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From the Publisher
Kneeling with Colin Kaepernick
Conversations about whiteness are happening over all forms of media, on college campuses, and in schools and religious communities nationwide. As more white people actively seek to unlearn racism and dismantle its structures, all need support to deepen their understanding of what whiteness is and what it does to shape a worldview.
Children’s Perspective
Not My Idea offers an emotional inlet to the crisis white children experience when they know people are being harmed and they are actively discouraged from feeling anything about it. Inspired by her own children’s curiosity, Higginbotham sets the story in present-day America, where a white child sees news coverage of a police shooting. The book empowers kids to seek an education in both white supremacy and those who have always fought against it—including some white people.
From NOT MY IDEA
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Reviews with images
A potentially decent book ruined by bad judgment
There is nothing wrong with a book educating children on the existence of racism and how it has operated in this country. And especially since race is still being exploited for political purposes, it is more important than ever to raise these issues. A book like this should serve as an opening for discussion in families and schools. However, this book is ruined by the very poor judgment to use “whiteness” as an epithet. The subtitle, “A Book About Whiteness,” is a very bad choice. The clear message, whether intended or not, is that being white is bad.I did try to disregard the subtitle and read the book objectively, giving it a fair chance. While there is much to like, the book is marred by simplistic thinking that encourages overgeneralizations. For example, while racially motivated abuses of police power are very real and should be called out, not all police are abusers and some really care about doing a good job. And sometimes the people they arrest really are guilty. It is difficult to hold such contradictory images in mind at the same time; nevertheless, a realistic assessment of the situation requires it.Among other assets, the book provides valuable education in highlighting systemic reasons for the unequal distribution of wealth in this country. Its challenge to the ways we perceive each other is helpful. But all of that is undone by a couple of really bad pages at the end (see photos). It is the frames saying “Whiteness is a bad deal” and displaying a “Whiteness” contract listing every conceivable social evil. On the next page the book does say “you can be WHITE without signing onto whiteness,” but this is a very lame disclaimer that comes too late and is stated too glibly to be of any use. The unmistakable impression this book leaves is that “white” is bad.Statements like “Whiteness is a bad deal” are undeniably racist, and you can’t fight racism with more racism. The notion that only one race is capable of racism denies human nature. The politics in many other countries have shown that when Blacks gain power they can be just as brutal as Whites. Yet the book clearly seems to imply that the tendency of those with power to oppress those without it is a distinctively "White" characteristic.This is especially unfortunate because white supremacy really is a problem in this country. Some states are making concerted efforts to disenfranchise Black people and perpetuate inequality. A book like this, with its intemperate use of language, plays right into their hands. It offers a handy excuse to people invested in denying the real malicious effects of racism still afflicting our society. In giving its opponents ample reason to dismiss it, this book actually does a disservice to its own cause.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
I did try to disregard the subtitle and read the book objectively, giving it a fair chance. While there is much to like, the book is marred by simplistic thinking that encourages overgeneralizations. For example, while racially motivated abuses of police power are very real and should be called out, not all police are abusers and some really care about doing a good job. And sometimes the people they arrest really are guilty. It is difficult to hold such contradictory images in mind at the same time; nevertheless, a realistic assessment of the situation requires it.
Among other assets, the book provides valuable education in highlighting systemic reasons for the unequal distribution of wealth in this country. Its challenge to the ways we perceive each other is helpful. But all of that is undone by a couple of really bad pages at the end (see photos). It is the frames saying “Whiteness is a bad deal” and displaying a “Whiteness” contract listing every conceivable social evil. On the next page the book does say “you can be WHITE without signing onto whiteness,” but this is a very lame disclaimer that comes too late and is stated too glibly to be of any use. The unmistakable impression this book leaves is that “white” is bad.
Statements like “Whiteness is a bad deal” are undeniably racist, and you can’t fight racism with more racism. The notion that only one race is capable of racism denies human nature. The politics in many other countries have shown that when Blacks gain power they can be just as brutal as Whites. Yet the book clearly seems to imply that the tendency of those with power to oppress those without it is a distinctively "White" characteristic.
This is especially unfortunate because white supremacy really is a problem in this country. Some states are making concerted efforts to disenfranchise Black people and perpetuate inequality. A book like this, with its intemperate use of language, plays right into their hands. It offers a handy excuse to people invested in denying the real malicious effects of racism still afflicting our society. In giving its opponents ample reason to dismiss it, this book actually does a disservice to its own cause.
A potentially decent book ruined by bad judgment
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
There is nothing wrong with a book educating children on the existence of racism and how it has operated in this country. And especially since race is still being exploited for political purposes, it is more important than ever to raise these issues. A book like this should serve as an opening for discussion in families and schools. However, this book is ruined by the very poor judgment to use “whiteness” as an epithet. The subtitle, “A Book About Whiteness,” is a very bad choice. The clear message, whether intended or not, is that being white is bad.Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
I did try to disregard the subtitle and read the book objectively, giving it a fair chance. While there is much to like, the book is marred by simplistic thinking that encourages overgeneralizations. For example, while racially motivated abuses of police power are very real and should be called out, not all police are abusers and some really care about doing a good job. And sometimes the people they arrest really are guilty. It is difficult to hold such contradictory images in mind at the same time; nevertheless, a realistic assessment of the situation requires it.
Among other assets, the book provides valuable education in highlighting systemic reasons for the unequal distribution of wealth in this country. Its challenge to the ways we perceive each other is helpful. But all of that is undone by a couple of really bad pages at the end (see photos). It is the frames saying “Whiteness is a bad deal” and displaying a “Whiteness” contract listing every conceivable social evil. On the next page the book does say “you can be WHITE without signing onto whiteness,” but this is a very lame disclaimer that comes too late and is stated too glibly to be of any use. The unmistakable impression this book leaves is that “white” is bad.
Statements like “Whiteness is a bad deal” are undeniably racist, and you can’t fight racism with more racism. The notion that only one race is capable of racism denies human nature. The politics in many other countries have shown that when Blacks gain power they can be just as brutal as Whites. Yet the book clearly seems to imply that the tendency of those with power to oppress those without it is a distinctively "White" characteristic.
This is especially unfortunate because white supremacy really is a problem in this country. Some states are making concerted efforts to disenfranchise Black people and perpetuate inequality. A book like this, with its intemperate use of language, plays right into their hands. It offers a handy excuse to people invested in denying the real malicious effects of racism still afflicting our society. In giving its opponents ample reason to dismiss it, this book actually does a disservice to its own cause.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
Cliente Amazon
How to destroy King's message in a very few words.
Reviewed in Italy on January 14, 2022Hetty
Not my idea of a good book and very revisionist
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2023