I'm Still Here
2018 • 185 pages
Ratings33
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings33
Average rating4.5
The author's first encounter with a racialized America came at age seven, when her parents told her they named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. She grew up in majority-white schools, organizations, and churches, and has spent her life navigating America's racial divide as a writer, a speaker, and an expert helping organizations practice genuine inclusion. While so many institutions claim to value diversity in their mission statements, many fall short of matching actions to words. Brown highlights how white middle-class evangelicalism has participated in the rise of racial hostility, and encourages the reader to confront apathy and recognize God's ongoing work in the world.
Reviews with the most likes.
4.5 While I didn't connect with the Christian elements, Austin Channing Brown's essays are concise and stunningly reaffirming in naming and cutting to the core of white supremacy and the structures of racism.
I had some lightbulb moments while reading this - it definitely has some important things to say. As a white woman I was particularly struck by the author's description of two different white high school teachers who were trying to be allies - one of them had a positive impact on her but the other ended up causing harm (because of white guilt). The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is very much written from an evangelical Christian perspective for other evangelical Christians and for that reason I'm likely to recommend/gift other books on race to my friends and family, who mostly come from other religious backgrounds.
Austin Brown is making me think about some weird, uncomfortable stuff.
