From Powells.com
The best new releases of 2018 have been eclectic, bold, and imaginative, with a sharp eye on social realities and a desire to expose the humor, beauty, and possibility that underlie our lives. We’re thrilled to share our top picks here.
Staff Pick
Oluo is an excellent guide through the explosive terrain of 21st-century race relations, providing clear explanations of the many ways American society is structured to empower white people, particularly men. Arguing that a person can be complicit in a racist society without being an explicitly bad or racist person, Oluo takes some of the sting out of a conversation that rightly places the onus on white citizens to take the lead in confronting racial discrimination and violence. It’s a tricky balance — not placing blame but demanding recognition and reparation — and Oluo manages it with grace and care. Recommended By Rhianna W., Powells.com
This is a fantastic resource, with as much to offer those just starting to interrogate race as those who are further along in their journey. Each chapter poses a question — "What if I talk about race wrong?" "What is the model minority myth?" — which Oluo deftly addresses. She explains for those who don't know, succinctly elucidates for those who want to clarify their understanding, and challenges those who are doing the work to find meaningful ways of engaging and making change. Recommended By Britney T., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
A current, constructive, and actionable exploration of today's racial landscape, offering straightforward clarity that readers of all races need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide.
In So You Want to Talk About Race, Editor at Large of The Establishment Ijeoma Oluo offers a contemporary, accessible take on the racial landscape in America, addressing head-on such issues as privilege, police brutality, intersectionality, micro-aggressions, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the "N" word. Perfectly positioned to bridge the gap between people of color and white Americans struggling with race complexities, Oluo answers the questions readers don't dare ask, and explains the concepts that continue to elude everyday Americans.
Oluo is an exceptional writer with a rare ability to be straightforward, funny, and effective in her coverage of sensitive, hyper-charged issues in America. Her messages are passionate but finely tuned, and crystalize ideas that would otherwise be vague by empowering them with aha-moment clarity. Her writing brings to mind voices like Ta-Nehisi Coates and Roxane Gay, and Jessica Valenti in Full Frontal Feminism, and a young Gloria Naylor, particularly in Naylor's seminal essay "The Meaning of a Word."
Review
"I don't think I've ever seen a writer have such an instant, visceral, electric impact on readers. Ijeoma Oluo's intellectual clarity and moral sure-footedness make her the kind of unstoppable force that obliterates the very concept of immovable objects." Lindy West, New York Times bestselling author of Shrill
Review
"So You Want to Talk About Race strikes the perfect balance of direct and brutally honest without being preachy or, worse, condescending. Regardless of your comfort level, educational background, or experience when it comes to talking about race, Ijeoma has created a wonderful tool to help broach these conversations and help us work toward a better world for people of color from all walks of life." Franchesca Ramsey, host and executive producer of MTV's Decoded and author of Well, That Escalated Quickly
Review
"You are not going to find a more user-friendly examination of race in America than Ijeoma Oluo's fantastic new book. The writing is elegantly simple, which is a real feat when tackling such a thorny issue. Think of it as Race for the Willing-to-Listen." Andy Richter, writer and actor
Review
"Ijeoma Oluo is armed with words. Her words are daggers that pierce through injustice, while also disarming you with humor and love." Hari Kondabolu, comedian, writer, and co-host of Politically Re-Active
About the Author
Ijeoma Oluo is a writer and speaker whose work on race has been featured in The Guardian, New York magazine, xoJane, Jezebel, and more. She is also an editor-at-large post at The Establishment, and Seattle magazine named her "one of the most influential people" in Seattle.