- April 2, 2020 Social Justice
Review written by S. Rita Louise Huebner with help from her book club confreres: Srs. Suzanne Giblin and Linda Straub, and Associates Santa Cuddihee, Kay Komotos, Peggy Maguire and Ceal Parchomski.
Debbie Irving, now a writer and educator for racial justice, was not always so inclined. Born into a privileged white family, she experienced “something missing” in her personal and professional relationships. As an arts administrator and/or teacher for 25 years, she found it difficult to understand the racial divide and why her efforts to create diversity fell short.
In 2009, Irving enrolled in Wheelock College to pursue a master’s degree in special education, registered for a class titled, “Racial and Cultural Identity." Immediately, she had to confront the instructor’s statement, “We are going to examine our racial and cultural identity deeply.” Confused and wary of the purpose of the class, Irving said that fortunately she kept her mind open to the content as bit by bit her knowledge broadened and her action shifted.
By sharing her struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, Irving presents a fresh outlook on stereotypes, bias and tolerance. As she gradually peels away her long-held beliefs about what it means to be “a good person who wants to help people of color,” she also explains how she’s changed her mode of talking about racism. Irving explains: “Knowing that speaking one’s truth and listening to others’ truth is a crucial step in racial healing is one thing. Having the language to pull it off is another.” Owning her vulnerability, Irving is honest, real, practical and concrete as she tells her story. This personal narrative works well as a fast read, a book club choice, or support reading for courses exploring racial and cultural issues. This “page-turner” has exercises at the end of each chapter that encourage readers to explore their own experience of racial issues.
"Waking up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race" by Debbie Irving, Elephant Room Press, 2014. The book has 249 pages and ends with additional notes and resources.