Review by Booklist Review
This absorbing, thoroughly researched book provides an in-depth look at racism and offers steps young readers can take to become antiracist advocates. Fleming, a sociologist, defines racism, its history, and its pervasiveness in a wide range of areas--the media, sports, the criminal justice system, and health care. In describing white supremacy, Fleming focuses on how the system has affected all people of color, using examples from history such as the theft of Indigenous peoples' land, Chinese American and Chicano citizenship restrictions, and Japanese American internment during WWII. She examines the lynchings of both Mexican and Black people in the U.S. and recounts the long history of racial violence against Latinx and Asian Americans. Fleming's conversational tone and frequent reminder to readers to reflect on the questions she poses as they read will draw them in, as will the text's ripped-from-the-headlines examples. One of the book's strengths is the statement reiterated throughout that race is a social construct, and she highlights many successful BIPOC who have helped to break barriers. The book's positivity, depth of information not mentioned in other books for this age group, and the five steps provided to help people become antiracist advocates make this a standout and are sure to inspire young people to act.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this comprehensive history and study of racism and guide on combating white supremacy, educator, researcher, and sociologist Fleming takes readers through history to explore what racism is, where it comes from, why it still exists, and what can be done about it. From the European origins of racial labels, to understanding how racism causes inequality, to unpacking white supremacy's role in shaping society, economy, and politics, Fleming patiently and accessibly identifies the four "legs" of white supremacy--colonization, genocide, capitalism, and transatlantic slavery--and explores how each plays a role in modern-day racist thinking, practices, and policies. Easy to follow and thorough, this guide addresses concepts and historical moments that are often glossed over in traditional textbooks, going so far as to highlight "post traumatic slave syndrome" as an intergenerational trauma that Black people continue to experience. Followed by a chapter-by-chapter notes section that includes further reading and sources, this book uses gentle, approachable language ("I also began to realize that economic inequality and poverty were intertwined with racial injustice") to discuss a heavy topic with young adults of all races who are searching for change. Ages 12--up. (Oct.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Professor and critical race sociologist Fleming introduces teens to the history of race and racism, beginning with an overview of racist ideas and practices and how they relate to white supremacy. Through examples including European colonizers' stealing of land from Indigenous peoples; the enslavement of Africans; and the U.S.'s exclusion of people from Asia and Latin America through immigration policies, she traces the perpetuation of white supremacy. She also shows, in concrete detail, how racist ideas and practices affect the law; the images we see in movies and other media (with pictures throughout adding context); and the world of sports. Fleming provides readers with the language and knowledge necessary to begin an antiracist journey and offers five steps they can take. She notes from the outset that racism can be an uncomfortable subject but expresses hope that teens learning about it early can enact change. Detailed source notes and an index are appended. Nicholl Denice Montgomery November/December 2021 p.129(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A clear and damning appraisal of the United States' long-standing relationship with White supremacy--with actionable advice for readers to do better. Educator, researcher, and sociologist Fleming draws from pop culture, data science, global history, and cultural studies, among an impressively wide range of disciplines and sources. This broad foundation represents well how ambitious this project truly is, accessibly delivering, as it does, a mountain of information to an audience of teen readers while utilizing a vocabulary and understanding of racial injustice that is inclusive of the distinct yet overlapping experiences of Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, and other people. From the racialization of Jews in Europe to the displacement and genocide of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, the text details the genealogy of racism and White supremacy while resisting a tradition of Whitewashing and omission. In this way, connections are easily drawn between past and present by way of close examination of the criminal justice system, media representation, contemporary sports, and racial biases in developing technologies. The author is a bisexual, cisgender, African American woman, and she explicitly calls upon her experiences to inform intersectional, lived interpretations of racism and how to best oppose it. Through anecdotes and thorough research, Fleming leaves readers not just with a detailed account of the problems, but concludes with five things they can do to work toward justice. A smart guide to understanding and living anti-racism. (note on language, notes, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
