Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

By: Reni Eddo-Lodge

Narrated by: Reni Eddo-Lodge

"I couldn't have a conversation with white folks about the details of a problem if they didn't want to recognise that the problem exists. Worse still was the white person who might be willing to entertain the possibility of said racism but still thinks we enter this conversation as equals. We didn't then, and we don't now."

In February 2014, Reni Eddo-Lodge posted an impassioned argument on her blog about her deep-seated frustration with the way discussions of race and racism in Britain were constantly being shut down by those who weren't affected by it. She gave the post the title 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race'. Her sharp, fiercely intelligent words hit a nerve, and the post went viral, spawning a huge number of comments from people desperate to speak up about their own similar experiences.

Galvanised by this response, Eddo-Lodge decided to dive into the source of these feelings, this clear hunger for an open discussion. The result is a searing, illuminating, absolutely necessary exploration of what it is to be a person of colour in Britain today, covering issues from eradicated black history to white privilege, the fallacy of 'meritocracy' to whitewashing feminism, and the inextricable link between class and race. Full of passionate, personal and keenly felt argument, Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is a wake-up call to a nation in denial about the structural and institutional racism occurring in our homes.

©2017 Bloomsbury (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

A Must Read

Amazing, humbling, informative, expertly written, tragic & inspiring. I wish everyone I knew would read this with an open heart and mind. She says, so eloquently, what I have not been skilled or brave enough to in the past. She reminds me why I must not stop talking to white people about about racism.

An Inspiring Spark for National Change

An expertly composed introduction to modern day systematic racism. Touches on intersectional feminism as well. A truly inspiring read!

the historical referencew

i loved the authors approach and flow beteween the significant topics of race , class and feminism

An insightful discourse in race and feminism in UK

it's a very good listen as a black person. But this is insightful for anyone who believes in equality and justice for all peoples

Wonderful!

So wonderfully articulated! This is an amazing and eye-opening book. I wish everyone would read this.

some very familiar issues

I've been interested in and studying racial justice for a few years now and although this is told from a British perspective it echoes a lot of the issues being faced by Americans and I can now assume any black people living across colonized territories.i think this was well stated and a great read, I highly recommend it for anyone interested in racial justice.

Excellent

I would recommend this book to everyone! Because everyone is either benefiting from or being affected by racism, but I would especially recommend it to folks in the UK wanting to learn more about the history of racism, xenophobia, and anti-blackness of the British empire. Well researched, carefully considered, and providing great context for the issues discussed, Eddo-Lodge is exceptionally generous in this book. Tackling issues from microagressions all the way up to country and global structural racism, at the core of this book is an encouragement for everyone to get educated on the issues, and be empathetic towards all marginalized folks. She artfully argues that structural racism is currently using the language of “pc culture” spurning dreaded “identity politics” as a way to work with the far right to keep the current power structures in place. There is no liberation for some without liberation for all. Eddo-Lodge simultaneously lays the problem at everyone’s feet: there is no justice, just us. So what are we going to do about it? Beautifully read by the author, I especially loved listening to her speak about these issues, sharing intimate parts of her own experience and giving answers to some of the questions she regularly receives at speaking engagements.

Must Read

Promising to take action. Eyes are opening. Thank you to the author for all of this.

Integral, important and I implore you to listen.

It’s incredibly sad that the reality of this world makes people feel like they can not have a conversation about something so significantly important.

Reni lays this out in such a knowledgeable, informative and stark way that allows anyone to either further understand and educate themselves about the issues in our society, but also as an introduction to those who are just now joining the conversation and hopefully in turn are participating in breaking down and reconstructing our society into one that is safe, welcoming and offers opportunity for all equally.

We do not live in that world now, but it was built by people just like us. It can be rebuilt, and it takes responsibility of the individual to do so.

I am white and I loved it

Extremely eye opening. Every person can benefit from this book. Thank you Renni for doing the work and giving us your honest perspective on what the struggles actually look like. You make us question the way we see the world. As a white suburban girl in the U.S., only about 7% of my school is black, and there isn't a single black teacher. I truly don't know any black people on a deep level, and this book has prompted me to ask myself why that is.