I had read and liked Tracie McMillan's first book "The American Way of Eating" and really enjoyed her in-depth analysis and reporting. This book "The White Bonus" has incredible analysis as well. Part memoir, part investigation into the advantages of white privilege and the cost of systemic racism, she outlines her family history looking through the lenses of housing, job opportunities, education (e.g. GI Bill and school integration/segregation), etc. It is also about being able to fit easily into white spaces if you are white. As a reader, I was interested in the facts and figures she outlines and then my brain would have to switch to absorb the deeply emotional and personal part of her memoir (which sometimes directly connects back to the analysis of white privilege and many times not. This made me think that there are almost two books here -- both topics important in their own right. In any case, I applaud the author, both for her candor and heart wrenching story and also for her ability to examine her own white privilege and how she and her family benefited. Definitely a worthwhile read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

The White Bonus was a very thorough investigation of not how minorities suffer, but also how much being white is a financial benefit. I liked this new perspective on inequality. I liked the direct examples of various people. It was an enjoyable yet depressing read!

The White Bonus by Tracy McMillan reminds me of those test that you get an elementary school when the teacher tells you to read all the instructions before starting in at the bottom of the test it says just sign and date and you’re done. Because at the end of the book the author insinuates she may not even be white so every example in personal things she put in the book is questionable. Now having said that to say that government programs are racist is ridiculous I do believe that some cops are racist I do believe that racism exist not only in this country but in every country in the world there’s some form of racism. People or a••holes I do think people look at others and pass judgment instantly we have a history of on fair treatment in this country not only to minorities but to the poor disabled those in the LGBT community the list goes on and on I don’t understand making it white versus black because people get mistreated for many reasons I do think we are trying to do better in this country it will never be perfect utopia is a fallacy in a dream that really doesn’t exist in reality but I think the fact that things are improving is a good sign. I believe the more minorities that own businesses and get in powerful positions will change the ratio dichotomy that is changing daily. It is easy to point to the past and say say look all racist but I think we have beaten the dead horse into oblivion and now should work on ways to make it better instead of just pointing at it and saying look how terrible that is. I also want to say I don’t know how this is genre bending because it’s nonfiction… I’m just saying. I want to thank Henry Holt and Company for my free arc copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Right at the beginning in the introduction the author explains that white privilege, any privilege, is like being given things to help guide us across a river. The biggest pieces are maleness and whiteness. Nothing I have read has ever explained this concept so well! As a woman who grew up neglected and in poverty I have heard other white people explain that a poor white poor is not given an advantage over a poor black boy, but I know that is not true. This book reinforced that knowledge. It is telling how they always use boys for that example too.
I know as an upper middle class white woman I can get away with things my mexican sister cannot, even though I do also have to live with this massive wage gap and other things that affect women, it is harder for my sister.

Anyway, I appreciated this book.

I did not finish this book, as I found it to be hard to follow. Of course, there's much to unpack when exploring concepts of white privilege, and how our skin color impacts our lives and choices, but I couldn't understand the way McMillan decided to organize the book. When you begin the book, it seems that the structure will be portioned by 6 main accounts/family narratives, but other societal inequalities are peppered in at various times, and I was losing sight of the overall organization. I had trouble remembering names, people and their identities, their initial introductions in the narrative. That being said, this is a book that I would probably come back to (especially in audiobook format) - I know it has important tidbits inside; I was not in the headspace to commit to it.
Of course, I had to ask the question to myself; do we truly need a white woman writing this book about race in America? I did appreciate how often she cited other important works by black creators. The book, even though I only got a fourth of the way through, is clearly well-researched. McMillan's empathy and curiosity is on display, and that's worth noting.

“The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America" by Tracie McMillan is a compelling and eye-opening examination of the economic impact of racism on American society. McMillan skillfully dissects the concept of the 'white bonus,' revealing how systemic racism has led to financial advantages for certain families while perpetuating inequality for others. Through meticulous research and personal narratives, the book illuminates the intergenerational effects of racial disparities, challenging readers to confront the deeply ingrained structures that contribute to these inequalities. McMillan's storytelling is both powerful and accessible, making complex economic concepts understandable and relatable. "The White Bonus" is a thought-provoking exploration that prompts important conversations about race, wealth, and the urgent need for systemic change in America. It is an essential read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the economic dimensions of racial injustice.

As I focus a lot of my perinatal quality initiatives on the maternal and infant mortality rates for black and Hispanic women, I was drawn to this book instantly. Unfortunately, it did not offer much insight that I didn't already know or experienced or witnessed myself growing up in a biracial family. This would be a decent book for someone who is just starting to understand and learn what white privilege is, but it was hard for the author's experiences to resonate with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and (publisher) for an advanced copy of The White Bonus for review. All opinions are my own.

In this book, the author shows that being white in America has privileges that are often overlooked, undervalued, and dismissed. From a journalist’s perspective, the reader is shown the high cost of racism and how there are not only privileges but even bonuses from being white. Interestingly enough, for the author to grapple with her own privilege, she uses her family as an example of how far reaching white privilege goes for generations. Considering that the author is a journalist and not a social scientist, this is a good attempt at making the point of her case. This book is food for thought and shows that racial privileges impact everyone in some manner.

I was so intrigued by this book. What does being "white" buy you? what does being "white" cost a society.

Through the lens of the authors own life, we delve into the cost of white privilege,
The author divided up the book into sections, mainly: Real estate, schooling, criminal justice, medical, and rent control.

The author focused most of her attention upon the first two. The rest were after thoughts.
She dived headfirst into racial convents and how the school system works only on property taxes.
These two were almost half of the book.
They were thoroughly researched and ponderous.

Then the book slides.
She talks about a juvenile who was caught with Acid. The judge let him go with community supervision and community service.

Then medical. Poor Barb. Yet there was no tie in to realize what did Barb's "whiteness" get her for medical care? I was completely confused as to this chapter and the things that were left out.
For instance the author could have stated that Barb would have been treated better via hospital staff if she had gone, the mortality rates of whites and other races, etc.
The author doesn't even touch it.

Then the shocker at the end...she might not be white?! What?! I was confused. Did this just negate everything that I read?

Bottom line, I think that the book does a great job with the first two subjects of real property ownership and segregated schooling.

Everything else was just thrown into the book, not caring if it stuck or not.