Everyday white people confront racial & social injustice : 15 stories
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Allyship, Friendship, Kinship, Relationships. The suffix 'ship' expresses quality, condition or state of being. Allyship is the quality or condition of being an ally. This book is an exploration of that state of being, which the authors in this volume have spent their lives developing. Being an ally is typically thought of as a role that a person from a privileged group plays toward a person in an oppressed group. But as you will find in reading this volume, it is also so much more. This book is not called 'Allies' because most of these authors included here would not self-identify as an 'ally.' That label itself is situation-dependent and personal, and most authors would rather allow their friends and colleagues of color to decide whether they consider them an ally, rather than proclaim the title for themselves. But through the collective stories, paths and challenges that the authors share with us in this volume, a picture of what allyship can and should be begins to emerge in sharp relief"--Provided by publisher.

"While we are all familiar with the lives of prominent Black civil rights leaders, few of us have a sense of what is entailed in developing a White anti-racist identity. Few of us can name the White activists who joined the struggle against discrimination, let alone understand the complexities, stresses and contradictions of doing this work while benefiting from the privileges they enjoyed as Whites. This book fills that gap by vividly presenting -- in their own words -- the personal stories, experiences and reflections of fifteen prominent White anti-racists. They recount the circumstances that led them to undertake this work, describe key moments and insights along their journeys, and frankly admit their continuing lapses and mistakes. They make it clear that confronting oppression (including their own prejudices) -- whether about race, sexual orientation, ability or other differences -- is a lifelong process of learning. The chapters in this book are full of inspirational and lesson-rich stories about the expanding awareness of White social justice advocates and activists who grappled with their White privilege and their early socialization and decided to work against structural injustice and personal prejudice. The authors are also self-critical, questioning their motivations and commitments, and acknowledging that -- as Whites and possessors of other privileged identities -- they continue to benefit from White privilege even as they work against it. This is an eye-opening book for anyone who wants to understand what it means to be White and the reality of what is involved in becoming a White anti-racist and social justice advocate; is interested in the paths taken by those who have gone before; and wants to engage reflectively and critically in this difficult and important work." -- Publisher's description