Nice Racism

How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm

By: Dr. Robin DiAngelo

Narrated by: Dr. Robin DiAngelo

New York Times Best Seller

Building on the groundwork laid in the New York Times best seller White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo explores how a culture of niceness inadvertently promotes racism.

In White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo explained how racism is a system into which all White people are socialized and challenged the belief that racism is a simple matter of good people versus bad. DiAngelo also made a provocative claim: White progressives cause the most daily harm to people of color. In Nice Racism, her follow-up work, she explains how they do so. Drawing on her background as a sociologist and over 25 years working as an anti-racist educator, she picks up where White Fragility left off and moves the conversation forward.

Writing directly to White people as a White person, DiAngelo identifies many common white racial patterns and breaks down how well-intentioned White people unknowingly perpetuate racial harm. These patterns include:

• rushing to prove that we are “not racist”,
• downplaying white advantage,
• romanticizing Black, Indigenous, and other peoples of color (BIPOC),
• pretending white segregation “just happens”,
• expecting BIPOC people to teach us about racism,
• carefulness,
• and feeling immobilized by shame.

DiAngelo explains how spiritual White progressives seeking community by coopting Indigenous and other groups’ rituals create separation, not connection. She challenges the ideology of individualism and explains why it is okay to generalize about White people, and she demonstrates how White people who experience other oppressions still benefit from systemic racism. Writing candidly about her own missteps and struggles, she models a path forward, encouraging white readers to continually face their complicity and embrace courage, lifelong commitment, and accountability.

Nice Racism is an essential work for any white person who recognizes the existence of systemic racism and white supremacy and wants to take steps to align their values with their actual practice. BIPOC listeners may also find the “insiders” perspective useful for navigating whiteness.

Includes a study guide.

©2021 Robin DiAngelo (P)2021 Beacon Press

Critic reviews

"A powerful new book from the author of White Fragility reveals why profound racism is often found in supposedly liberal spaces." (The Guardian)

“A pointed reminder that good intentions aren’t enough to break the cycle of racism.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A fierce critique of the ‘culture of niceness’ that prevents the hard work of dismantling racism.... [DiAngelo] dismantles unconscious biases with precision. Readers will feel compelled to hold themselves more accountable.” (Publishers Weekly)

Everyone needs to listen to this book

I was blown away at the depth and candour in this book. I applaud the author for their research and for laying out the damage that can be done by well-meaning people if they do not consider their impact. I finish this book with a lot of work ahead of me. I need to consider how the feedback in this book shows up for me and the work that I need to do to reduce harm and to be able to positively affect change.

Thank you for calling out the work that needs to done.

Necessary

This book perfectly summarizes feelings and situations I have frequently found myself in. Racism is not just KKK and burning crosses. Most black Americans do not experience racism that extreme. That is a great listen for people that want to strengthen their allyship.

incredible book. great perspectives

if nothing else, everybody needs to read this book. not the best starting point, a bit complex for the typical but anybody beyond the beginning stages will have some ugly feelings to deal with

Only read if you’re ready to be an anti-racist

This book was so humbling and illuminating to me as a white woman who had always considered herself “not a racist.” I feel both called out and energized to make the space I occupy more inclusive and anti-racist!

Another honest book from sister Robin.

Essential for all liberal white folks who say and think they are "not racist. "

Excellent and personally challenging!

This book is a deep dive into the habits of nice white people and how they often unconsciously participate in racism. I found myself looking anew at my habits and understanding how I have participated in the harm of our racist society.

Unapologetically Honest

Authentic portrayal of much needed truth, from one who walks the talk yesterday and today.

Even better than White Fragility

This book calls out the damage of some of the progressive trends and attitudes that have been prevalent over the last few years. I’m shocked it hasn’t been as popular as the authors former book on this subject. If you only read one, I’d actually recommend this one!

GREAT BOOK ON ANTI-RACISM BEHAVIOR & ATTITUDES

it's wonderful that there's a book geared towards white folks on their behavior towards BIPOC people. Thank you.

Valuable Insight for More Effective and Accountable Action for Racial Justice

This is an excellent follow up to the author’s previous works and provides more detailed and specific scenarios and analysis than earlier. Those other books are also critical in spelling out the issues with many common responses white people have when addressing (or seeking to avoid addressing) racism whether in our own actions, speech, and assumptions or baked into the cultures, organizations, and communities we inhabit. This book breaks things down further with concrete examples of situations and dynamics that frequently arise when white people think they have figured out how to solve racism without really contending with our ongoing involvement in destructive systems or our ongoing need (and ability) to learn and grow. She also directs us to the value and importance of the work of BIPOC people both in our own communities and lives, in professional settings, and in thought leadership in the culture at large. I am coming away with more resources to read and guidance for my actions and own accountability going forward.