So You Want to Talk About Race
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 Front cover | |
| Author | Ijeoma Oluo |
|---|---|
| Subject | Race and ethnicity in the United States |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Seal Press |
Publication date | January 16, 2018 |
| Pages | 256 pp. |
| ISBN | 9781580056786 |
| OCLC | 986970684 |
| LC Class | E184.A1 O454 2018 |
So You Want to Talk About Race is a 2018 non-fiction book by Ijeoma Oluo. Each chapter title is a question about race in contemporary America. Oluo outlines her opinions on the topics, as well as advice about how to talk about the issues. The book received positive critical reception, with renewed interest following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, after which the book re-entered The New York Times Best Seller list.
Author Ijeoma Oluo was an editor-at-large at The Establishment.[1][2] So You Want to Talk About Race is her first book. Oluo was convinced into writing a book by her agent, who conceived of a "guidebook" in which Oluo answered questions she regularly received on social media or addressed in her essays. Oluo was reluctant to spend so much time writing about race but was inspired, after beginning to ask people what issues they face, when talking about race, and hearing the responses of people of color.[3]
The book was published by Seal Press.[4]
Synopsis
The book is about race in the contemporary United States, each chapter titled after a question.[5] Oluo makes the argument that America's political, economic, and social systems are systematically/institutionally racist. The book provides advice for readers, when discussing race-related subjects, such as how to avoid acting defensive or getting off-topic. Statistics are used to support the book's arguments.[1][4][5] Oluo also describes her upbringing and experience of living in Seattle, Washington.[6] She was raised by a white single mother and became a single mother, herself, to two mixed-race sons, at a young age.[5]
The book also covers topics including affirmative action, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, microaggressions, police brutality, and the school-to-prison pipeline.[1][7][6] Oluo argues that use of the word "nigger" or other racial slurs by white people is not appropriate, even if the intention is ironic or the motive anti-racist.[8]