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. Jul 29, 2015 this talk is designed to be a 101 for white people about what white privilege and institutional racism are and how they manifest. I can think of no bigger misstep in american history than the invention and perpetuation of the idea of white superiority. Debby irving was raised in a middleupper middle class white enclave of. Waking up white and finding myself in the story of race. Special thanks to the fenway alliance and berklee college of music. Martinsthis discussion of debby irvings book, waking up white and finding. Many people of color yearn for authentic, informed dialogue about racism with white friends, family, and colleagues.
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. On this journey the reader will follow her through the emotional path that winds between confusion, frustration, guilt, fear, understanding, and, ultimately, comfort in whiteness. Quotations from waking up white waking up white has been an unexpected journey thats required me to dig back into child. First book, waking up white january 2014 abailable wherever books are sold. 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. Mar 30, 2018 a few months ago daniel chose waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race by debby irving. As a colleague and neighbor, she worried about offending people she dearly wanted to befriend. This summary of waking up white includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Triad leaders respond to waking up white and finding myself. Jan 09, 2014 waking up white is the book irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. The qualities on the left are often associated with the dominant white culture.
Author debby irvings recollections of her own experiences of being an american white woman and coming to terms with the complexity of race in. Waking up white is the book i wish someone had handed me decades ago. What made the experience of listening to waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race the most enjoyable. Waking up white is the book irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. We pray that this first step of our journey will enable us to start a. A journey that leads the author to transformation as she explores the issues of racism, power, privilege, and leadership. Have you read the book, waking up white and finding myself in the story of race, by debby irving. 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. Overview edit 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. As you enter the conversation, perhaps you will be moved, like i was, to continue to examine the role race has. Waking up white book charlotte mecklenburg library. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Waking up white by debby irving discussion guide childhood in white from a young age i internalized the idea that accomplishment for anyone was simply a matter of intention and hard work. Waking up white can be considered part memoir as irving capitalizes on her own personal experiences to make her point.
Waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race irving, debby on. Sunday evenings in march at first presbyterian concord will include a fiveweek book study on debby irvings book, waking up white. 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 bookwaking up white and finding myself in the story of raceirving. 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. Click download or read online button to get waking up white book now. Irvings mission is to transform confusion and anxiety about racial injustice into curiosity and action. This book is about how race has long mattered in more pervasive, and pernicious, ways. Waking up white is a racialized memoir of one white womans journey to discovering whiteness and understanding its impacts on people of color. One church, one book aims to jumpstart discussions about race. The qualities on the right can coincide with doing racial healing work. Jan 09, 2014 waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race irving, debby on.
Waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race by debby. 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 is an eyeopening book so relevant to our renewal 2017. 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. The book is a catalytic kickstarter that provides people of all colors and levels. By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a.
Waking up white is a brutally honest, unflinching exploration of race and personal identity, told with heart by a truly gifted storyteller. White people must learn how to listen to the experiences of people of color for racial healing and justice to happen. 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. Cohost, cnn crossfire waking up white is a brutally honest, unflinching exploration of race and personal identity, told with heart by a truly gifted storyteller. Waking up white, by debby irving 83, is both a racial autobiography, unsparing in its selfexamination, and a tutorial in the history and corrosive impact of white privilege.
For twentyfive years, debby irving sensed inexplicable racial tensions in her personal and professional relationships. 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. With eloquence and a sense of urgency, irving takes us on a journey into the. Waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race. Waking up white and finding myself in the story of race book. Waking up white august 4, 2014 later this week im going to answer some parentinglogistics questions that ive been asked lately things like what we do about allowance, how old our kids have to be to babysit siblings, etc. Finding myself in the story of race debby irving tedx.
Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Irving shares the evolution of her perceptions as a white person and encourages others to do the same. 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. Waking up white is the most important book ive read in years possibly ever. On this journey the reader will follow her through the emotional path that. Apr 01, 2015 waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race books. By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes. As an arts administrator, she didnt understand why her diversity efforts lacked traction. 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. 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 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Debby irving is an emerging voice in the national racial justice community. Waking up white book hennepin county library bibliocommons. A few months ago daniel chose waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race by debby irving.
This book is irvings description of her own journey in recognizing blind spots and unconscious biases in herself. I wanted to like this book, but i ultimately found it too preachy and redundant to take into my life views. The task force invites the first united methodist church of cary community to participate in this good work. As with most nonfiction books, waking up white depends on your personal views as to how you respond to it. Please share your thoughts and ideas about this very interesting book by debby irving. Today, however, i am giving away an intriguing book called waking up white, and finding myself in the story of race by debby irving. Jan 23, 2017 its been called one of the most important books on race in recent memory.
One of us chooses a book, we all read it, and then we do an hourlong video conference and talk about it. Its been called one of the most important books on race in recent memory. Jul 07, 2014 many people of color yearn for authentic, informed dialogue about racism with white friends, family, and colleagues. And finding myself in the story of race is a 2014 nonfiction book about the subject of white privilege written by debby irving. Writing the book was not only my way to reach out to other white people confused andor curious about. By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. 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. 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. And finding myself in the story of race by debby irving this winter. Thank you for participating in this book study of waking up white, by debby irving. Debby irvin, author of waking up white and finding myself in the story of race.
Join league members and friends in the discussion of waking up white, a journey of one white woman from white oblivion to white awareness. Waking up white bridges this divide by functioning both as a racism 101 for white people and a rare expose on whiteness for people of color. Van jones, author, rebuild the dream, the green collar economy. As you enter the conversation, perhaps you will be moved, like i. Irving claimed she didnt have a racist bone in her body. 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.
She grew up in a privileged white community in the 60s and 70s, and realized well into adulthood that, first of all, she was so uncomfortable with race issues that she was. 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. Tim wise, considered by many the foremost lecturer and writer on racism in our country today, describes irvings work as a brutally honest, unflinching exploration of. Join discussions about the book and related themes, engaging in conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community. Combining her organization development skills, classroom teaching experience, and understanding of systemic racism, irving educates and consults with individuals and. One church, one book aims to jumpstart discussions about. 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. Author debby irving says its time for white people to join the race conversation. And finding myself in the story of race is a 2014 nonfiction book about the subject of white privilege written by debby irving overview. Have a look at the continuums below, from page 197 of waking up white. By sharing her sometimes cringeworthy struggle to understand racism and. Pauls episcopal church later next month assuming it is still going on.
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