The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege

Product Description
Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Brendan Kiely starts a conversation with white kids about race in this accessible introduction to white privilege and why allyship is so vital.
Talking about racism can be hard, but...
Most kids of color grow up talking about racism. 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.
Review
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” -- ― Renée 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 challengin