This Book is Anti-Racist Response
Initial Thoughts
This Book is Anti-Racist is definitely a good way to break down racism for people that may not understand that certain groups of people are oppressed. The discussion of the 'dominant culture' reminds me of Lisa Delpit's work that I reviewed last semester. Delpit explains this same concept of the dominant culture and what is considered 'normal.' Delpit and the author of this book have that same message; not everybody can fit into the labels/boxes society has created for us. I really enjoy how the author makes the issue personal for the reader by asking them to create an identity map. When we break it down, everybody is made up of so many different characteristics that it is impossible to fit people into specific, straight-edge categories. The identity map activity proves this and makes the reader realize that they, too, cannot fit into a tiny box.
Connections
Coincidentally, I am reading the book, The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett. I am only about 50 pages into it, but so far, I can see why it is a highly rated book. In the story, there are twin sisters from rural Louisiana that escaped their childhood home for New Orleans at 16 years old. One sister, Stella, ends up leaving the other in New Orleans, and the abandoned sister, Desiree, has a child with a dark-skinned man. When she returns to her hometown, people refer to Desiree's child in racist terms. Meanwhile, Stella is living as a white woman in California in a wealthy family. The theme of identity in this book is obvious, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing where this goes. It is so fascinating how some people are ashamed of their identity when it is the most interesting part about any person. Although there are plenty of reasons that people hide parts of their identity, it is still sad that we live in a world that makes people feel the need to.
My Identity Map
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