Who is the author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race?

Reni Eddo-Lodge is the author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race.

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race Book Summary - Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race Book explained in key points

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Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race summary

Name: Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race
Rating: 4.1 (192 reviews)
Author: Reni Eddo-Lodge

Reni Eddo-Lodge

Understand racism and white privilege

4.1 (192 ratings)

25 mins

Brief summary

'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge is a powerful book that explores the constructs of race and racism in the UK. It challenges readers to confront their own prejudices and engage in meaningful discussions about race and its impact on society.

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Black Lives Matter Race

Table of Contents

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race
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What’s in it for me? Learn how to talk about racism and understand privilege.

In 2014, Reni Eddo-Lodge had had enough. Her discussions with white people about racism were going nowhere. Frustrated, she wrote a blog post, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race. It went viral, and the fallout wasn’t what she expected. She renounced her initial opinion and recognized the necessity of engagement. This book was the result of that turnaround.

Britain today, like many countries, is still racist. People might try to deny it, but it’s still there. If you feel you can look the other way, then you’re most likely white and are taking advantage of what’s called white privilege. People from ethnic minorities don’t get to do that.

Britain has a racist history. If we’re going to work together to overcome it and ensure that everyone has equal opportunities, we’re going to have to learn about that history and deal with its repercussions, which are still felt today. Yes, slavery and the British Empire might be gone, but their legacies live on in deep institutional and societal discrimination and racism.

Eddo-Lodge shows us that if we work together, the scourge of racism can be beaten, and a brighter future is possible.

In this book, you’ll learn

how Indian soldiers were treated by the British in the First World War;
how the British political classes use language to stoke racism; and
what Harry Potter has to do with race relations.

A communication gap between white people and people of color is impeding the progress of race relations in Britain.

“I don’t see color.” You’ve probably heard some well-meaning white progressive bleat the phrase out in total sincerity, and you’ve almost certainly heard it more than once. It’s meant to indicate that the speaker wants to live in a meritocratic world where everyone is afforded opportunities based on innate talent and abilities. What’s more, it signals they are leading by example.

But, not only is it extremely condescending, it also totally misses the point. Worse still, this myth of “colorblindness” scuppers discussions that might help progress.

Let’s be clear about this. For people of color – regardless of social class – racism is woven into the harsh fabric of daily life.

Consequently, if Britain’s racism problem is going to be solved, then the communication gap between white people and people of color has to be bridged.

Back in 2014, the author – a Black British journalist – was on a mission. She wanted to investigate structural racism. But white people just responded with boredom, indignation or defensiveness.

Out of sheer exasperation, she wrote a blog post. It was entitled “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race.” She was expecting a racist backlash, but, much to her surprise, it went viral, and mostly for positive reasons too.

Generally speaking, verdicts on the piece went two ways. Black people felt that she had clearly expressed experiences they’d had trouble articulating. On the other hand, white people were alarmed at the idea that they’d collectively made people feel this way. They were keen to learn how they could improve the situation.

Both groups agreed that dialogue was the solution. What’s more, the author’s talent in voicing these issues meant it was critical that she keep talking about race to white people.

Since then, Eddo-Lodge has worked as an activist talking almost exclusively to white people about race. She's attempted to expand her understanding of racism in Britain. She wants to push things forward and has left the frustration of that first piece behind. Productive conversations about race inequalities in Britain have to take place between all strata of society, no matter what color they may be.

But before we start looking at the specific issues relating to racism in Britain today, we’re going to have to dig a little deeper into its history.

Britain’s history of racism can be traced back to colonialism, imperialism and slave-trading.

Far-right rhetoric isn’t a subtle tool. When white racists are confronted with Black and brown people, their yelled refrain is often “Go back to where you came from!”

But, as the Institute of Race Relations’ director, Ambalavaner Sivanandan, told an audience in 2008, “We are here because you were there.”

In order to understand race issues in Britain today, we need to learn the history of Black Britain.

As it often happens when it comes to the translatlantic slave trade, British people tend to associate the civil rights movement with the United States. It’s important to note that Britain, however, also has its own history of Black civil rights movements.

Let’s look back a bit. Historically speaking, Britain made it extremely difficult for people of color to assimilate, even when legislation encouraged them to immigrate there.

Equal opportunities can be created for people of color once structural racism is acknowledged.

When you’re not aware of how racism works, it’s easy to associate it only with institutions such as the police force. But in truth, racism can be experienced in many ways. It might be the look someone gives you or some implicit bias you experience.

This is known as structural racism, and it operates much more broadly within a society than a nation’s institutions.

White privilege is an ingrained form of racism that positively affects white people’s life chances.

If you’re white, you’ve most likely never really thought about how your status as a white person might have helped you.

Systemic racism negatively affects people of color, but it also works in the opposite direction. White people benefit from white privilege.

The lack of Black heroes in popular culture reflects the white fear of a Black planet.

As a four-year-old, the author asked her mother when she would become white. Her logic was that on TV she’d only ever seen good people portrayed as white, while bad people were inevitably Black.

The lack of positive Black representation is symptomatic of a deeper dread: the fear of a Black planet. In other words, some white people quake at the idea that Black people will one day become the majority in any historically white country.

We need a feminism that fights for all disempowered people rather than white women alone.

When Lena Dunham’s TV show Girls first aired in 2012, it was initially met with critical acclaim. It was lauded as the most feminist show to air in decades and an accurate, contemporary portrayal of young women’s lives. But a backlash eventually followed – and quite rightly, as the cast were almost exclusively white, despite being set in the diverse melting pot of New York City.

It’s indicative of a wider trend. Actually, most leaders of popular feminism today are white women.

Race and class prejudices are deeply connected phenomena that are denied by self-serving British politicians.

If you live in Britain, you’ve probably heard the term “white working class” bandied about as a way to describe the country’s disadvantaged.

In fact, British politicians have a certain fondness for the term. It would seem to suggest there are people at the bottom of society who have been denied opportunities and rights because of their class, and that’s all there is to it.

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What is Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race about?

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race (2017) examines the often-dismissed problem of racism in Britain and offers insight into how it might be overcome. Contrary to the title, this volume provides a starting point for productive conversations about racism in Britain today. It examines British black history, white privilege and the links between class and race.

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race Review

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race (2017) by Reni Eddo-Lodge is an eye-opening exploration of racism in Britain, making it an essential read for everyone. Here's why this book is worth your time:

With its in-depth analysis of the historical context and present-day issues, it provides a comprehensive understanding of race and racism.
Eddo-Lodge's sharp insights and personal experiences bring the book to life, adding an emotional resonance that deepens the reader's engagement.
By challenging white privilege and exploring intersections of race and class, the book stimulates critical thinking and inspires important conversations.

Best quote from Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

In 1983 alone there were 76 reports of police harassment against people of color.

—Reni Eddo-Lodge

Who should read Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race?

People interested in black British history
Workers who feel the economy and society aren’t working for them
Anyone who wants better race relations

About the Author

Reni Eddo-Lodge is an award-winning British journalist. She has written for the New York Times, the Voice, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Independent and the New Humanist.

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