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Robin J. DiAngelo

Robin DiAngelo

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism Paperback – June 26, 2018

by Dr. Robin DiAngelo (Author), Michael Eric Dyson (Foreword)

38,252 ratings

in Discrimination & Racism

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The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.

In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

Print length

192 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Beacon Press
Publication date

June 26, 2018
Dimensions

6 x 0.57 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0807047414
ISBN-13

978-0807047415
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

When a racial group's collective prejudice is backed by the power of legal authority and institutional control, it is transformed into racism, a far-reaching system that functions independently from the intentions or self-images of individual actors.
33,278 Kindle readers highlighted this
People of color may also hold prejudices and discriminate against white people, but they lack the social and institutional power that transforms their prejudice and discrimination into racism; the impact of their prejudice on whites is temporary and contextual.
31,728 Kindle readers highlighted this
When I say that only whites can be racist, I mean that in the United States, only whites have the collective social and institutional power and privilege over people of color. People of color do not have this power and privilege over white people.
30,050 Kindle readers highlighted this

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The value in White Fragility lies in its methodical, irrefutable exposure of racism in thought and action, and its call for humility and vigilance.”
—The New Yorker

“[T]houghtful, instructive, and comprehensive . . . This slim book is impressive in its scope and complexity; DiAngelo provides a powerful lens for examining, and practical tools for grappling with, racism today.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“White Fragility is a book everyone should be exposed to. With any luck, most who are will be inspired to search themselves and interrupt their contributions to racism.”
—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

“A valuable guide . . . While especially helpful for those new to the critical analysis of whiteness, this work also offers a useful refresher to anyone committed to the ongoing process of self-assessment and anti-oppression work.”
—Library Journal

“A penetrating new book.”
—Pacific Standard

“A vital, necessary, and beautiful book, a bracing call to white folk everywhere to see their whiteness for what it is and to seize the opportunity to make things better now.”
—Michael Eric Dyson

“As a woman of color, I find hope in this book because of its potential to disrupt the patterns and relationships that have emerged out of long-standing colonial principles and beliefs. White Fragility is an essential tool toward authentic dialogue and action. May it be so!”
—Shakti Butler, president of World Trust and director of Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible

“A rare and incisive examination of the system of white body supremacy that binds us all as Americans. . . . With authenticity and clarity, she provides the antidote to white fragility and a road map for developing white racial stamina and humility. White Fragility loosens the bonds of white supremacy and binds us back together as human beings.”
—Resmaa Menakem, author of My Grandmother’s Hands and Rock the Boat

“As powerful forces of white racism again swell, DiAngelo invites white progressives to have a courageous conversation about their culture of complicity. . . . White Fragility provides important antiracist understanding and essential strategies for well-intentioned white people who truly endeavor to be a part of the solution.”
—Glenn E. Singleton, author of Courageous Conversations About Race

“Robin DiAngelo demonstrates an all-too-rare ability to enter the racial conversation with complexity, nuance, and deep respect. Her writing establishes her mastery in accessing the imaginal, metaphoric mind where the possibility for transformation resides. With an unwavering conviction that change is possible, her message is clear: the incentive for white engagement in racial justice work is ultimately self-liberation.”
—Leticia Nieto, coauthor of Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment

“White fragility is the secret ingredient that makes racial conversations so difficult and achieving racial equity even harder. But by exposing it and showing us all—including white folks—how it operates and how it hurts us, individually and collectively, Robin DiAngelo has performed an invaluable service. An indispensable volume for understanding one of the most important (and yet rarely appreciated) barriers to achieving racial justice.”
—Tim Wise, author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son

“Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility brings language to the emotional structures that make true discussions about racial attitudes difficult. With clarity and compassion, DiAngelo allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people.’ In doing so, she moves our national discussions forward with new ‘rules of engagement.’ This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change through productive social and intimate relationships.”
—Claudia Rankine

“White Fragility is a must-read for all educators because racism and racial disparities in access and opportunity continue to be an urgent issue in our schools. As educators, we need to summon up the courage and together act deliberately and honestly to develop the skills we need to engage in conversations about bias, race, and racism—especially our own.”
—Val Brown, professional development facilitator and founder of #ClearTheAir

About the Author

Robin DiAngelo is an academic, lecturer, and author and has been a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice for more than twenty years. She formerly served as a tenured professor of multicultural education at Westfield State University.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beacon Press; Reprint edition (June 26, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807047414
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807047415
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.57 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Discrimination & Racism (Books)
- #6 in Cultural Anthropology (Books)
- #9 in Ethnic Studies (Books)

Customer Reviews:
38,252 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		75%
4 star		12%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Timothy Clontz

if someone wants to be your friend – let them.

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2018

I am very reluctant to give a negative review, especially when the author is trying to be helpful. In places the author has correctly diagnosed a number of genuine problems.

