Image source Amazon
Reading Reflection written August 2020
White Fragility awakens the problem of assumption, the danger of neglect and the evil of ignorance.
This book holds me accountable for not listening more and pursuing such an important topic that causes repeated devastation, sooner. Although this book is United-States-centric, Australia cannot escape the author’s crucial voice.
Such an unexpectedly confronting read. Until I read this, I never once in over 30 years thought about 'my race' as a part of my identity (skin-tint yes, not specifically culturally or ethnically). It's naive to think racism is a binary-moral-forked-road i.e racists are bad people and good people are not racist. The connection between racial literacy and apathy could be an interesting concept to explore through a series of artworks.
Reading this, it feels as if there’s a virtual reality headset on me which has been lifted off unexpectedly, leaving me feeling a little woozy yet keen to dive in again.
Read this book if you've ever thought or have said something along the lines of, ‘I see past the colour of someone's skin/I don't see race'. Read again and again when you are open to a wake up call to how essential being uncomfortable is in order for growth.