For young white people who want to be better, who want to be anti-racist, who want to be people who are striving to recognize and even take down the structures of racism.
– Ibram X. Kendi, author of
Stamped from the Beginning, on NPR’s Morning Edition
With clear, powerful prose and a gentle dose of humor,
The Black Friend is essential reading for anyone wishing to be part of a better world. I absolutely loved this book.
—Julie Klam, New York Times best-selling author
The Black Friend is THE book everyone needs to read right now. Frederick Joseph has written an essential window into the movement toward anti-racism. Read it, absorb it, and be changed because of it.
—Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give
For every white person who ever wanted to do better, inside this book, Frederick Joseph offers you both the tools and the chance.
—Jacqueline Woodson, Winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award
Toward the end of
The Black Friend, Frederick Joseph writes that his book is ‘a gift, not an obligation.’ I respectfully disagree. This book should be an obligation for white people, especially white parents, because we must raise anti-racist kids who will never be perpetrators of or bystanders to white supremacy and who will never mistake tolerance or appropriation for respect. Don’t skip the painful parts—read every word.
—Chelsea Clinton, author, advocate, and vice chair of the Clinton Foundation
Typically, books on being an antiracist methodically walk readers through systemic racism and its related terminology, but Joseph takes a more personal, and perhaps more effective, approach, sharing stories from his time in school and college to provide cultural history and opportunities for reflection...To reinforce many of his points, Joseph includes interviews with writers, activists, and other influencers from multiple intersections. Finally, he calls on white people to become active accomplices, rather than passive allies, in the fight. Readers can find more explanations of terms and movements in the concluding “Encyclopedia of Racism,” as well as a “The Black Friend Playlist” and "People and Things to Know" roster. A hard-hitting resource for action and change.
—Booklist (starred review)
Gearing this volume toward white people “who want to
be better,” Joseph offers anecdotes about his experiences with racism and white supremacy...Interviews with author Angie Thomas, journalist Jemele Hill, and others contribute discussions on the problem with “color blindness” and the importance of personal growth, among various topics. In a genial, assured tone, Joseph invites and encourages readers to reflect on their own behavior, move toward anti-racism, and implement change.
—Publishers Weekly Online (starred review)
Part memoir, part guidebook, this title explores scenarios of interpersonal and institutional struggle to introduce the next generation of White youth to anti-racism...The language strikes a congenial yet firm tone, recognizing that those who have made it this far are to be met with genuine intention; his message is that it’s about becoming better and understanding how your own behavior and knowledge are critical to leveraging the change needed to overhaul oppressive systems. Joseph navigates the sensitivity of such a project and poses a sincere question that challenges the long-held promise of reading amid widespread injustice: “If I show people how they’re hurting others, will some of them be willing to change?” Here’s to many readers digging in to find out. A smartly researched, well-intentioned provocation to inspire change.
—Kirkus Reviews
“A great addition to your personal anti-racism shelves and your store’s. This book is personal and illuminating, with input from an impressive number of activists and artists covering a range of perspectives in important conversations. Like Stamped, this should be required reading beginning with age 12 and going all the way up; although marked for teens, adults will get so much out of it, too. I also recommend it for book clubs and community read programs.”
