Stay Woke

This is the perfect book for anyone - new or otherwise - who is invested in furthering racial equality. A lot of the information was not new to me, however sometimes we lose sight of just how deeply entrenched racism is in our society and how much it touches everything from schooling to jobs to incarceration and legislation. These are all things that are verifiable and true, but seeing it all laid bare in one book, side by side with every other institution that has racial inequality in it's midst, is both a stark reminder that feel-good slogans are just a rallying cry to enacting real change.

The concept of systemic racism is complicated - partly because it's one people automatically flinch away from because it's uncomfortable (at best) but also because it requires us to look beyond the surface. To see how historical racism has been at the root of every facet of society and compounded over time and with modern developments to continue persisting. Looking deeper often means complex terminology and a nuanced understanding.

This book addresses that - it is written plainly, in the most accessible way possible. There is an extensive glossary of terms in chapter 2 to keep the later chapters focused on the concepts and message, rather than on obscure terminology. And that glossary, rather than just a list of terms and short definitions, includes concrete examples to help the reader facilitate a deeper understanding of them.

This book is perfect as a primer for people digging into racial justice for the first time as well as a powerful reminder for those of us who have been involved for a bit longer. It is all too tempting to think that being involved for years means we have nothing new to learn, and this book is a strong reminder of how much is at stake and of how far we have left to go.

However, we are not left wanting! This book not only sparks inspiration, but it serves as a guide, just as it claims. Each chapter wraps with resources - websites, books, podcasts, and media - that expand upon the ideas and concepts discussed in that chapter. Resources that can serve as tools to create action and build a deeper understanding of those concepts, which is an incredibly useful feature as this book falls more into the "breadth not depth" category - it touches on almost every facet of society that systemic racism influences, which is pretty much everything. That means each one can only be briefly touched on at a high level. No one book can discuss systemic racism in all it's forms in depth, and this book serves as a jumping off point for each of them.


*** Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ***

#StayWoke #NetGalley
Comes with a disclaimer of sorts that not everyone will believe what's written inside.
Racism makes people, particularly those who perpetrate, benefit from or turn a blind eye to it, very uncomfortable when it's called out.
And they should be uncomfortable.
This book should make you uncomfortable. The systemic racism won't change until everyone is uncomfortable with the status quo.
This book is a good eye opener and a great starter for anyone who wants to know more about #BlackLivesMatter
Its full of websites, book titles, podcasts to listen to if you want to delve further.
Activism is a touchy subject, especially in America where there is a wide gap between the left and right sides of any issue. But being an ally isn't about being comfortable or being appreciated and supporting #BlackLivesMatter includes supporting black businesses, charities and standing up when you see injustice happening.
Whether that means you video black men and police interactions or you take a knee.
There is a great section in the book, a glossary of terms used in and around the #BlackLivesMatter movement to avoid talking about the issues.
For example, many call Colin Kaepernick unpatriotic because he kneels without learning where he got the idea or exploring why he kneels.
Racism is learned behaviour. It can be unlearned. For human on this planet to have any chance at peace, it needs to be unlearned.
Get woke. Stay woke.