Racism Without Racists

Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America

By: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's acclaimed Racism Without Racists documents how, beneath our contemporary conversation about race, there lies a full-blown arsenal of arguments, phrases, and stories that whites use to account for - and ultimately justify - racial inequalities. The fifth edition of this provocative book makes clear that color-blind racism is as insidious now as ever. It features new material on our current racial climate, including the Black Lives Matter movement; a significantly revised chapter that examines the Obama presidency, the 2016 election, and Trump's presidency; and a new chapter addressing what listeners can do to confront racism - both personally and on a larger structural level.

©2017 Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (P)2017 Tantor

Great book, just missed two points…

I agree with the author in most areas; however, I believe he missed two points, especially when discussing Obama. Point one, Blacks aren’t monolithic. As a registered Black Republican who leans center, I can tell you that I agreed with most of Obama’s policies, even those that raised the eyebrows of a lot of Black folks. Point two, being “first” and being “Black.” Think Jackie Robinson… The first Black person has to be non threatening to Whites, they must control their temper & their words, and, possibly most importantly, they most not be too “pro” Black or show that Blacks will benefit more than Whites while they’re in office. The first Black person in any position must show that they’re competent, tolerant, and above the fray in order for White people to accept another Black person in that position. The Black people that follow will have the power to do what the first Black person could not, such as the rules around William Garrett integrating big-time college basketball in 1947 to today where LeBron James can wear BLM & “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts during warmups. Obama was a great first Black POTUS. Relatively scandal free and proved that he was qualified to do the job. In the end, that matters more in the long-term than what he “didn’t” do, especially when contrasting with Trump. I know I said there were two points but I just thought of a third…Tavis Smiley never supported Obama.

Insightful

Please open your mind and take the time to listen to this book. It hits you hard with the truth and I recommend you read it with others because it deserves dialogue.

wow

So I know that the writer says he would be interested in a study that follows the participants to see, essentially, how their racism developed as they get older. But I would be curious to see how many evolve into less racist people.

I know as a young adult, college aged, I still accepted at almost face value the things the adults around me said/projected. This resulted in me being kind of a shitty human. However, as I've gotten older, I've definitely grown as a person and, I think, confronted a lot of ingrained racist beliefs that I had. And I'm still learning - hence reading this book. I'll definitely be reading it again because there's so much in here.

This will stick with me.

As I listened to the first chapter, I panicked a little bit. The terms and ideas introduced so rapidly in that chapter made me concerned that I wouldn't get much out of this book without a deeper background in sociology or politics. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, because the ideas discussed in subsequent chapters really struck a chord with me and feel every bit as relevant in 2024 as when they were first written. This book feels foundational to future reading on the subject of race in America, and I'm grateful to have read it.

On Point

I liked how on point it my experiences were described. It took me through waves of an old despair of seeing change in regards to race to a renewed challenge to take part against this "morphing Goliath".

I Highly Recommend This Book

If you want to understand the change from overt to covert racism read this book. Whether it convinces you to change you will at least know that racism is alive and well

Amazing and Awesome

Dr. Bonilla-Silva was my mentor in college but that was 20 years ago. I came into this book not expecting this to be his overall best work. His work is phenomenal, but what makes this book his best is its accessibility. You don't have to be anyone's sociologist or researcher to appreciate the quality of what he has done here. He remained central and allowed his work to tell the story vs his presumptions right until the final chapter. His approach was very thoughtful and everyone should appreciate all of the nuanced care he put into his project particularly with his later update editions.

excellent

Very thorough treatment of color blind racism. A systematic and empirically based approach to understanding this issue.

color blinds

book touched my experience with racism in West costs and democratic organizations and local leaders from my journalism, school, and church. education. no-profit organizations and LGBTQ members and my own husband. I found was racism was affected by my mental health. include to this moment people the call themselves friends had primaries focus in rejection of my identity. race and my intelligence because their never seen me as a person like the other friends who are white.. one sample person who I consider mentor, the last few months had treatment as person who out intelligent. he comment about me be racist tactics to dismantle my spirit and effort to become more successful.

Life changing

Amazing book. I’d highly recommend it. I may be giving it a second listen. Most comprehensive book on New Age of racism I’ve experienced so far.