Plot:

The alt-right, or the white nationalist movement, is the contemporary arm of the movement that has its roots in the KKK and other racist groups. Proponents of this movement proudly proclaim that white people are superior to any other racial or ethnic group, and that America should be for white people only. While men are the primary leaders in this movement, as most white nationalists also believe that men should lead and women should be supporters, women are a key component of the continuing success and growth of the movement. Journalist Seyward Darby introduces readers to three women who have been in the past or are currently white nationalists: Corinna Olsen, Ayla Stewart, and Lana Loketeff.

What I loved most:

I read this shortly after finishing White Fragility (check out my review here), and it was a fascinating juxtaposition. Both books centered around whiteness as a concept, and the question of what it means to be a white person in today’s day and age. It feels vaguely weird to say I loved Sisters in Hate? But honestly, it was one of the most captivating books I have read this year so far. One of my favorite things is to hear from people about why they make the decisions that they make, how their attitudes have formed over the years, and all that other fascinating stuff that makes them who they are. The white nationalist movement is so hardcore, so extreme – and it was fascinating to hear about how these women came to hold such radical beliefs.

Read this book if you like:

Sociology and group dynamics, psychology, anti-racism, doing a deep-dive into people’s thoughts and behaviors

Book details:

• Author: Seyward Darby
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Date of Publication: July 21, 2020
• Interest Level: Adult
• Look up Sisters on Hate on WorldCat to find it at a library near you!

Plot:

The subtitle of this book is “why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism”, and I think that sums up this book so well. White Fragility looks at the concept of whiteness in America, and how whiteness and racism interact. Most white people don’t grow up talking about race, and how race shapes their world; most people of color do. This book addresses why we as white people are so uncomfortable talking about race, why we get so defensive when it’s brought up, and what we can do to change the way we think about and talk about race.

What I loved most:

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this year about the experiences of people of color in America – check out my list of stellar anti-racist books here. I think it’s crucial for white people to listen to people of color, and to learn from them whenever possible. However, we also have to look at ourselves, and what it means to be white in America in 2020. White Fragility is a super complicated book, and it’s definitely going to challenge the way that you think about race and about your own complicity in America’s structural racism. But it’s worth the effort, friends.

Read this book if you like:

Analyzing your own attitudes and beliefs, personal growth, anti-racism, sociology

Book details:

• Author: Robin DiAngelo
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Date of Publication: June 26, 2018
• Interest Level: Adult
• Look up White Fragility on WorldCat to find it at a library near you!