One church, one book aims to jumpstart discussions about race. Quotations from waking up white waking up white has been an unexpected journey thats required me to dig back into child. Waking up whites personal narrative is designed to work well as a rapid read, a book group book, or support reading for courses exploring racial and cultural issues. Waking up white has been an unexpected journey thats required me to dig back into. I believe that you will find, like i did, that this book is a great first step toward understanding why, in 2017, we are still talking about race. Nonfiction waking up white is the book irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. Debby irvings powerful waking up white opens a rare window on how white americans are socialized. Debby irving included many stories in her book waking up white that demonstrate the huge advantages whites have and people of color do not have. A book discussionwaking up white, debby irvingjoin league members and friends in the discussion of waking up white, a journey of one white woman from white oblivion to white awareness. Mar 30, 2018 a few months ago daniel chose waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race by debby irving. Waking up white is the only book ive ever read that weaves together one persons experience of class and race in this society in a way that is engaging and thoughtprovoking, yet at the same time challenging and accessible.
A few months ago daniel chose waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race by debby irving. Waking up white book hennepin county library bibliocommons. As you enter the conversation, perhaps you will be moved, like i was, to continue to examine the role race has. Her first book, waking up white, tells the story of how she went from wellmeaning to welldoing. Book club discussion on, waking up white and finding myself in the story of race, by debby irving this summers presentations are geared toward learning about and engaging in critical reflections and conversations to help combat racial disparities. An interesting article was posted thursday by the new bedford historical society, about black native american whaling. And now the reverends denise anderson and jan edmiston, comoderators of the 222nd general assembly 2016, are urging presbyterians via their one church, one book project to read and discuss waking up white, by debby irving. Jun 21, 2016 waking up white with debby irving brings to racial justice the perspective of working as a community organizer and classroom teacher for 25 years without understanding racism as a systemic issue.
Join league members and friends in the discussion of waking up white, a journey of one white woman from white oblivion to white awareness. My hope is that by sharing my sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Combining her organization development skills, classroom teaching experience, and understanding of systemic racism, irving educates and consults with individuals and organizations seeking to create racial equity at both the.
As with most nonfiction books, waking up white depends on your personal views as to how you respond to it. Waking up white is a brutally honest, unflinching exploration of race and personal identity, told with heart by a truly gifted storyteller. Jan 05, 2020 the congregation will read waking up white. I can think of no bigger misstep in american history than the invention and perpetuation of the idea of white superiority. David carlson february 4, 2019 march 8, 2019 guest post, musings. Reviewed by suzie hodges waking up white is a racialized memoir of one white womans journey to discovering whiteness and understanding its impacts on people of color.
By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. At the end of the discussion, we will ask each group member what action they plan to take because they have read the book. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Debby irvings powerful waking up white opens a rare window on waking up white is the book irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. As you enter the conversation, perhaps you will be moved, like i. For twentyfive years, debby irving sensed inexplicable racial tensions in her personal and professional relationships. The qualities on the right can coincide with doing racial healing work. Author debby irvings recollections of her own experiences of being an american white woman and coming to terms with the complexity of race in the united states.
Waking up white is the book debby irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. Jan 09, 2014 waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race irving, debby on. As irving unpacks her own longheld beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she reveals how each of. And if i, a middleaged white woman raised in the suburbs, can wake up to my whiteness, any white person can. Author debby irvings recollections of her own experiences of being an american white woman and coming to terms with the complexity of race in. Have a look at the continuums below, from page 197 of waking up white. This book is irvings description of her own journey in recognizing blind spots and unconscious biases in herself. The task force invites the first united methodist church of cary community to participate in this good work. Click download or read online button to get waking up white book now. Waking up white is the book i wish someone had handed me decades ago. And finding myself in the story of race by debby irving this winter. One church, one book aims to jumpstart discussions about. Waking up white by debby irving from the authors bio. As an arts administrator, she didnt understand why her diversity efforts lacked traction.
Im white, i grew up in a white family, and i have lots of white friends. In waking up white, irving tells her often cringeworthy story with such openness that readers will turn every page rooting for herand ultimately for all of us. If were white, it is no doubt valuable to reflect on how we perceive and are perceived by other races, as irving recommends. Waking up white and finding myself in the story of race book. Waking up white book charlotte mecklenburg library. Its a vivid walk through of what it means to be a part of the white race and how that privilege not only influences us as individuals, but the entire social construct of which we are a part. This summary of waking up white includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. On this journey the reader will follow her through the emotional path that. My hope is that by sharing my sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, i offer a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As a colleague and neighbor, she worried about offending people she dearly wanted to befriend. Have you read the book, waking up white and finding myself in the story of race, by debby irving.
And finding the story of race by debby irving publication date. What other book might you compare waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race to and why. A journey that leads the author to transformation as she explores the issues of racism, power, privilege, and leadership. We pray that this first step of our journey will enable us to start a. Just as the best rejoinder to the black lives matter movement is that all lives matter, those of every race ought to examine their ingrained assumptions. Join discussions about the book and related themes, engaging in conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community. Martinsthis discussion of debby irvings book, waking up white and finding. The qualities on the left are often associated with the dominant white culture. I heard frequent echoes in her book of susan sontags infamous. Waking up white and finding myself in the story of race by debbie irving this widespread phenomenon of white people wanting to guard themselves against appearing stupid, racist, or radical has resulted in an epidemic of silence from people who care deeply about justice and love for their fellow human beings. I wanted to like this book, but i ultimately found it too preachy and redundant to take into my life views.
Mar 12, 2020 waking up white is a brutally honest, unflinching exploration of race and personal identity, told with heart by a truly gifted storyteller. At the beginning of every board meeting we will be taking 10 minutes to discuss a question from the end of a chapter in waking up white by debby irving. Wake up warrior access the journey to having all movie. Irvings focus on the mechanics of racism operating in just one life her own may lead white readers to reconsider the roots of their own perspectives and their role in dismantling old myths. The speaker was debby irving, author of waking up white and selfdescribed racial justice educator.
Much as irvings family sought to shield her from the contours of the nations racial drama, so too do far too many white americans continue to do the same. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you. Jan 23, 2017 its been called one of the most important books on race in recent memory. Debby irving is an emerging voice in the national racial justice community. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Its been called one of the most important books on race in recent memory. Waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race. Irvings mission is to transform confusion and anxiety about racial injustice into curiosity and action. About this study we need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is an eyeopening book so relevant to our renewal 2017. Thank you for participating in this book study of waking up white, by debby irving. Debby irving mentions her childhood in a privileged new england family. Irvings book is a unique contribution to the emerging dialogue around the intersection of class and race in our society.
Irving also conveys how this world is so different for people of color. And now the reverends denise anderson and jan edmiston, comoderators of the 222nd general assembly 2016, are urging presbyterians via their one church, one book project to read and discuss waking up white, by debby irving in the book waking up white and finding myself in the story of raceirving. Waking up white is the book irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. Waking up white and finding myself in the story of race. And finding myself in the story of race is a 2014 nonfiction book about the subject of white privilege written by debby irving overview. By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes. By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and. Waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race irving, debby on. Apr 01, 2015 waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race books. In an election cycle marked by a growing acceptance of white nationalism and misogyny, this is unacceptable session three midlife wake up calls. Growing up and living in the white world lets whites believe their way is normal, the way it is for most people in the u. I enjoyed it and derived value from it, but there were moments when the author was trying to process her actions in certain situations that made me, as a woman of color, sigh. Jan 09, 2014 waking up white is the book irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. As irving unpacks her own longheld beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she reveals how each.
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