Acting White [Book Review]

Is there such a thing as Acting White? If so why would anyone want to do that?

Find out in this fascinating book.

Here are some key messages from this episode:

• How the 4 Stages of Racial Negotiation are used in the workplace
• 2 Powerful models of Discrimination you should understand
• How Racial Comforting is used by People of Colour

Play the episode for more.

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

People Act White out of necessity

“In the book working identity was involuntary work. We said it was shadow work. It doesn’t apply to everyone. The people who engage in working identity are managing racial stereotypes.”

There are incentives for people to Act White

“Attempting to “Act White” is a strategy people employ in order to mitigate the disadvantage they experience in the workplace”

There are costs for people who Act White

“The authors repeat this throughout the whole book. Working Identity is a form of work. It requires, time, effort and energy. Not everyone has to do this kind of work”

Here are some resources so you can go deeper:

Acting White?: Rethinking Race in Post-Racial America

Check out these related episodes of the show.

A Beginner’s Guide To Identity Work And Why You Need To Understand It To Promote Diversity & Inclusion

The Performance of Self In Everyday Life  [Book Review]

Why Most Diversity Programs Haven’t Succeeded [Book Review]

Whenever you're ready, there are a few ways I can support your Inclusion Journey: