i always knew that i had to get better educated on all things race and racism. after all, i am a white woman living in luxembourg. that story of white privilege kind of writes itself. the books on this list helped me gaining some insight into the issue. i hope they can help you too!
in this almost essay-like narrative, dabiri unveils race as a social construct—something invented rather than something natural that has always existed. she explores why she believes the concept of allyship can be problematic and instead introduces the idea of coalition-building, which she argues is a more effective approach.
while doing so, dabiri provides a system of knowledge through which to view the world, particularly its failures and where we, as humankind, remain stuck. suddenly, seeing the world through this lens makes so much more sense.
i always saw myself as ‘removed’ from the problem because i aim to be a kind and open-minded person who worked hard on her bsc in social psychology. how could little innocent me, full of good intentions, be part of the problem?
well, as it turns out, after reading ‘white fragility’ by robin diangelo, the more appropriate question is: how could i ever think i wasn’t part of the problem?
in my opinion, there are two key takeaways from this book:
‘against white feminism’ by rafia zakaria reads like a masterclass in intersectional feminism, covering everything from politics to war, from sexuality to capitalism, and much more in between.
drawing on her experience as a civil rights lawyer and her perspective as a pakistani immigrant in the us, zakaria delivers a sharp, unflinching critique of contemporary society.