22 January 2021
The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person
From the perspective of the friend everyone should have, Frederick Joseph offers an essential read for white people who want to be better about race—and people of color who long to see their experiences validated.
“We don’t see color.” “I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars!” “What hood are you from?” For Frederick Joseph, life in a mostly white high school as a smart and increasingly popular transfer student was full of wince-worthy moments that he often simply let go. As he grew older, however, he saw these as missed opportunities not only to stand up for himself, but to spread awareness to the white friends and acquaintances who didn’t see the negative impact they were having and who would change if they knew how.
Speaking directly to the reader, The Black Friend calls up race-related anecdotes from the author’s past, weaving in his thoughts on why they were hurtful and how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter includes the voice of at least one artist or activist, including Tarell Alvin McCraney, screenwriter of Moonlight; April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give; and eleven others. Touching on everything from cultural appropriation to power dynamics, “reverse racism” to white privilege, microaggressions to the tragic results of overt racism, this book serves as conversation starter, tool kit, and invaluable window into the life of a former “token Black kid” who now presents himself as the friend many of us need. Back matter includes an encyclopedia of racism, providing details on relevant historical events, terminology, and more.
| Title | : | The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person |
| Edition Language | : | English |
| ISBN | : | 9781536217018 |
| Format Type | : |
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In The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person Fredrick Joseph shares stories from his past detailing racist comments, profiling incidents, and unfair treatment he’s been subjected to as a Blac...
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This books was amazing. I enjoyed reading it a lot because I learned more about racism in the United States and also I learned about Black culture and how racism affects it.Frederick Joseph's style of...
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One of the most racist books I’ve ever read. If you enjoy the unfair use of statements about race to try to influence the actions or attitudes of a particular group of people. The author sees all of...
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There’s a lot to like about this book.BUT—Things I appreciated:* Frederick Joseph’s intent.* catchy title and great cover art* his recaps of conversations with a number of authors, activists, an...
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Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Black Friend in exchange for an honest review.In The Black Friend, author Frederick Joseph seeks to educate white people on how to become better pe...
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Frederick Joseph has written an engaging and accessible book that would appeal to young readers. I spent a lot of my time with this book reading it aloud to my 11 year old son, which led to some reall...
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3.5 starsWhen my friend Stepheny asked if anyone would be willing to read this book with her, obviously my answer was an immediate yes. Anyone following me for more than 33 seconds will have maybe not...
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"Knowing your children will one day be forced to read my book on anti-racism in school on your tax dollars makes me so happy." - Frederick Joseph 11.06.20I dont't agree in any way with the pretense of...
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When adults ask me for non-fiction books on topics that are new to them, I often steer them towards the middle-grade and young-adult sections. Many books intended for youth are perfect for beginners o...
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*Important to note that I'm not a Black person, so please read reviews by Black reviewers to truly see what their thoughts/critiques might be about this bookThis book was really engaging and had some ...