Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice (Paperback)

by Paul Kivel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Can white people work for racial justice? Kivel's tells average readers how to intervene against racism in situations where it's usually encountered: at work, in public, and on the home front. It's easy not to get involved in massive political stances; but hard to ignore the practical advice and examples here, which share stories and advice on how to fight racism at home. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Description
Continuously at the top of New Society Publishers' best-seller list for five years, Uprooting Racism has been revised and expanded with more tools than ever to help white people understand and stand-up to racism. In addition to updating existing chapters, the new edition explores how entrenched racism has been revealed in the new economy, voting, anti-Arab prejudice, and health care policy. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865713383
• ISBN-13: 978-0865713383
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #842,055 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding book... useful for everyone!!, April 30, 1998

By	Tim Birchard ([e-mail]) (Texas, United States of America) - See all my reviews

Kivel's book Uprooting Racism is very powerful. In it he offers concrete examples of how privilege exists in the day-to-day lives of Whites (European Americans), and furthermore, how Whites (like myself) can come to recognize this privilege (which is invisible to most Whites because it has become part of the institution of American society--passed down for generations so that many Whites don't even recognize its existence anymore) and work toward equity and equality for everyone. It gives examples of how to fight racism on the personal level, in common, everyday affairs.
Most importantly, it brings to light the many subtle, yet powerful, ways that even well-intentioned Whites act in ways that promote injustice, and gives powerful suggestions for improving the lives of everyone. Even those who believe themselves to be "non-racist" or "anti-racist" will find value in this book-- (I'd say 'ESPECIALLY those who believe themselves to be non-racist or anti-racist', since these are the people who UNKNOWINGLY promote racism and injustice.) Recommended to everyone, not just European Americans.

76 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for white guys..., September 8, 1999

By A Customer

I read this book for a social work class that focused on racial differences. Initially I was assigned to read only the first chapter but found myself reading the entire book over a weekend. I was engrossed with the book and at the same time angered and disturbed because it told me things about myself I did not want to believe. If you're a white male struggling with your identity in America I strongly recommend that you read this book. And if you're not struggling with that I recommend you read this book.

I learned a lot about myself by reading this book and especially by re-reading it after I had calmed down a bit. It might seem at first that the book is just an attack on white males but its not.

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Edition--Great!, May 29, 2002

By	Joan Duerst OP (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice (Paperback)

When I began reading the previous edition a few years ago, I realized that I wanted to discuss it with other white people as I worked through the exercises.

As a result five women in leadership roles in their church congregations discussed this book over lunches over some months. It took as many lunches as there are chapters. We learned much about ourselves as white women and much about the history of racism in the United States.

I continue to look for ways to share the impact of this book with others. I am pleased that there is a new edition and look forward to seeing what has made this very useful book even better.