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Book Review: White Fragility–Part III

Kyle Hamstra

Blogger’s Note: This is Part III in a series of personal reflections on the book: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. While it’s imperative to reread, revisit, and reference the entire book, frequently, I’m citing just a few selections that are especially impacting my life–and continue to enhance my perspective. I’m seeking to grow in a personal, lifelong, learning journey. End Blogger’s Note.

In Part I, I acknowledged the author’s eloquence in stating the history and context of how race was constructed in the would-be USA over 400 years ago. I cited the challenge that readers, especially white readers like me, may have in processing, accepting, and embracing this lens of our nation’s history. Having these conversations might make some feel uncomfortable–and fragile.

In Part II, I reflected upon the origin, meaning, and portrayal of white fragility. If one wants to know how to identify fragile pieces in the puzzle, clarify misconceptions, or have constructive conversations about race, it’s imperative to know the historical context, traditional system, and everyday examples that perpetuate racism to this day.

Continuing in Part II, I explored how the author illustrated:

What does white fragility look like in action?

I really like how the author framed it here:

Using the framework of “Feelings, Behaviors, Claims, Assumptions, Functions of White Fragility,” here are “common emotional reactions that white people have when our assumptions and behaviors are challenged” (DiAngelo, 2018, p. 118).

Part III

Now that I know what white fragility looks like in action, it’s equally (and all the more) important to know:

What does the undoing of white fragility look like in action? 

“However, from a transformed paradigm, when we are given feedback on our inevitable but unaware racist patterns, we might have very different feelings” (DiAngelo, 2018, p. 141).

Once again, I really like how the author used the same framing technique of “Feelings, Behaviors, Claims, Assumptions, Functions of Interrupting White Fragility and Racism” that were used earlier when identifying what white fragility looks like in action.

Once again, I find this super interesting. Try this out…

It seems like you could string together any item from each of these lists to form a sequence or an example of the undoing of white fragility in action (p. 141-143):

Feelings

Behaviors

Claims

Assumptions

Functions of Interrupting White Fragility and Racism

Moving Forward–For Me

While I believe that white people like me can observe, analyze, and even demonstrate frequent progress toward the undoing of racism, I also believe that progressing toward anti-racism is a daily, ongoing challenge. Especially in a system built by white men and specifically designed for white men to succeed, I may never completely arrive as a white person who has fully overcome my own implicit biases that may ultimately resemble racism. Perhaps, it’s the continual willingness to identify, acknowledge, invest, evolve, emerge, and continue moving forward that truly matters. It’s a matter of the heart.

On September 29th, 2019, I tweeted:

“Friends! I’m researching topics of implicit bias, equity, and racism with a few colleagues. What media, resources, or people would you recommend to help us in our journey?”

Now, I understand why this book was the number one recommended resource. Not only is it a book that can change your life forever, yet it’s also a book worth reading, rereading, and sharing with others, frequently.

To all of you who have shared resources, recommendations, and dialogues with me over the years, thank you. Keep ’em coming! I join you in highly recommending White Fragility as a must-read for all, especially for white people in America.

The “Problem Solving Wheel” was developed by the Racial Equity Institute, who adopted from DRworks. This version of the image was used with permission from a 2017 workshop entitled “Organizing for Racial Equity” presented by Michael Parker West, Erica Everett, Sharhonda Smith, and Jennifer George.
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