Stay Woke: A People's Guide To Making All Black Lives Matter

Stay Woke: A People's Guide To Making All Black Lives Matter

Adult nonfiction
"In this book, we use our expertise as scholars and educators to
get you thinking about why a movement called Black Lives Matter rose
to prominence during the first self-identified Black president's
second term in office. Relatedly, we'll get you thinking about how
this moment in American political life relates to a deep history of
structural racism. We'll have you critically examine many things that
you probably take for granted or perhaps have never considered--
including the ways in which you may participate in reproducing racial
inequality--and do so in a way that brings otherwise-dry social
science scholarship to life."
In my study of antiracist literature one of my holy grails is
what I call an engaging book. Although it contains information needed
by newbies, it goes well beyond introductory. It presents basics in a
way that can arouse curiosity, insight, passion, and the desire to
delve further and become involved in antiracism in readers. By these
criteria Tehama Lopez Bunyasi and Candis Watts Smith's Stay Woke: A
People's Guide To Making All Black Lives Matter is solid gold.
Many people still believe that racism is a matter of inividual
sin. If you aren't running around in sheets burning crosses, if you
even confront Uncle Delbert when he says all the wrong things over
Thanksgiving turkey, aren't you woke? And is this even relevant?
Having elected a Black man to the nation's highest office, aren't we
post racial, beyond that whole mess?
Not by a long shot! Systemic, structural racism continues to
be as ubiquitous and usually invisible to those who benefit from it as
water is to fish. Whites are born into it by virtue of the unearned
privileges our pale epidermis confers on us. We continue by
unquestioningly participating in the status quo. Luckily, by learning
about the pervasive nature of the evil and making a real commitment to
help eradicate it we can move on to becoming antiracist. Bunyasi and
Smith tell us why and how.
Stay Woke is divided into six chapters. The authors
incorporated conversations with many people such as students, fellow
college professors, and social justice activists into how they
structured the material. Text is enhanced with photographs, cartoons,
charts and graphs, and other graphics. Each chapter ends with a set
of questions for reflection and discussion and a list of other
materials such as books, films, websites, and podcasts.
One of my favorite chapters is All the Words People Throw
Around. It's one of the most comprehensive glossaries I've ever
seen. It's right up front, following on the heels of the overview.
Terms are related to one another in their definitions and are
categorized by headings such as tools of oppression, tools of
liberation, common sense revisited, and American mythology. There are
even helpful tweets thrown in.
Are You Upholding White Supremecy is a very useful chapter. It
draws distinctions between overt racists (such as old Uncle Delbert
making those derogatory remarks over pumpkin pie), structural racists
(such as people with the power to trash the voting rights law or
school admin who forbid Black hair styles in dress codes), and
complicit racists who cloak microaggressions in plausible denial--I
didn't mean anything; you're playing the race card--or simply do
nothing to combat racism. It exposes the problematic nature of
concepts like all lives matter, if only he weren't wearing a hoodie,
and I don't see color.
But my favorite part of the book comes at the very end: Twenty-
One Affirmations for the Twenty-First Century. Each is a succinct
reminder of one of the principles introduced. We Are Leaderful
reminds us that it takes many types of leader and styles of leadership
to make progress. Interrogate Meritocracy reminds us of nefarious
factors that drastically limit many people's chances to achieve their
potential. And there's an oldie but goodie about doing unto others as
you'd have them do unto you. Can you imagine what the world will be
like if we actually all follow this admonition?
Who should read this book? All who aspire to become
antiracists. Although it's designed for beginners, none of us are too
woke to gain additional insight. Libraries should acquire multiple
copies and display them prominently.
On a purrrsonal note, I've experienced no side effects from the first
vaccine apart from a slight soreness at the injection site. I've
heard the second shot is worse. I'm planning on getting far enough on
homework to lie around and read a couple of days. I've got a friend
who will provide me with ginger ale and Easter candy. Love those
marshmallow Peeps. Another friend wants to go to the Red Cross and
donate soon. I said if vaccine doesn't disqualify me I'm in. One of
the post COVID things I'm most looking forward to is UMaine blood
drives where I'll be able to donate and then volunteer at canteen and
my BFF Lisa is running the show. (Jules)
My other hooman gets his first shot today. Good thing they haz me to
take care of them. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to you, our readers, in the hope you
will soon be vaccinated and more able to look forward to the
activities you most enjoyed before the shitstorm struck about a year
(Holy cow! Did you suspect we'd be in it this long?) ago.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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