Waking up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving
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Summary
Debby Irving is an emerging voice in the national racial justice community. Combining her organization development skills, classroom teaching experience, and understanding of systemic racism, Irving educates and consults with individuals and organizations seeking to create racial equity at both the personal and institutional level.
This book offers around 30 pages of valuable insights. The author comes across as genuine and knowledgeable in her efforts to enlighten white individuals about their privilege, encouraging them to change their racist beliefs and avoid making offensive remarks towards people of color.
Regrettably, the remaining 258 pages become incredibly tedious. It is filled with numerous lengthy, irritating, and often forced anecdotes, presented in a self-deprecating tone ("I couldn't believe how she must have interpreted my words..."). These anecdotes are intended to alleviate the reader's guilt regarding their own racist attitudes and mistakes, but instead come across as condescending. The author's decision to narrate the audiobook herself only exacerbates the issue. Her exaggerated vocal expressions are clumsily executed and drive me crazy.
This book really opened my eyes to the complexities of racism, without making me feel guilty or ashamed. It has played a significant role in motivating me to challenge and overcome my own racial biases. It instills a sense of hope and bravery, reminding me that change is possible.
This book is really great, and the author did an awesome job as the narrator. I found myself pausing and listening to most of the chapters again so that I could take notes and reflect on my own thoughts. It provides a valuable exploration of white privilege, and I'm excited to continue my journey of learning how to actively combat racism.
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