paigereitz's review
5.0
Such a great read about race in Britain and deconstructing white privilege. A MUST READ for all white allies.
carrienation76's review
4.0
I learned so much from this book! Growing up in the United States, I developed extreme tunnel vision around understanding the history of race and oppression in my own country and its devastating, reverberating impact. In college, I took courses that explored the truth of slavery and its modern legacy in the Caribbean and West Africa. But without a doubt, this is the first book I have ever read that delves into the history and nuances of race in Britain. I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much I didn't know, but I'll happily own it because this book gave me so much in return.
Eddo-Lodge's writing style amplifies the content. She dissects bad logic with outlandish but well-suited metaphors that bounce between providing a little snarky humor and genuinely driving home her point. The book moves quickly and covers a lot of ground across the pages, but peppered throughout are sudden deep dives into specific cases/examples/instances - each one carefully dissected to show the layers upon layers that complicate it. Eddo-Lodge also embeds short examples from her life, and often compares recent events to her own timeline. That personal flare made the book read more intimately than a standard non-fiction text.
I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, regardless of where you grew up. The arguments that Eddo-Lodge passionately presents in the book hold meaning anywhere that race informs power.
Eddo-Lodge's writing style amplifies the content. She dissects bad logic with outlandish but well-suited metaphors that bounce between providing a little snarky humor and genuinely driving home her point. The book moves quickly and covers a lot of ground across the pages, but peppered throughout are sudden deep dives into specific cases/examples/instances - each one carefully dissected to show the layers upon layers that complicate it. Eddo-Lodge also embeds short examples from her life, and often compares recent events to her own timeline. That personal flare made the book read more intimately than a standard non-fiction text.
I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, regardless of where you grew up. The arguments that Eddo-Lodge passionately presents in the book hold meaning anywhere that race informs power.
pickett22's review
5.0
This is definitely worth the read. It's British, so I learned some new history (I had never heard of the Windrush Generation before) but the kind of racist events that she talks about have very similar counterparts on this side of the pond.
She has an excellent chapter on feminism and why intersectionality is SO necessary, and another chapter showing how class and race are inextricably linked. Lots of really valuable information in here.
Also, if you're a white person and you're upset by the title then you're not hearing what she's saying.
She has an excellent chapter on feminism and why intersectionality is SO necessary, and another chapter showing how class and race are inextricably linked. Lots of really valuable information in here.
Also, if you're a white person and you're upset by the title then you're not hearing what she's saying.
poenaestante's review
5.0
While our histories differ in places, black people on either side of the pond face the same issues of disenfranchisement, displacement and exclusion as well as a similar frustration with repeatedly having to explain their frustration and pain to disbelieving whites. This book is a great little intro to black Britons today and is an especially good read for any well meaning but still confused white person who is "woke" enough to realize their black friends are sick of talking to them about this. Fix yourselves!
ladyofaragon's review
5.0
I have nothing of substance to add, but this book was phenomenal and my first five-star read of the year. I read this as an ebook borrowed from the library, but I will be purchasing a copy for my personal library.