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White Fragility

Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

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White Fragility

By: Robin DiAngelo
Narrated by: Amy Landon
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo.

Anger. Fear. Guilt. Denial. Silence.

These are the ways in which ordinary white people react when it is pointed out to them that they have done or said something that has - unintentionally - caused racial offence or hurt. After, all, a racist is the worst thing a person can be, right? But these reactions only serve to silence people of colour, who cannot give honest feedback to 'liberal' white people lest they provoke a dangerous emotional reaction.

Robin DiAngelo coined the term 'White Fragility' in 2011 to describe this process and is here to show us how it serves to uphold the system of white supremacy. Using knowledge and insight gained over decades of running racial awareness workshops and working on this idea as a Professor of Whiteness Studies, she shows us how we can start having more honest conversations, listen to each other better and react to feedback with grace and humility. It is not enough to simply hold abstract progressive views and condemn the obvious racists on social media - change starts with us all at a practical, granular level, and it is time for all white people to take responsibility for relinquishing their own racial supremacy.

©2019 Robin DiAngelo (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Racism & Discrimination Inspiring Equality

Critic Reviews

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.' This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change through productive social and intimate relationships (Claudia Rankine)

What listeners say about White Fragility

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White people must read this.

Powerful. Challenging. An incredible reality check. This is a brilliant book for any white person but I strongly encourage anyone who think they're "woke" or that they're "an ally" can use this as a growth opportunity

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1 person found this helpful

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Transformative!

I started the book as one person, and ended it another. My quest for self education will continue.

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Very enlightening!

It was quite confronting even as a person of colour but explains racism in a comprehensive way with good examples to show it in action in terms of why it's such a difficult thing to tackle. It's made me reevaluate my own way of living in my role to racism and reframe it as well in order to make sense of it. really good read - highly recommend!

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2 people found this helpful

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Critically needed

Critically needed perspective for anyone who lives in a racially varied society. The narrator sounded like a robot, which may be less threatening and a good thing for listeners who struggle to hear these perspectives, but personally I would have liked to hear the author read it herself and bring all of the colour of her experiences into the narration.

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Eye-opening

I loved this book. There is so much learning for me to do. It is fast paced so I had to pause to consider the concepts and I will listen again to be able to take in more detail. A very good book, now and ongoing!

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What a open, thought provoking and enlightening read

If you are genuinely interested in learning how you can improve yourself, especially from unconscious bias/racism; then this is your book.

Again, must emphasis you need an open mind and have willingness to change or you probably won’t finish it.

My only critique is that the voiceover tone was very bland. I’m talking, Siri & Alexa’s cousin. Maybe that was the idea, to have someone sound so completely neutral giving that this is a book on white fragility. Still, would have been easier listening a more vocal tone.

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This is exactly what I needed to read

I rarely give reviews but this book hit me so hard I just needed to. I HIGHLY recommend ALL white people read this book, it's comfronting and eye-opening!! A must read!

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6 people found this helpful

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Hard to listen to but worth the effort.

So much of this book resonates with me in enlightening but often painful ways. I've become more aware in recent years how privileged my life has been as a white male growing up in a white society and that the rhetoric around people of colour, (particularly Aboriginal people in Australia) just doesn't hold together.

The authors message is confronting but too truthful to ignore. Thankyou.

This is a book I need to listen to a few times over.

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4 people found this helpful

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Fantastic Read!! A must for everyone

At times confronting, this book is a must for all white people no matter your level of understanding and experience on the matter!

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narrator very poor

a very important piece of writing an opportunity to exam my own part of white race.
unfortunately it sounded like a Google text to speech was reading it. very it too hard to listen to the tone and rythem of narrator for very long.

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7 people found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.