Merely being non-racist isn’t good enough, because you end up as a bystander when a bully is beating up on a victim; both covering your eyes and ears and refusing to acknowledge what the victim (of racism) is telling you is happening to them.

If you haven’t been a victim you cannot fully understand being a victim. If you haven’t experienced the pervasiveness and constancy of negative bias both coming from other groups and even influencing your own view of yourself – then you will never completely comprehend. So in one respect a white person cannot truly say, “I get it.”

Neither can you ever do enough to win a gold star and say you’ve done “enough” as long as racism exists.

It’s like the Talmudic maxim: “you will never finish perfecting the world, but you are never free to stop trying.”

If the book stopped there, it would be fine. Perhaps even excellent.

But I give this book one star because it makes the problem worse.

This book is like a bad date where the other person is accusing you of all of your failures, and when you try to make up, to do better, to understand more, to be fully engaged as an ally, you are continually pushed away.

And then you are told to “breathe” and calm down. Surely you are getting upset and proving the thesis!

Except that’s not what’s happening.

Yes, whites don’t see racism because they aren’t a target of it. If you aren’t a racist, then you don’t hang around racists. And if you aren’t black then you don’t have it hurled in your face. 99% of the problem is created by 1% of whites who other whites don’t see.

The same would be true for misogyny. 99% of rapes are caused by 1% of perps, and the 99% of innocent men don’t see it because the perps aren’t harassing them.

So men need to listen without being defensive. Whites need to listen without being defensive. It’s wrong to say, “But I’m not doing it” as if that will make it go away.

But it’s also wrong to say that the non-harassing men or the non-harassing whites are guilty BECAUSE of their innocence.

No, they aren’t being bad. They are being clueless. And instead of being accused they need to be engaged.

Especially when they WANT to listen and be helpful.

In short, if someone wants to be your friend – let them.

This book doesn’t invite engagement and doesn’t let the non-involved to become involved in affirmatively fighting racism. It turns a lot of would be allies away.

Ultimately, it’s self defeating.

We need more people aware of racism. We need more people fighting racism. We need the majority engaged in helping the minority, rather than being turned away.

I’d give this book five stars if it were half as long. But it’s the flawed existentialism that makes this book a hindrance to people who should be friends, and would be friends, if they were allowed to be.

11,952 people found this helpful

Helpful

JB

Worst. Book. Ever.

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is riddled with historical inaccuracies, such as black women being denied the vote until 1964, poor arguments, and a lack of any decent citations. This book did inspire me though. If something this bad can be published, anyone can write a book.

8,006 people found this helpful

Helpful

MFV-Eugene, OR

Unfortunately insipid and presumptuous on timely subject

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2018

Verified Purchase

According to this author, those that are identified as white (not necessarily those who identify AS white) are guilty of racism and must be prepared to be tongue-lashed by her. It is curious that somehow denigrating a person by their skin color is not racist when done by a person of the same appearance. It is a popular book for those that need more of a reason to feel bad about themselves.
Ironically, the subject is timely and through reading other sources of information on institutionalized racism, I have noticed many examples of this. The articles were well written and effective in that I was not made to feel that anything I did or said was automatically suspect and therefore invalid. A state of paralysis is not one from which change can occur.

6,626 people found this helpful

Helpful

courtney pruner

Not what I expected.

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

I anticipated after reading this book that I would gain a better understanding of why it is hard to talk about racism. However, the majority of the book focuses on generalizations about various groups of people.

5,707 people found this helpful

Helpful

T.J. Okay

Snooze fest

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018

Complete Nonsense. Same old same old, this group of humans is incapable of being racist because of the color of their skin and this group of humans is incapable of not being racist because of the color of their skin. What a bore. If you’re having a hard time accepting your lot in life, a better use of your time may be spent reading up on personal accountability.

5,331 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tracy C.

I wish I didn’t waste my money buying this book

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

I didn’t even want to give one star but that was my lowest option to rate this book. I disliked the book immensely, and not because I’m fragile as the author wants you to believe if you don’t agree with her ideas. I understood and even agreed with some of her thoughts on underlying unconscious racism and societal differences. What I dislike is her way of going about cutting down one group to raise another, her brush off of the serious advances society has made in race relations, and disregard to personal responsibility of actions but instead paints it as us against them. It’s a very destructive concept and does more harm than good. The underlying message to highlight how race has, and still, plays a role in society is important and should have been written as an article rather than this long nauseating book of constant barrage.

