I’ve just finished my 33rd book of the year. I’ve already failed miserably in my goal to reach 100 this year. Mainly because: life.
But I’ve read. And I’ve learned and I’ve grown. So I can’t say it’s a total failure. And the year is not over yet. I’ve still got a lot of reading and growing to do.
The book I’ve just finished is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. It’s book about a white supremacist who accuses an African American woman of murder and the accused’s white defense lawyer who, though she wouldn’t call herself racist, slowly has her eyes opened to the privilege that she has simply because of the colour of her skin. She becomes aware of hidden bias she and others harbour against people of colour and she finally, in the end, stops talking and starts to really watch and listen to see how different life can be for two people in the same city simply because of the colour of their skin.
It’s an extremely powerful book. I think if anyone wants a better understanding of what privilege is, this is a very helpful tool. It’s written by a white woman who wanted to be an ally and write something specifically for white people to help us call into question our own bias and see where our own privilege has been at play.
I particularly like the what she has to say in her notes at the end of the book. I’ll end this post with her own words:
Shari A Smith 
I loved this book so much. It’s the 1st black book written by a white that I liked. No offence meant
LikeLiked by 1 person