Racial Innocence

Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality

By: Tanya Katerí Hernández

Narrated by: Almarie Guerra

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

“Profound and revelatory, Racial Innocence tackles head-on the insidious grip of white supremacy on our communities and how we all might free ourselves from its predation. Tanya Katerí Hernández is fearless and brilliant . . . What fire!”—Junot Díaz

The first comprehensive book about anti-Black bias in the Latino community that unpacks the misconception that Latinos are “exempt” from racism due to their ethnicity and multicultural background

Racial Innocence will challenge what you thought about racism and bias and demonstrate that it’s possible for a historically marginalized group to experience discrimination and also be discriminatory. Racism is deeply complex, and law professor and comparative race relations expert Tanya Katerí Hernández exposes “the Latino racial innocence cloak” that often veils Latino complicity in racism. As Latinos are the second-largest ethnic group in the US, this revelation is critical to dismantling systemic racism. Basing her work on interviews, discrimination case files, and civil rights law, Hernández reveals Latino anti-Black bias in the workplace, the housing market, schools, places of recreation, the criminal justice system, and Latino families.

By focusing on racism perpetrated by communities outside those of White non-Latino people, Racial Innocence brings to light the many Afro-Latino and African American victims of anti-Blackness at the hands of other people of color. Through exploring the interwoven fabric of discrimination and examining the cause of these issues, we can begin to move toward a more egalitarian society.

©2022 Tanya Katerí Hernández (P)2022 Beacon Press

Critic reviews

“Lucid case studies, diligent research, and the author’s willingness to tackle controversial topics head-on distinguish this distressing examination of racism’s insidious effects.”—Publishers Weekly

“An important book that reveals the many ‘interwoven complexities’ of American racism.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Profound and revelatory, Racial Innocence tackles head-on the insidious grip of white supremacy on our communities and how we all might free ourselves from its predation. Tanya Katerí Hernández is fearless and brilliant, and her work is exactly what we need in this challenging times. And that final chapter! What fire!”—Junot Díaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

A must to listen or read.

Wow! Great Book. I will go through it again. Ms Hernandez lays down the truth even though some people don't want to hear it about Latinos bias at Afro Latinos and African Americans. Additionally, some Afro Latinos are in denial until it hits them in the face. My wife is Dominican. She says me no Black. Racism doesn't exist where I am from. I say sure it doesn't. That is why the Light skinned Dominicans run your country. I think I will buy a copy of this book and send it to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "Just because I have Black ancestry doesn't make me Black." It doesn't make you White either. People forget about the one drop rule in America. Very very good book.
Thank you.

Compelling

Dr. Hernandez nicely explicates anti-black bias among Latinos in an effort to help eradicate racism.

Grateful for this book

I am so thankful that this book was written (and the narrator did a wonderful job by the way). This is something I've experienced so many times in my life, but didn't have the full cultural understanding. Grateful for the author sharing her story as well as the research of these legal cases.

Incredible book, so needed for Latinos

As a social justice professional focused on racial equity and as a white Latina this book was a fenomenal way to highlight the issues of anti-blackness in the Latino community. It was difficult to read some of the stories, I was disgusted by them and at the same time it was incredibly necessary for me to read them. I can see and agree with the author and have witness these behaviors throughout my life. Great read!

Amazing read!

This book is amazing! You need to read it and learn today! Share with your friends!

Finally feeling seen and heard

Thank you for this book that validates so many generational experiences my ancestors, elders, children and I have all had as Dominican Afro-Latinos. Pa’lante ✊🏽

getting to the crux of the matter

thank you for this enlightening discussion on race relations in and outside the Hispanic community. I have watched and listened for years to the way Hispanics delineate themselves internally yet pretend to be a homogenous "family" to the world.
this was an excellent listen. thank you.

Must read for Latine People

It was agonizing to read this book. We carry so much anti-blackness in us.

Enlightening

This book could be a semester long history college class. What I have learned here is so daunting yet so valuable. Thank you to the author for this amazing resource. I will definitely share with others.