo and the book ‘White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism’

Robin DiAngelo, PhD wrote the book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism as a means to open thoughtfulness when it comes to seeking a healthier awareness of implicit bias on the subject of racism. Many constructs of the manifestation of racism, and the responses to racism, are defined with examples within the pages of this book.

(Robin DiAngelo wrote the book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism).

White fragility is “the tendency among members of the dominant white cultural group to have a defensive, wounded, angry, or dismissive response to evidence of racism.” Racism is “a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” Offering explicit manifestations of white fragility combined with steps to promote change, the book covers such topics as “The Challenges of Talking to White People About Racism,” “Racism and White Supremacy,” “Racism After the Civil Rights Movement,” the way “…Race Shape the Lives of White People,” “The Good/Bad Binary,” “Anti-Blackness,” “Racial Triggers for White People,” “The Result: White Fragility,” “White Fragility in Action,” “White Fragility and the Rules of Engagement,” “White Women’s Tears,” and Where Do We Go from Here?”

(The book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism was written by Robin DiAngelo).

That a beginning of awareness has been raised in me through having read this book, and in gaining conceptual frames for the application of awareness in real life situations as means of combatting racism, is a beginning. DiAngelo makes the point that unless applied with a willingness to accept feedback that moves me out of my comfort zone, the initial awareness will not be as constructive as is necessary. Not everyone will be ready to receive even the first step of approaching the messaging of this book with an open mind. For those that are, or would be willing to approach those that need the messaging of this book, would be the place where White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo finds its audience. I rate the book at 3.75-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Wednesday, November 4, 2020