Katie Sims

While this book has a lot of truth to it, it's not helpful for de-escalating anything currently happening in our culture. It's hard to see the intensity at first as the writer has come to a matter of fact attitude about the ignorance and impatience she sees in her daily interactions. Uncomfortable and distasteful interactions we all share. However, the way she talks about this particular group of white, ignorant, and unhelpful population of individuals that helps perpetuate systemic racism is almost equally unhelpful to change the tides in this discussion. It seems to single out a group of white people who are angry and unsure how to change the racial problems they see others perpetuate in their ignorance and laziness. These people are given inside information in how to guide the ignorant individuals in a “gentle” way of revealing their harmful behaviors that keep racial tensions alive. It seems manipulative and dishonest towards the people who are actually the most harmful in the discussion of racism. And while I'm not all too concerned about the feelings of those contributing to racism, I do believe that real societal change comes from real individual heart change. I did enjoy experiencing a cathartic release of frustrations toward white people who refuse to change their beliefs or see that they are the problem of systemic racism. It just does not help toward any actual change.