Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Black Mumsnetters

This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.

Original poster

Quick question if you don't mind

13 replies

TruelyStruttingHotpants · 27/05/2021 10:13

Hello
Can I ask if anyone has read the book: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race

I read Jews Don't Count recently from the same publishers. Which even as a jew chucked a couple of things I had never considered at me. Is this book equally eye opening or will I be wasting my time? Anyone know or have an alternative book to recommend?

OP posts:
Original poster
TruelyStruttingHotpants · 27/05/2021 21:54

Thank you

OP posts:
Delectable · 31/05/2021 22:21

It's a fab book to read!

Freebleweeble · 01/06/2021 09:52

I’d say it’s a key text really. She also made an excellent podcast that expanded and re-explored themes of the book, and is a good way in if you don’t have a lot of space for reading, called About Race

Starseeking · 01/06/2021 11:50

I enjoyed it. I'd also recommend reading Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch, ad Natives by Akala.

Original poster
TruelyStruttingHotpants · 01/06/2021 17:12

Thank you for the replies and suggestions. I have got this book now. So I can read whilst I am hospital for a few days. Looking forwards to reading it. I will look up your suggestions once I get home again ❤

OP posts:
Delectable · 01/06/2021 17:41

"TruelyStruttingHotpants get well soon.

Sugarintheplum · 02/06/2021 00:50

I actually felt Brit(ish) was quite naive. I mean no lack of respect at all. I just could hardly understand her perspective on living in Ghana, being at Oxford. Her surprise and shock at things that cropped up struck me as really odd.

I felt that Why I am no longer.... was pitched just right for white people. Both books, kinda written for white people, actually. As a black person I didn't get much from them. My friends felt similarly.

(Have met both, one would call a long ago friend, other is a close friend of a close friend, and loved chats with both women. Just wasn't so taken with the books).

I'm glad both were written - have impacted a lot of people, especially white people, I think.

Original poster
TruelyStruttingHotpants · 02/06/2021 01:12

@Delectable

"TruelyStruttingHotpants get well soon.
Thanks ❤
OP posts:
Starseeking · 02/06/2021 09:17

@Sugarintheplum

I actually felt Brit(ish) was quite naive. I mean no lack of respect at all. I just could hardly understand her perspective on living in Ghana, being at Oxford. Her surprise and shock at things that cropped up struck me as really odd.

I felt that Why I am no longer.... was pitched just right for white people. Both books, kinda written for white people, actually. As a black person I didn't get much from them. My friends felt similarly.

(Have met both, one would call a long ago friend, other is a close friend of a close friend, and loved chats with both women. Just wasn't so taken with the books).

I'm glad both were written - have impacted a lot of people, especially white people, I think.

Brit(ish) reads to me as if Afua Hirsch's (Ghanaian) mum did everything she could to play down her Ghanaian heritage, so I wasn't surprised at her naivety at all. There are loads of Ghanaians who forget Ghana as soon as they touch British soil.

What was really interesting, given her mum's approach to raising mixed race children, is that she gave her child a full on Ghanaian name, complete with pronunciation not quite as seen.

Starseeking · 02/06/2021 09:23

This article also gives voice to her perspective:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/04/leila-slimani-afua-hirsch-lullaby-british-interview?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

debbrianna · 02/06/2021 13:22

I don't think Brit(ish) was geared towards white people. The naiveness in the book was more about growing up growing up mixed race in an insular London that didn't interact with other black people but mostly white and middle class

All the black people were through books, yet she was constantly coming against racism and the constant need to be accepted.

The fact that she only went to Ghana once before adulthood is a huge problem and that problem.

Her perception of what Ghana would be like was not what she expected and I don't blame her. She thought by being black by default, she would automatically be accepted. It turns out she was more of an expat like everyone else. The racism ingrained in England upon her didn't translate.

After reading it, the one take out of it, is to make sure my child visits often the african country where I come. Mainly to offer her a sense of identify if one in Egland is being denied becuase of racist. If she can spend a few summer holidays, then so be it.

Lndnmummy · 02/06/2021 14:50

Yes its a good read. Another one would be "the good immigrant"

New posts on this thread. Refresh page