A review by siobhanward
The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole

informative medium-paced

4.0

 So many books on anti-Black racism focus on the United States, which, while it does have problems with systemic racism, is often used as a scapegoat by Canadians. "Well we're not nearly as bad as the US," isn't really a great benchmark, ya know? Cole's deep-dive into racism in Canada was fascinating and well-developed. While at times it hit close to home (literally - I was shocked to hear Cole tell a story that took place blocks from my house), it was a good balance of stories and areas of focus.

I especially appreciated the context Cole gave to all of the stories he told. The statistics on school suspensions were sobering, and his comparison of the Toronto Star's reaction to his activism versus the activism of a white colleague in a similar position was especially interesting. Cole really knew what he intended when he wrote this, and I appreciated how well it was written. 
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