Race Rules

November 6, 2023
Lawyer Gilliam shares in her unflinching debut “the unvarnished truths ‘your Black friend’ won’t say to your face.” In particular, she addresses the “Good White People and blue-state progressives” who ostensibly support anti-racism but uphold the status quo in subtler ways, whether by trotting out a “race résumé” to prove their allyship (“I voted for Obama!”) or “kumbayaing for reconciliation.” Both actions can invalidate the feelings of people of color and distract from the difficult, real-life work of anti-racism, according to Gilliam. Instead, readers should “stop asking POCs to explain racism—educate yourself”; prioritize marginalized people’s feelings when discussing race; and steer clear of such culturally appropriative behavior as “blackfishing,” or altering one’s appearance with makeup, tanners, or photo filters to seem “more Black.” Eventually, readers can become “racism disruptors” by taking action (intervening when one sees “microaggressive behavior”; supporting affirmative action) on behalf of marginalized communities. Gilliam’s tone is refreshingly frank throughout, and her advice is generous and detailed, whether she’s unpacking the latent racism in everyday interactions (for example, the use of coded language and phrases, including discussion of “Black-on-Black crime” and “good” versus “bad” neighborhoods) or racial inequities woven through social systems (including voter restrictions and school zoning). Those looking to move beyond performative allyship will find this an excellent resource.

January 1, 2024
How to fight racial injustice. As a light-skinned woman of color, Gilliam, a former corporate attorney and diversity expert, has witnessed "a consistent, daily pattern" of transgressions by white people in their remarks and attitudes about race. "I see you, you don't see me," she writes, "and in not seeing me, you don't see yourselves but reveal yourselves to me, and I see you even more." These white people would bristle at the idea that they are racist; many are liberal Democrats or "wannabe wokes" who vigorously denounce white supremacy. Still, Gilliam asserts, they're steeped in a racist culture that's taught them racial stereotypes and fed their assumptions about people of color. "Real racism," she's discovered, "involves everyday white people who work with you, screen candidates at your job, live with you, walk dogs near your home, play with your kids, and sit at your holiday dinner table." The author provides a practical manual for white people who are "floundering in cross-racial interactions and slipping when sharing views on people of color." In seven sections that encompass 30 rules, the book presents situation-specific dos and don'ts on issues such as racial injustice, violence, cultural appropriation, microaggressions, and tokenism, with one overarching Race Rule: "Choose To Disrupt Racism Every Day." Each section ends with questions for self-reflection, which Gilliam underscores as crucial for change. "Without self-reflection and personal accountability," she writes, "few will see nor admit that through their actions and apathy they oppress, cause pain, and disadvantage people of color to maintain power and privilege." Systemic advantages fuel white privilege, Gilliam argues, debunking the myth of the American dream, which she sees as elusive for people of color, while white people benefit from White Welfare: "society's ultimate entitlement program for whites built on historic oppression, racial discrimination, and white-centered opportunity." Well-informed, hard-hitting advice for antiracists.

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