Waking Up White: And Finding Myself In The Story Of Race by Debby Irving

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

On the heels of a year when films such Django, The Butler, and 12 Years a Slave have made real the lived experience of black Americans, Waking Up White exposes critical aspects of the white experience. White people are thirsting for clarity on racial issues and the confidence to engage in conversation about them. Many people of color yearn for authentic, informed dialogue about racism with white friends, family, and colleagues. Waking Up White bridges this divide by functioning both as a “Racism 101” for white people and a rare exposé on whiteness for people of color. The book is a catalytic kick-starter that provides people of all colors and levels of racial awareness with the language and tools necessary to enter into cross-racial conversations about race within a less threatening context. For white readers wanting to further their own awakening, Irving includes short prompts and exercises at the end of each chapter.

“When I finally came to understand the way racism worked,” she explains, “I spent a lot of time thinking about what might have enlightened me earlier. I decided it wouldn’t have been an academic book, an essay, or a book from the perspective of a person of color — it would have been another white person describing their own awakening. What I needed was a memoir so irresistible that I would have read it even if racism weren’t on my mind.”

my thoughts:

Waking Up White is a memoir that explores the concepts of race and identity through the eyes of a privileged white woman named Debby Irving (she even refers to herself a WASP). Irving is eager to understand the dynamics involved with race and identity.  She realizes that her attempts at being inclusive have not always worked out the way she had envisioned.  She was in college when she realized that "white" was a race - she had always thought she was race-less.  With this memoir, she is able to be brutally honest about her ignorance regarding race and identity; and she is also able to share with us the ways in which she became more aware (self-aware) about these hot button issues. 

Irving's book is filled with personal anecdotes, reflections, and even provides exercises at the end of each chapter (questions to ask your self).  The chapters are short, but pack quite a punch.  Irving's writing is engaging, open, and aware.  She's present in this book in such a refreshing way - you can't help but feel embarrassed for her at times when you read about something she's done or said that is cringe worthy. I found Irving to be authentic in her writing and really enjoyed getting to know her.

I would definitely recommend Waking Up White to anyone interested in nonfiction (memoirs) texts that tackle the subject of race and identity. 

Here's the link for the TLC Book Tour schedule of: Waking Up White

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!