I'm Still Here: Reese's Book Club: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

I read this along with other titles for Sacred Ground, a ministry of the Episcopal Church. I can't tell you how much the author's perspective made me think. My only regret is reading this at 56 at the end of my career rather than at 26, the beginning. If you want to be a more thoughtful and sensitive person, read this book. The author is brutally honest and holds herself accountable.

It was hard to read but necessary to know. I love her take on the difficulties of hope when the crap and killing keeps coming. Live in the shadow of hope and carry on. Thank you for doing this hard work.

Who proofread this? Page 21, bottom.Loved the book otherwise.

Powerful messages from a Black woman's lived experience (in the U.S.), here for you to digest and absorb at your own pace. Austin Channing Brown is a wonderful writer, deftly correlating her personal stories to larger systemic issues. She covers a wide variety of her encounters, occurrences, and trials that span school, religion, work, age, and more. While the topics and stories can be challenging for those of us who are white, such as her chapters on white fragility and nice white people, open your mind, focus on empathy, and embrace it as a learning opportunity. We can—and must—do better.It was particularly interesting to hear how her childhood in a middle class, Christian, Black family in the Midwest surrounded by white communities (at school, church, and socially) shaped her perspectives. She had many of the stereotypical benefits, such as family and financial stability, well-funded schools, and access to university-level education. Yet she was immersed in white culture that emphasized her membership in the out-group (not white) and limited her exposure to many aspects of Black culture. She goes on to discuss how this affected her at later stages in life and the personal growth she experienced."Instead of offering empathy and action, whiteness finds new names for me and offers ominous advice. I am too sensitive, and should be careful with what I report. I am too angry, and should watch my tone when I talk about my experiences. I am too inflexible, and should learn to offer more grace to people who are really trying."Before you ask your Black friend about their traumatic stories—yes, they most likely have them—settle in and absorb Austin Channing Brown's experiences.

Austin does such a great job at giving us a glimpse of what it's like to grow up as a Black girl in America. Her heart for justice makes me want to be sure I am aware of how, as a white woman, can be an ally to my fellow Black sister and brother. It grieves me that people are scared or threatened by Black people, and I am challenged to check my privilege and be sure that I am seeing where my whiteness has been in the way of Black peoples success. Thank you, Austin, for writing this book and shedding light on my own disgusting white fragility.