The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege

Description

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Brendan Kiely starts a conversation with white kids about race in this "well-executed and long overdue" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) introduction to white privilege and why allyship is so vital. Talking about racism can be hard, but... Most kids of color grow up doing it. They have "The Talk" with their families-the honest talk about survival in a racist world. But white kids don't. They're barely spoken to about race at all-and that needs to change. Because not talking about racism doesn't make it go away. Not talking about white privilege doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The Other Talk begins this much-needed conversation for white kids. In an instantly relatable and deeply honest account of his own life, Brendan Kiely offers young readers a way to understand one's own white privilege and why allyship is so vital, so that we can all start doing our part-today.

Brendan Kiely is the New York Times bestselling author of All American Boys (with Jason Reynolds), Tradition, The Last True Love Story, and The Gospel of Winter. His most recent book is The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege. His work has been published in over a dozen languages, and has received the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award, the Walter Dean Meyers Award, and ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults. A former high school teacher, he is now on the faculty of the Solstice MFA Program. He watches too much basketball and reads too many books at the same time, but most importantly, he lives for and loves his wife and son. Find out more at BrendanKiely.com.

White people don't need to have "The Talk" about how to survive racism-they need to have a different talk about taking responsibility for and trying to change it. Jason Reynolds introduces this informal memoir about young adult author Kiely's experiences of Whiteness, which also serves as a call to action for White people to make similar reckonings. With humility and feeling, Kiely narrates his growing understanding of White privilege: that "what we've earned often comes at the expense of other people not being able to earn it as easily." He mixes pithy anecdotes from his own life with trenchant statistics and historical context that make clear the huge extent to which people in power have "legalized, institutionalized, and systematized racism in America. [...]Kiely doesn't mince words when it comes to accountability, but his conversational tone invites readers to grow with him. Well-executed and long overdue. -- Kirkus Reviews, STARRED * September 1, 2021 * Alluding to "The Talk," a discussion many parents of color have with their children about the dangers of racism, Kiely presents his own thought-provoking talk about racism to white teen readers. [...]Kiely implores young white people to recognize their own privilege and stand up to racism, emphasizing that sometimes the best way to step up is to first listen to those affected. A heartfelt, motivating, and necessary call to action. -- Booklist STARRED Review * September 15, 2021 * "There have been many calls to action; [this] is a mighty, necessary response" -- - Renee Watson, Newbery Honor recipient and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of Love is a Revolution "A clarion call to action, a call to love, to do better for ourselves, our neighbors, and our nation" -- - Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment "This is the book for all the white folks who asked 'How do I talk to my kids/students about racism?'" -- - Joanna Ho, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners "The kind of candor that challenges young people at the door, but also welcomes them inside." -- - Olivia A. Cole, critically acclaimed author of The Truth about White Lies "Accessible and timely. It's time for white people to talk to each other about racism..." -- - Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dumplin' series "The Other Talk is the conversation that white people should have had with each other long ago. This book is LONG OVERDUE. For those who have been unable to confront the truth about what whiteness is and how it is lived, Brendan Kiely offers a supportive, accessible, and necessary late pass. This book is not just an opportunity to school yourself. It is a rare chance to truly free yourself." -- - Cornelius Minor, nationally renowned educator and author of We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be. "Brendan tells the truth. It is as simple as that--and as complicated. In my 20 years of teaching youth about whiteness and white privilege, I have often found it challenging to be honest with myself and my students without being met with resistance. frustration and, sometimes, anger. Brendan offers us a way into "The Other Talk" with grace, patience, honesty, and vulnerability." -- - Keith Newvine, educator and scholar. "Can a nonfiction book about race be a heart-pounding page-turner? The Other Talk sure is." -- - Adam Gidwitz, bestselling author of the Newbery honoree The Inquisitor's Tale "An urgent call for white teens to listen, reflect, speak up, and join the fight for justice." -- - Randy Ribay, author of the National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of Nothing "[This book] invites readers to enter the difficult conversation of race without blame and instead focuses on the necessary conversations that are needed for real change to happen." -- - Ellen Oh, author of Finding Junie Kim and cofounder of We Need Diverse Books "The Other Talk invites readers to an honest conversation that is uncomfortable, messy, and absolutely necessary." -- - Minh Le, early care and education policy expert and critically acclaimed author of Drawn Together "Compelling, riveting, emotionally stirring--Brendan Kiely gives us a critical tool for consciousness raising and freedom dreaming. Read this, then read it again, then talk about it with those you know and love." -- - Julia E. Torres, nationally acclaimed educator, scholar, and librarian. "For all of us who have wrestled with our own whiteness and have asked, what can I do about racial injustice? This is the book we've been waiting for. Teachers, young people, their families, and school communities will find hope and humility in Brendan's book. It offers us practical ways to talk with each other about and move beyond the fear that paralyzes us in doing this work, and it gives us the strength of a larger community committed to having this other talk." -- - Sarah Fleming, PhD, educator and scholar This approachable memoir and guide, comprising Kiely's own experiences relating to race and allyship, is a welcome tool to help facilitate conversations with white teenagers about white privilege, and the ongoing journey to become effective allies to those in the "Global Majority," on both a personal and systemic level. [...] Kiely creates a judgment-free space, skillfully demonstrating that there "are two different Americas, divided by racism" and that honestly addressing the realities of whiteness is imperative "to do better than our past." ... [Kiely] provide[s] the language and encouragement to dig deeper, ask questions, and become coconspirators in the fight for equity and equality. -- Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW* * September 13, 2021 * *"This deeply personal narrative also succeeds at being a page turner. The stories are absorbing and the engaging, conversational writing style is, at times, surprisingly humorous and other times truly upsetting. VERDICT A compelling call to action that belongs in all collections serving middle and high school students." -- School Library Journal, starred review