5 stars.

This (audio)book is an absolutely ESSENTIAL addition to one's anti-racist education. Myisha T. Hill's work encompasses both real talk and joy, and everything in between. I jumped at the chance to listen to this audiobook after following her on Instagram for a couple years, and was even more inspired that I thought possible.

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL! READ IT.

Not only does the author illuminate exactly WHY the work needs to be done, but she also paves a path forward, showing us HOW.

So grateful to the publisher, and NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this audiobook, in exchange for my honest review.

I must not read book titles very well, because I thought Heal Your Way Forward by Myshia T. Hill was going to be an anti-racist book for Black people to work toward doing inner healing from doing a majority of the anti-racism work. I missed that “co-conspirator” in the title that indicated that I am not the intended audience for this book.

Yet, that doesn't mean I didn’t resonate with different parts of this book. I connected to many of the personal stories, from distancing herself from her Blackness in order to be protected to being a victim of white saviorism. I know all too well the attempts to humanize Black experience to gain white empathy.

Needless to say, I think this book is excellent for white co-conspirators. It really breaks down the tools white people can use for self-reflection, working through grief, and warding off defensiveness. I have been recommending it to my white friends, and I will continue to recommend it other white people looking to start their anti-racist journey.

This is a deeply powerful and practical work that puts real tools in the reader’s hands for doing the work of anti-racism.

The author makes it clear that she is not the right teacher for everyone, but she is certainly the right teacher for me. I feel so privileged to have been introduced to her work and perspective. And truly, I feel that everyone should read this book.

What strikes me most about this book is how the author seeks to repair harm by breaking cycles of shame, addressing how we are impacted by generational and systemic problems, and making space for everyone—truly everyone—to heal from the past before jumping into action.

It feels like such a gift to have received this book, and I know that part of my work is to pass it on.

Incredible. On of the best books on healing I have ever had the privilege of reading. Myisha T Hill is an incredible educator and her word are powerful. A must read!

A great read for any white person who wants to re-energize their anti-racist practice. During the “Great White Awakening of 2020” many folks recognized the need to act on social justice issues but fell out of practice as time has gone by. This book is for those of us who want to sustain a long term commitment to those values, especially in between episodes of public outcry. Hill’s words and story are inspiring, practical and timely. This is not the book for a person who’s just starting to learn about white privilege and supremacy but instead fulfills a need for those who are committed to a lifelong practice.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Suicide, Racism

CW notes: This book was written to approach topics like racism, ableism, and violence against Black people. So, this book also discusses politics, COVID, gun violence, and religion.

Thank you to myisha t. hill, Row House Publishing, OrangeSky Audio, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I felt really fortunate to have the chance to listen to this audiobook. My physical copy was already preordered but sometimes audiobooks help me dive into books deeper and not get distracted. Tyra Kennedy did an excellent job narrating and I loved the intro narrated by the author herself. myisha t. hill has been working for years to educate and *sustain* active work in human liberation and antiracism. This book is a guide directed to white people on how to get into the work and keep going.

Listening to the audiobook was a great introduction to this book, but I'm really glad I own a physical copy too. It's definitely the kind of book created to take your time with and revisit, because it's about lasting change. I also really appreciate the author's approach to this change- if we want this work to go for several generations, it isn't a quick fix or one and done.

I highly recommend this to any and all white people, wherever they are in their antiracism work.
Check out her instagram @ckyourprivilege and buy this book! It's really worthwhile.
5 out of 5 stars

This was so good! It was a refreshing guide towards antiracism within the white community that acknowledged the various difficulties one may face on the journey to true allyship. Hill definitely held folks accountable to what should be an ongoing practice rather than a few performative actions marked off a check list. One thing that stuck out for me personally was the negative impact of over-consumption of materiel and how that can lead to inaction, With there being such easy access to books, podcasts and media in general, it is easy to become overwhelmed and ghost the cause. Instead, Hill urges us to slow down and sit with the tough topics in order to better understand and take action consistently. She also discussed taking the time to mourn these parts of our history and present injustice, which is something I haven't seen talked about in my readings, As our understanding grows, there is often tangible loss as well, wether it be loss of friends, family, or a general disillusionment of our country and the systems it was built on. I also loved the simple guide to taking action and delving into what commitment means to each of us. A big thanks to the publisher and Netgally for this advanced audiobook! I highly reccomend and loved the narrator as well!

A potent, powerful and utterly phenomenal book about learning, unlearning and doing the absolute utmost to become antiracist.

A fantastic guide for change and healing

This was a beautifully written guidebook on how to embrace being a co-conspirator. Not just how to be an anti-racist but how to recognize and step away from all the interlocking systems of oppression that are the backbone of white American culture. The book encourages you to “stretch into what’s uncomfortable” and “get rid of the tools that are no longer serving you” as well as shows you the unvarnished truth about the “systemic interpersonal and intergenerational harm” caused by the interlocking systems of oppression. The book contains hard truths, including a few eye opening ones, but it does it in a gentle supportive way. Less taskmaster, because that method will never result in long term change, and more encouraging wise mama. I enjoyed the breaks in the book that encouraged you to step away from the heavy learning and specific gentle tasks to get out of your brain and into your physical self. I also enjoyed that each chapter had a few questions to allow the reader to look within without feeling like there was assigned homework. I have read a lot of books on racism and this is one of my favorites and one that I will rely on in the future as I continue my journey.

Tyra Kennedy does a fantastic job narrating this learning guide. Her melodious voice and voice inflections are phenomenal.

Below is the text of the review that I posted to GoodReads. I also posted a video to my personal TikTok (11.4K Followers), my personal Instagram (3K Followers), my personal Facebook (3K Followers) & my personal Twitter (12K Followers). Myisha also kindly posted my TikTok review on both her personal profile (56K Followers) and the @ckyourprivilege account on Instagram (691K Followers). I am grateful I had the opportunity to review this text. Thank you! I would be happy to do more videos / reviews for any future books. Please feel free to reach out to me directly via NetGalley, phone (678-485-6832), or email (alexlopezwrites@gmail.com). Thanks again!

My GoodReads review:

This book is remarkable. A true gift. I received an ARC from the publisher & immediately dove in.

I listened to the audiobook and loved hearing the introduction & dedication read by the author. From the moment I heard the introductory quote from bell hooks, I knew I was in great hands.

Tyra Kennedy’s narration is superb. I could not put this text down. This book is the perfect mix of captivating, bracing, honest, vulnerable, & well-structured research.

The moments of personal history, collective history, essay, and confession feel forged by the wholehearted authenticity of a true craftsperson. A true activist. A true artist. This text is a triumph.

Be sure to add this to your reading lists immediately, folx. And be sure to pre-order as soon as you can. You don’t want to miss this reading experience. This is the perfect book to buy for friends & family. It is bound to spark many necessary conversations.

I’m leaving the experience of reading this book with a deep sense of gratitude. This text is filled with so many life changing passages that affirmed, challenged, inspired, and altered the way I conceptualize the world and my place in it. I know that this is one that I (and so many others) will return to again and again, for many years to come.

I didn’t like this audiobook at all. It was difficult to understand, and it had so many flaws in the logic, it was hard to follow.