How To Be Less Stupid About Race

How To Be Less Stupid About Race

Adult nonfiction
"...How could the same country that twice voted for an Ivy
League-educated black president end up electing an overt racist who
can barely string together two coherent sentences? Why do white
liberals who can't even confront their Trump-supporting friends and
family members think they can lead the 'Resistance'? Democrats who
didn't care about the mass deportations or the treatment of Muslims
under Obama suddenly care now that a Republican is now in charge..."
Crystal M. Fleming devotes her brilliant How To Be Less Stupid
About Race to addressing these and other mysteries. She considers
them a toxic product of living in a white supremacist society. As
Critical Race Theory tells us, racial stupidity and racist beliefs are
so systemic and endemic that it's difficult bordering on impossible
for people to see beneath the carefully constructed veneers to the
truth. They will live on as long as the people at the top (whites)
benefit from them.
"How To Be Less Stupid About Race explores how and why racial
stupidity has become so terribly pervasive and examines the cesspool
of stupid ideas, half-truths, and ridiculous misconceptions that have
thoroughly corrupted the way race and racism are presented in the
classroom, pop culture, media, and politics. The key idea that I'll
come back to again and again is that living in a racist society
exposes us all to absurd and harmful ideas that, in turn, help
maintain the racial status quo..."
If I was enabled to place one antiracist book into the hands of
every White older teen and adult in the United States, this would be
the book. It is that rare one with something to offer everyone
somewhere on (or even not yet on) a path to wokeness. After building
a solid foundation of basic concepts for the newcomer, Fleming goes on
to illuminate ideas that give people who have been contemplating
racism for decades something new to ponder.
There is also Fleming's unique voice. She makes academic
concepts accessible. She speaks her mind, often in delightfully
irreverent ways. She interweaves her own voyage from clueless
childhood to enlightened and radical college professorship throughout
her discourse.
Fleming knows that each person's journey is unique. But she
ends the book with a discussion of ten steps we can take in the right
direction. Some are:
"2) Critically assess your racial socialization [with a list of
thought/discussion prompts]...
6) Disrupt racist practices. Get comfortable calling shit out...
10) Choose an area of impact that leverages your unique talents."
Anyway if your life goals include throwing off the mental
shackles of ignorance and misinformation and helping create a more
just and fair America, you'll find How To Be Less Stupid About Race to
be a must read.
On a purrrsonal note, this has been a good week so far. The
University has totally committed to renaming Clarence Cook Little
Hall. It's right now named after a eugenicist and tobacco apologist.
Way to go UMaine! I finally found a safe ride to the Bangor Red
Cross. I'm devouring iron rich foods. If all goes well in a week
I'll earn my ten gallon pin!!! Also I was able to use what I'm
learning in statistics to calculate that, when it comes to frequency
of blood donating I'm 99th percentile! I am hard core. (Jules)
Outside is scary. Rain is pouring down. Wind is whooshing loudly and
blowing trees. I think it is time for a nap in my loft. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to all involved in getting Clarence
Cook Little's name off the psychology building and to the Red Cross
people and my ride.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway



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