Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism—and How to Do It

Journalist Headlee (We Need to Talk), a self-described “light-skinned Black Jew,” lowers the temperature around conversations about race in this edifying work. Acknowledging that racism is all too human, Headlee argues that a human-centered approach is needed to address bigotry and bias—namely, having conversations. Informed by her personal encounters and her experience as a National Public Radio host, Headlee offers helpful advice on how to fight racism through “lots and lots of short, low-stakes conversations.” Headlee provides expert guidance on asking good, open-ended questions as well as appealing to critical thinking processes to combat prejudices among friends, family members, neighbors, or the “people you bump into at the hardware store or the library.” For instance, she recommends discussing “the presence of racism surrounding us” and implicit or systemic racist structures. Written for those who are tired of arguing, debating, and still getting nowhere on the issue of race, Headlee’s personal-yet-proficient approach to potentially heated parlays is sure to inspire constructive, and perhaps life-changing, conversations. (Nov.)