So You Want to Talk About Race

By: Ijeoma Oluo

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Ijeoma Oluo offers a revelatory examination of race in America

A current, constructive, and actionable exploration of today’s racial landscape, offering straightforward clarity that readers of all races need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide

In So You Want to Talk about Race, editor-at-large of the Establishment Ijeoma Oluo offers a contemporary, accessible take on the racial landscape in America, addressing head-on such issues as privilege, police brutality, intersectionality, micro-aggressions, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the “N” word. Perfectly positioned to bridge the gap between people of color and white Americans struggling with race complexities, Oluo answers the questions readers don’t dare ask, and explains the concepts that continue to elude everyday Americans.

Oluo is an exceptional writer with a rare ability to be straightforward, funny, and effective in her coverage of sensitive, hyper-charged issues in America. Her messages are passionate but finely tuned, and crystallize ideas that would otherwise be vague by empowering them with aha-moment clarity. Her writing brings to mind voices like Ta-Nehisi Coates and Roxane Gay, and Jessica Valenti in Full Frontal Feminism, and a young Gloria Naylor, particularly in Naylor’s seminal essay “The Meaning of a Word.”

©2018 Ijeoma Oluo (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Bahni Turpin's impassioned voice clearly conveys the gravity of this book on race and racism.... Key points are repeated to help listeners absorb ideas and definitions, and Turpin engagingly reads real-life examples Oluo uses to illustrate complex concepts such as intersectionality and white privilege." (AudioFile)

Black People!

Have you ever felt crazy while having a conversation with a White (yt ) friend or coworker or even teacher? I certainly have and this book explains why this is happening and how to prevent it from continuing. I love the narrator's voice and I respect and agree with the author's choices of words to express what I as a Very Black Woman, Mother, a friend has felt for over 50 years here in America. I feel better after reading this book. I recommend it to everyone who has ever had/has to deal with microaggressions and racism on a daily. I recommend it to new parents and woke and organized people to use in your decision-making toolkit for all our children. This book unpacks so many issues that make life unpleasant, to say the least, and unsafe to say the most. This book is full of information to help everyone understand the urgency to change these mentalities that hurt Black and Brown People every day. I especially appreciated the time given to the minority model that negatively affects Asia Americans and successfully hides the tremendous amount of racism, they experience in every arena.

A good read for anyone who wishes to learn more

As someone who grew up their entire life overseas, I didn't think I had a racist bone in my body. Furthermore, I always looked at race issues in America (big picture wise) as being for the most part over. However, as I learned more by talking to friends and watching the news, and my current job in law enforcement, I felt the need to better familiarize myself with what I was quickly learning wasn't as "over" as I had initially thought it was. Listening to the author describe areas of my life where I had been unintentionally and subconsciously believing or supporting racist thoughts was an eye opening experience. I credit this book with making me more aware of how I can support the communities of color that I might police in any given day. It's important to note that while I also didn't always agree with what the author wrote, I still would completely encourage anyone (even those of y'all who like me thought they "didn't have a racist bone in their body") to listen / read this book, if only to have an opportunity to set aside what you think is true about yourself for two seconds and have a hard inner monologue about how you can better support the people of color in your lives as well.

All white people need this book.

I think all white people, especially those who want to improve themselves first and then their community need to read/listen to this book. if you are white and think you are not racist, you need to listen to this book.

Dear White people

This is a truly important work, written from both unique and far too common perspective. Ms. Oluo writes from her heart, but in a way that should penetrate even the most resistant white heart. Give it a shot, and maybe you’ll learn something about yourself, people of color, and the world in general.

Eye opening

A book all can learn from no matter your background. A great starting point for racial relations.

Everyone should read or listen to this book

I am trying to educate myself more on white oppression and systemic racism, and this was one of the books my group chose. I found it a great way to look at an amazingly serious and complex topic. Just today, before I had even finished reading/listening, it helped me respond to something that angered me in so many ways and make a response that I might not have made. (It also helped me know I need to dive more into specific topics.)

I already loved Bahai Turpin as a reader and this influenced spending time listening vs reading (as I own kindle and audible versions). The writing is fantastic and I’m off to pre-order Ijeoma’s next book. Please get Bahai to read it so that I can but both.

I might gift this to friends with credits I have — it’s that good.

Enlightening

I appreciate the authors honesty in this book and recommend it 100% for each of us. We can all learn something. Thank you!
The reader is one of my favs too.

A phenomenal resource

So You Want to Talk About Race is a phenomenal resource for all people who are serious about having substantive conversations about race and how to change the structures that continue to repress people of color.

So You want to Talk about Race

Amazing amazing amazing! Oluo eloquently and calmly explains the racial oppression experienced by people of color and ways to work against it. Not only that, but the book is geared towards white allies who want to make a change as well. Amazing book!

Thought Provoking and Real

This work is so important and Ms. Oluo makes social justice work accessible and honest.