Do Better

Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy

By: Rachel Ricketts

Narrated by: Rachel Ricketts

International Best Seller

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“A clear, powerful, direct, wise, and extremely helpful treatise on how to combat and heal from the ubiquitous violence of white supremacy” (Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times best-selling author) from thought leader, racial justice educator, and acclaimed spiritual activist Rachel Ricketts.

Do Better is a revolutionary offering that addresses racial justice from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spirit-based perspective. This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices that will help us all fight white supremacy from the inside out, in our personal lives and communities alike. It is a loving and assertive call to do the deep - and often uncomfortable - inner work that precipitates much-needed external and global change.

Filled with carefully curated soulcare activities - such as guided meditations and transformative breathwork - “Do Better answers prayers that many have prayed. Do Better offers a bold possibility for change and healing. Do Better offers a deeply sacred choice that we must all make at such a time as this” (Iyanla Vanzant, New York Times best-selling author).

©2021 Rachel Ricketts International, LLC. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Well Timed Read!

Under today’s divisive racial dilemma this is much needed! Much better to be adhered to!

This CANNOT be your first read about racism!

This book as stated is written to white women for black women.

This book has amazing content and truth bombs! However, if you have not yet read introductory racism pieces or books educating you on the public policy that has created such strong racism in America, then you are not ready for this book. It is at times very tough to listen to because of holding the self accountable. If this is your first racism read, save it to put it on a shelf then read or listen to it again after some other researching reads.

I recommended reading prior to this book:
The Third Option
Stamped From the Beginning
10th Anniversary Edition of the New Jim Crow

talk about shadow work!

wow get ready this books def puts your racism in check. Worth readyi g again and again

A must read!

Rachel Ricketts really bares her soul to readers in an effort to help them understand the negative impact that white supremacy has on all people, not just on the BIPOC communities. Be ready to do some work and dig deep. A great book!

Deeply Teaches how to Address Racism Within BUT the Author is some issues herself.

let me start with what I disagree and then end with what I agree on.

Disagree:
1. Author believes "all white people" are inherently racist because they benefit from a white supremacists system within their Nation and globally. while true white people will not suffer institutional racism because of their whiteness that does not make them racist.
2. Author believes "whiteness" is inherently racist. No white people are not racist simply for being white. this is not some genetic racial birthright. this is a result of colonialism. it is a system and a mentality.
3. We also gives hints that she believes in racial trauma epigenetics. she shows study of mice who were burned with fire. and the mice's children and grandchildren had a more extreme adverse reaction to fire. therefore she believes that like trauma can be passed on genetically for my black and indigenous woman plus marginalized groups to suffer more. she then believes the generations of white people whose ancestors and grandparents were racist pass on a more callous racist attitude. This is WRONG. We are humans not animals. Hate is choice. White people do not inherit hate

Agree.
1. Historical and going systemic and institutionalize racism is real. It's it's a global thing. unless it requires that white people who are unintentional benefactors of this ongoing systemic racism should wake up to it. and listen to marginalize black and indigenous women on how they can help. not just with empty words and virtue signal but with real tangible actions.

2. Medical racism is real. yes historically and still till today many medical books sadly teach that black and indigenous people can endure more pain. even if some medical universities have stopped this teaching the belief still lingers. black and indigenous people especially women and fems are often undercarried and die as a result of it far more than any other ethnic or racial group. yes tangible action needs to happen. in any white person within the medical industry with power and influence needs to address this with action.

3. Global white patriarchy and capitalism needs to be dismantled. it is good for white allies to wake up for this and use their power and privilege to take down the system that hurts black and indigenous people especially women so much.

4. Spiritual practices of black, Asian Southeast Asian and indigenous people are not commodities. it should not be whitewashed and then sold as a product. instead it has to be holistically understood with its cultural roots as a sacred practice.

Most impactful book I've read in years!

Powerful, challenging, accountability promted through authentic reflection. This book grounded me in love and pushed me to examine all the ways as a white person I can and need to do better.

Just what I needed!!!

I so appreciate her truth! Spoken with power, spirit, and fearlessness. The quotes that start each chapter deeply resonated and brought me much needed clarity in these uncertain times.

Not for the faint of heart, an absolute must read

If you're looking for a saccharin-sweet, feel good book, you might be in the wrong place. If you respond well to a straightforward, tell it exactly how it is education on racism, you are in the right place. The time for skirting these issues is over. Rachel Ricketts brings her life experiences and knowledge right to the forefront of the conversation with her no nonsense presentation (delivered with the perfect balance of love and urgency).

This book will make you angry. This book will make you cry. This book will make you really get to the root of your internalized racism and start to break it down. However, Rachel does not do the work for you - you have to come with a humbled heart, open mind, and desire to be actively anti-racist. As she has said multiple times, "we're so glad you're here, but you're late so it's time to get to work." Leave your white guilt at the door and get schooled.

After you've checked out Do Better, her website has a lot of other really incredible resources - from spirituality to BIPOC/womxn-centered resources.

Essential read for dismantling white supremacy

Rachel is clear and to the point in regards to the history and present status of the ongoing system of white supremacy. She outlines the steps each and every one of us can take into actionable progress towards making an equitable world for ALL.
Her story is just ONE of the many lives negatively effected by the misogynistic, inequitable system that is white supremacy. An absolute MUST read. LETS DO WORK!

Challenging Read

The harsh language can be off-putting, but there are so many key concepts and examples of racism and white supremacy and how to fight them that make this an important read.