We have a New York Times best seller! Hailed by Michael Eric Dyson as “a vital, necessary, and beautiful book,” Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism ranked number 8 on their list of bestselling Paperback Nonfiction within its first week of going on sale!

“We’re so excited to be publishing it,” says our editor Rachael Marks, “and it’s been heartening to see how hungry people are for the book! In a time where more and more white people feel emboldened to act on their privilege to uphold systemic prejudice and inequality, her book couldn’t be more timely. Robin challenges readers, particularly those of us who identify as politically progressive and therefore immune to racism, to reflect on how we’ve been socialized to understand racism as something only ‘bad’ people intentionally participate in. The reality, however, is more complex, and Robin shows that racism is deeply embedded in society. The book helps white people confront the role they play in perpetuating racism (whether they’re aware of it or not), address their own white fragility, and engage more constructively in conversations about racism.”

The buzz around DiAngelo’s groundbreaking book attests to the urgent need for dialogue on contemporary race issues. As Claudia Rankine says, “This is a necessary book for all people invested in societal change through productive social and intimate relationships.” Bitch listed it in their “30 Most Anticipated Nonfiction Books of 2018” roundup. They wrote that it “should be taught in courses about whiteness” and that it “offers a framework for understanding how privilege informs white people’s lack of engagement with race.” It’s on Mashable’s list of the best books that deconstruct racism in America. And on their list of “Must-Read Race and Culture Books of the Summer,” Colorlines wrote that White Fragility “introduces a constructive way for organizers to respond to White people whose discomfort prevents them from understanding and addressing racism.”

So if you’re the type that “doesn’t see color” or simply isn’t racist, and certainly not part of White Supremacist culture, it’s time to check your white fragility at the door and pick up a copy of DiAngelo’s book. You can also catch up with Robin DiAngelo by checking out her USA Today Q&A about Starbucks’ implicit bias training. In her Seattle Times profile piece, she explains why it’s important for white people to see color: “If I have no idea how my race shapes me, I am probably not going to be open to any feedback about how your race shapes you. And so we [white people] end up minimizing and invalidating [people of color].” And if you weren’t able to attend her talk at the Seattle Public Library, you can watch it here.

Congratulations to Robin DiAngelo! White Fragility will be an enduring resource in the ongoing mission to dismantle white supremacy.

Think you don’t have white fragility? Take our white fragility quiz to find out!

Bookstores interested in purchasing copies can contact Penguin Random House. Visit our website for more information.