Witnessing Whiteness: The Need to Talk About Race and How to Do It Second Edition

As a white American man, I was never really taught to think about my whiteness growing up. To me, it just seemed normal, and all around me I found a world that reflected my point of view and conferred upon me advantages that I didn't see. I think that this is a pretty common experience for white people. We don't really get taught about what it means to be white. Or how the privileges conferred upon us come at the cost of someone else. We don't learn about the creation of whiteness as a social and political construct, or how deeply it is normalized and internalized in our lives. I would recommend this book to any white person struggling to awaken to what their whiteness and privilege mean, and wanting to understand themselves in a racial context so that they can be more connected to their own humanity, more effective in helping other white people become able to witness their own whiteness and privilege, and more effective friends and allies to people of color. This book is profoundly eye-opening, and helped me understand myself and my experience in new ways, while giving me tools to be more useful to others. Extremely helpful!

On Witnessing WhitenessShelly Tochluk calls us to witness racial practice in the U.S.Compelling remarkable and invaluable material about racial justice. A call to witnessing from a renewed white identity, building a new white culture, the author asks us, it is possible?What is put forth here is a proposal to build a new white identity aware and ready to make a stand for racial justice. A new white identity able to take part in the transformation of what a new racial dynamic can bring to the political, social, and economic fabric of the United States of America. It is not only a proposal, but a well documented and compelling analysis supported by historical data and a number of reputable contemporary voices in the forefront of the fight to end racism. Tochluk takes us to witnessing and invites us to look at positive contribution forms of participation and value added inclusion to the social equation from every group, especially white witnessing practices. The author widens the scope uncovering the ways racism is practiced in our 21st century. Through a number of paired interviews she conducted, she takes us through hidden forms of racism and conflict in interpersonal relations, work and educational settings. She uncovers patterns and presents us tools to deal with every situation.This book not only makes us aware, but calls for action through very specific organizations, a kind of rod map conceptually to make a difference through witnessing practices.Antonio Lainez

This book is great for white folks trying to understand how to be good allies with people of color. It is not a matter of "finding out what's wrong with white folks" as sometimes assumed about books on dealing with racism. Rather, one is led and encouraged to explore ways to discover one's unaware privilege, conferred at birth, as a white person. And gently shown how much damage can be done by exercising those privileges unawarely. As well as how much good can come by exercising them awarely.I came away not ashamed at all of my white privilege, but rather being able to truly appreciate them, wanting to use them as an ally with people oppressed by society, culture and laws, and really wanting everyone to have those same privileges.Shelly Tochluk has done humanity a great service.

If the idea of this book even remotely interests you, I think you'll be very satisfied with the experience. There are insights here that will appeal to many different people. And, some things that seem awkward or strange. I saw these as moments when two people discussing such a complicated topic differ in the personal expressions and emotional reactions experienced. It feels honest because of this, and makes it seem OK to share a range of thoughts and reactions with others as well. I'm new to this type of book, and thought it was a great introduction.

This is an excellent foray into the history of racism and how it is perpetuated actively in our culture today. The opportunity to better understand the roots as well as the continued ignorance and blindnesses is truly awakening. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to open their eyes to a deeper and more rich experience of being alive in the world today.

The best book on whiteness that I've read. Tochluk provides meaningful examples and even better, she offers up all kinds of exercises for free on her website so that people can work through the many deep and often painful instances of racism in their lives. If you're a white liberal and think you don't need this book, think again. Witnessing Whiteness should be mandatory for all white people and all people interested in equity and social justice.

Very frank and focused guide for discussing racial issues, problems, and change.

This is a MUST READ for people of conscience. White privilege is an unacknowledged benefit that most whites have a difficult time even seeing. Tochluk works to help make the invisible apparent.