“Those looking to move beyond performative allyship will find this an excellent resource.” — Publishers Weekly " Well-informed, hard-hitting advice for antiracists. ” —Kirkus Reviews What if there were a set of rules to educate people against race-based social faux pas that damage relationships, perpetuate racist stereotypes, and harm people of color? This book provides just that in an effort to slow the malignant domino effect of race-based ignorance in American communities and workplaces to help address the vestiges of our nation’s racist past. Race Rules is an innovative, practical manual for white people of the unwritten rules relating to race, explaining the unvarnished truth about racist and offensive white behaviors. It offers a unique lens from Fatimah Gilliam, a light-skinned Black woman, and is informed by the revealing things white people say when they don't realize she's Black. Presented as a series of race rules, this book has each chapter tackling a specific topic many people of color wish white people understood. Combining history and explanations with practical advice, it goes beyond the theoretical by focusing on what's implementable. Gilliam addresses issues such as: Racial blinders and misperceptions - White privilege - Racial stereotypes - Everyday choices and behaviors that cause racial harm Introducing a straightforward universal three-step framework to unlearn racism and challenge misconceptions, this book offers readers a chance to change behaviors and shift mindsets to better navigate cross-racial interactions and relationships. Through its race etiquette guidelines, it teaches white people to become action-oriented racism disruptors instead of silent, complicit supporters of white supremacy. " ...Gilliam’s tone is refreshingly frank throughout, and her advice is generous and detailed, whether she’s unpacking the latent racism in everyday interactions (for example, the use of coded language and phrases, including discussion of ‘Black-on-Black crime’ and ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ neighborhoods) or racial inequities woven through social systems (including voter restrictions and school zoning). Those looking to move beyond performative allyship will find this an excellent resource." — Publishers Weekly “A practical manual for white people who are ‘floundering in cross-racial interactions and slipping when sharing views on people of color.’ . . . Well-informed, hard-hitting advice for antiracists.” —Kirkus Reviews “ A valuable tool for navigating an increasingly diverse world. ” – Wellesley Magazine “A powerful book that could have been titled ‘Tough Love for White People’ …. [Gilliam’s] unflinching candor [is] an expression of love and commitment to the betterment of individuals, communities, and our country.” — New RoAR News “Bold and thought-provoking. Fatimah Gilliam doesn’t shy away from hard truths we must hear, say, and do to hold ourselves accountable and disrupt racism.” —Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation “Fatimah Gilliam uncovers racism where it is most effortlessly reproduced – in the quotidian interactions that confirm and maintain our sense of what is normal in society. She recognizes that the deep structural persistence of racism can be challenged in significant ways if all of us (but especially those with superior privilege) develop repertoires for everyday disruptive practices.” —Angela Y. Davis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, UC Santa Cruz; 2020 Time 100 Icon; and 1971 Time Woman of the Year “Pay attention to every word of this book. Building a truly just society depends on truth telling about how even allies benefit from systemic racism and unwittingly contribute to racial trauma. This is hard work, but, as Fatimah Gilliam suggests, this is necessary medicine . Race Rules invites us to dream of a different future, and gives us the tools we need for individual and social healing.” —Rabbi Sharon Brous, Founding Rabbi of IKAR “This action-oriented book is a groundbreaking tool for disrupting racism and moving our country toward progress one person at a time.” —Congressman Jamaal Bowman, US House of Representatives “Fatimah Gilliam’s profoundly insightful book steers us through the fog of polarization. Race Rules provides necessary clarity to detoxify speech and effectively communicate, listen, and interact without offending. Its fearless honesty doesn’t castigate but boldly awakens us to diverse perspectives critical for engaging across cultures and moving towards a more perfect union. A vital book for navigating pivotal times and restoring civility in discourse.” —Calvin Hill, retired NFL player and Super Bowl champion “This self-improvement book on unlearning racism is courageous. Fatimah Gilliam rolls up her sleeves, steps onto an empty platform that many dare not approach, taps the microphone, and speaks with the power of truth.” —Harry Lennix, actor “This cutting-edge book courageously opens o
