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Cover of Reinventing Racism

Reinventing Racism

by Jonathan D. Church

Book Details

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Published:2020-12-03
Pages:251
Format:BOOK
Language:en
ISBN:9798881878412

Reading Info

About This Book

The theory of white fragility is one of the most influential ideas to emerge in recent years on the topics of race, racism, and racial inequality. White fragility is defined as an unwillingness on the part of white people to engage in the difficult conversations necessary to address racial inequality. This β€œfragility” allegedly undermines the fight against racial inequality. Despite its wide acclaim and rapid acceptance, the theory of white fragility has received no serious and sustained scrutin

Our Review

This critical examination of white fragility theory offers a rigorous academic challenge to one of the most influential concepts in contemporary racial discourse. Church systematically dissects the theory's core premises, arguing that it has been widely accepted without the substantive scrutiny typically afforded to academic frameworks. The book positions itself as a necessary corrective, applying logical analysis and evidentiary standards to claims about racial discomfort and conversation avoidance.

What distinguishes this work is its methodical approach to deconstructing a dominant social narrative, making it particularly valuable for readers seeking alternative perspectives on anti-racism education. Students of sociology and critical race theory will find compelling arguments about how concepts like white fragility may inadvertently reinforce the racial dynamics they aim to address. This thoughtful critique ultimately pushes beyond surface-level debates to question how we frame discussions about racism itself.

Themes

Education

Subjects

Education