4,155 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Anthony Christopher

Absolutely Astonishing.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2020

Verified Purchase

I find it amusing that at no point does the author consider the following possibility- that 'white people' do not react negatively to conversations about race per se, but that it is simply the way SHE has such conversations that upsets people. Since almost all the 'evidence' base for this book is entirely from the authors own experience.....the clear conclusion is that she just pisses people off when she gives her seminars. Should she be surprised that when you tell people that somehow they are not individuals and are a monolith driven by forces that they do not understand....but magically she DOES understand....that they will be pissed off?

Does she make any attempt to actually understand what people who have objected to 'conversations about race' are actually thinking and feeling....of course not because they are white so must all be thinking and feeling the same thing. After all, 'socialisation' is everything. Obviously everyone grows up and watches exactly the same films, listens to exactly the same music, has exactly the same interactions with teachers, different ethnic groups- and reacts in exactly the same way to all of these things- and its all because they are white that this happens. Jesus.

I would want to give the author the following advice: stop addressing people by their group identification, stop making assumptions about people that are unfounded and take responsibility to provide proper evidence for your assertions that consider critically different possible interpretations. If you do that, PEOPLE WILL STOP BEING ANGRY AT YOUR SEMINARS AND PRESENTATIONS. And they will actually listen. People get angry when you demean them, try to mislead them, make unfounded assumptions about them and do not listen to their perspective or give them the respect of feeling the need to justify properly your objections to their viewpoint. The vast majority of people, regardless of race, are happy to have conversations about it- if it is respectful and evidence based. Period.

945 people found this helpful

WatfordDave

White, interested in racism, open & wondering of you really get everything on merit?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

Academic and Referenced yet very readable.
White people in the UK & USA are advantaged and often fail to notice this privilege. People can be very nice, kind and good people who would never consciously discriminate or take an unearnt reward in life. When it is pointed out that they may be practising racism or, at least passively benefiting from it, some may respond with anger or hurt.
This book explains and gives examples of all the above.
It then suggests that rather than being "fragile" white people should pause, reflect and examine the life led and its nuances and how they can work towards challenging discrimination and help work towards a fair and just world in which rewards are given for merit and effort not skin colour.
If that interests you then this is a beautifully written book but if you are unshakably convinced (and a bit angry) that "white privilege" is nonsense and that there's no such thing as racism then steer clear.

190 people found this helpful

FT

should be legal requirement to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2019

Verified Purchase

It should be a legal requirement for every white person to read this book/ listen to the audiobook. In particular those who (like me) think they're not racist.

Please, please, overcome your defensiveness and give this book a chance. You have nothing to lose and you will not be sorry.

141 people found this helpful

taz

A Book Every White Person Should Read

Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

I'm disabled and need to self isolate because I'm high risk if I get Covid 19. No protests for me!

I was thinking "What can I do to honor George Floyd, his family and black people in general that I can do from home.

I decided that the very least I could do was buy this book and read it.

To be honest the title triggered feelings of defensiveness and eye rolling. Deep inside of me was a part of me that did NOT want to read this book. I decided that this reaction signalled that I needed to read it. "If people can be out marching and putting their bodies in danger to protest police violence against black people...the very least I can do is read this book with the title that triggers so much anxious avoidance in me."

So I did! And I'm so glad I did. The book discusses the feelings of fear, defensiveness, shame, guilt and anger that white people experience when discussion of racism comes up. It explains where these feelings come from and labels them as being a kind of psychological "syndrome," known as "White Fragility."

It also explains Racism/White Supremacism as a culture we have all grown up within and how our emotional reactions help strengthen that culture vs challenging it and creating something new.

I saw much of myself in the examples given but also, for the 1st time a way of responding to and taking responsibility for these emotional reactions instead of demanding black people stop everything to take care of my feelings.

It gave me words to use, questions to ask myself, ways to understand how my behavior is being perceived and recieved by black people. It gave me examples of ways to own my own racist thoughts or behaviour and ask for forgiveness, attempt to make amends even if the person chooses (as is their right) not to forgive my Racism.

For the 1st time in my life, I feel like I have a bit of a framework and basic etiquette to use to navigate my racist reactions in a way that both empowers me to feel more confident in my diversity skills while also attempting to create more honest and intimate relations with black people.

I can see this book being used in Anti-Racism workshops with white people. Reading a chapter, journalling about our reactions and finding ways to become less "fragile," and more capable of listening to and engaging in respectful discussions of race.

I really mean it. Every single white person should read this book. You wont regret it!

141 people found this helpful

Matthew Gradidge

Fallacy with a Dollop of Dumbfounded Dross

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

Do not waste your money on a book who's author who's premise is inherently racist, who bases the argument on the anecdotal and only looks to drive a further wedge into society. The little evidence she presents to validate her point is misinterpreted and should you in any way have a thought of your own or validly disagree then you are branded in her terms a racist and are displaying this phony concept of white fragility.... Damned if you do damned if you don't. Wish I hadn't contributed to the sales tally.

75 people found this helpful

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