White Fragility

By: Robin DiAngelo, Michael Eric Dyson - foreword

Narrated by: Amy Landon

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

©2018 Robin DiAngelo (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“[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)

“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)

Good book but...

Overall, this was a good book but I have read all of the books Robin DiAngelo references in her book and she simply placed a white wrapper around the thoughts of these other authors, most of whom are authors of color. As a person of color in an extremely white workplace who is forced to navigate racism and white fragility on a daily basis, I see the value in presenting the work of a white person to my organization as a stepping stone to start the conversation. As a person of color, I am also deeply bothered by having to do so. In doing this, it actually feeds into the pitfalls and concerns DiAngelo discusses. I think this book is an excellent starting person for white people interested in delving into the topic. I would suggest people of color start with some of the reference books especially Bonilla-Silva’s Racism Without Racists and Ibram Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning.

39 of 39 people found this review helpful

REQUIRED READING

Hello! Please read this book if you feel the need to better yourself. I, as a adult black male, read this book as a way to help heighten my knowledge when faced with implicit racism. Me and a white customer of mine are always having race discussions and my knowledge now will help me better explain to him the false binary. Thanks to the author for the gained knowledge and insight.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Very challenging and important

White Fragility is an important analysis of the racial divide in America today. I’m so glad I read it and hope to be able to take to heart it’s lessons. This was so helpful to break down the impasse that develops when reconciliation attempts are made.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Read instead of listen

The woman who read the book sounded like the automated voice you get when you get stuck on hold with a major company. It was so dull and monotone that, had I not really wanted to hear what the author had to say, I would've returned the book very early on. Now that I've finished listening, I wonder how much of the meaning was lost on me because of my frustration with the choice of reader.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Great read

Every White person should read this book & I am a better person for wrestling with it's topics. I plan on integrating this into my supervision & teaching.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Narration doesn't do justice to the important book

Anyone who seeks this book out understands the importance of the content. However I was so disappointed by the narrator. She sounded like the voice of a digital assistant. I ended up just buying the print book instead.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great content, robotic reader voice

I recommend doing this one as a regular book—the narrator sounds like a robot, which makes it hard to hear. Though I can imagine the concept of white fragility might be so triggering for some people that they chose a robotic person to narrate. It’s a loss, because it makes it much harder to engage and retain the content.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

important

Every white liberal / progressive should read this book. There is so much we think we understand but don't really.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Mandatory reading for every white person!

I highly recommend this book to everyone! DiAngelo breaks down the topic like never before!

8 of 11 people found this review helpful

A must read for White People

By far, one of the BEST reads on White Privilege. If you are ready to take an honest look at privilege and embrace some uncomfortable truths, I highly recommend this book! #gotprivilege

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

life changing book!

As a white female progressive, I found this book one of the most honest and compassionate ways of showing me my blind spots. It's was painful to hear my own defensive stances, and my own 'I'm not a racist' perspectives, and I will be every thankful that Robin, has opened my world to racism and my place in it. Absolute recommend read!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

For every white person..

Robin Diangelo has got to the crux of the issue and i really wish every white person would listen to this, if you have an open mind, you will learn a lot. We need to step outside of insular realities and take a reality check.

Excellent.

A very thorough discussion of white fragility & privilege, the roles these play in maintaining unequal racial status, and how to step out of the expected narratives.
Recommend listening on 1.25 or 1.5 speed.