The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together | 
pickMcGhee takes the concept of a “zero-sum game“--someone always *has* to lose, --and skillfully uses it to analyze a form of white racism that manifests as resistance toward racialized people benefiting, even when white people are also set back: racism has a cost for all of us. Examples include barring access to public pools, union repression, lack of equal access to education and home ownership, and more.
#Nonfiction2024 #ToKillAMockingbird
pickI can‘t recommend this book enough. I was already familiar with a lot of the content, but this really brought it into perspective. The question is, why do so many American voters vote against their own best interests? Against the best interests of those they love? The answer is a deep but simple one that stretches far into the past. Racism has roots in just about everything. We are so conditioned to it, we don‘t even think about it—especially,⬇️
“[We are all] socialized into a society where racism is normal, and it‘s built into every aspect of our democracy, our government, and our social systems…There so many white people that have no clue,” she told me. “And when…you try to give them a clue, they become very defensive. Because no one wants to think that they are benefiting from a system that hurts other people. It‘s much easier just to pretend like you don‘t know.”
For white people to free themselves from the debt of responsibility for racism past and present would be liberating. But there isn‘t an established route for redemption; America hasn‘t had a truth-and-reconciliation process like other wounded societies have. Instead, it‘s up to individuals to decide what they need to do in order to be good people in a white supremacist society—and it‘s not easy.
Over the years that I have sought answers to why a fairer economy is so elusive, it has become clearer to me that how white people understand what‘s right and wrong about our diverse nation, who belongs and who deserves, is determining our collective course. This is the crux of it: Can we swim together in the same pool or not? It‘s a political question, yes, and one with economic ramifications. But at its core, it‘s a moral question.
I wish there was a greater consciousness about how we‘re all in this together. For those people who are opposed to [government aid] out of an animus to people who look different than they are…that lack of social solidarity causes harm to their own communities. If we didn‘t have these sharp divisions based on race, we could make enormous progress in terms of making sure that people are not hurting as badly as they are, [or] deprived of what ⬇️
pickThe Sum of Us was enraging in the best ways and really eye opening about some things I never thought of... like why we had to pay $120 each summer for season pool passes when I was growing up.
Thanks for the tag, @monalyisha ! At first I misread the prompt as “your 3 favorite” and thought “An impossible task!” bc I love so much nonfiction. But really it says “3 of your favorite,” so that‘s easy! 😁 Here are three that spring to mind:
- If You Want to Write - I‘ve reread this multiple times, but I think it‘s time for another reread since all I remember is that it's lovely and inspiring,
- The Sum of Us - One of the best and most
pickThis book looks at the cost of racism through the zero-sum theory. This is a theory that mostly rich, whites use which says that if we (whites) give up something, someone else is gaining on that. The ones gaining will be unworthy or lazy since they can‘t do this on their own. Then the rich people manages to persuade the less wealthy about this. This effort the labor organization, public healthcare, the fight against polluters and so much more.
pickI started this last month for #shesaid & finally finished. I shouldn‘t be by now but yet again astounded by the impact of racism in America. McGhee highlights the various areas that racism impacts programs & policies. People in America will go against their best interest if they think someone else is getting ahead. It‘s always mind boggling to me how far the hand of racism still has a hold on so many people in America (although most people would
pickOur August #SheSaid selection explores racism through the lens of how racist policies, practices, and attitudes have not only hurt Black Americans, but have hurt all Americans. She explores the topics of housing, education, labor unions, and healthcare, among others, while focusing on the "Solidarity Dividend" that we could be reaping if we could rid our nation of the zero-sum falacy that drives policy making and voting. @Riveted_Reader_Melissa
pickAbsolutely recommend this book. Super informative look at racism in America. Found all the data very effective and appreciated the focus on labor unions as well.
pickEveryone should read this book. Important, impactful and well cited. Racism in America has coat all of us dearly.
pickSo much to unpack from this book from how states manipulate voting, banks targeted low income bipoc people for sub prime loans, counties manipulate boundaries for education district funding/access aka what is best for some of us instead of the sum of us. I am so fucking sick of shit like this. We all do better, are better can be better when everyone has access to what they need.
This book is getting under my skin and I‘m not even 🇺🇸
Next in audio. Grabbed right off by “why can‘t we have nice things, and by nice things I mean well funded education and infrastructure “
“A vital, urgent, stirring, beautifully-written book that offers a compassionate roadmap out of our present troubled moment.” -Geo Saunders #BookSpin
Pictured with Esther the Griff and my #DoubleSpin, continuing my August-Nonfiction endeavor #withoutevenrealizing
pickWhile I hate that this book doesn‘t use any sort of in-text citations, I understand that with the more conversational approach it might have been disruptive to the reader.
A fascinating read that looks at the big question - why do Americans vote against their own best interests- and offers an answer - racism. Full of interesting and sometimes horrific stories and history, I think this should be a must read for any American who votes.
3.5/5 stars
pickA fascinating social commentary laying out how racism effects not just people of color, but all Americans.
Listening to the tagged book while getting some necessary sun.
pickSuch an important read about how racism negatively affects ALL Americans. Wish this would be required reading for students and politicians alike! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Full review on Goodreads
Managed to finish my first read during #20in4 ! I was almost done when the readathon started, but finished sooner than expected after getting caught in traffic with extra audio time (unfortunately that made me late to work and added extra stress to the day!) Now I'm focusing on one of my physical reads. @Andrew65
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 An in-depth look at how racism and segregation hurt not only African Americans and other marginalized groups, but all of us, and how we all stand to benefit from diversity and integration. I think this is one of the best books I‘ve read related to race and society. I really appreciated the inclusion of hopeful messages along with the rightful calling out of the crappy things that have happened and that are still going on.
pickI read this slowly to absorb it. The parts of policy that I already knew were pulled together to show how completely racism infects all facets of American society and how old policies continue to have disparate impact. She shows how many white people see progress for people of color as a zero sum game and how white people would often choose to lose an advantage - like closing public pools and schools rather than allow Black people access.
pickThe Sum of Us is an exquisitely researched book that shows how racist policies and behaviors have hurt everyone. Plus, McGhee imparts hope into the book by showing successful changes in some communities, giving us a path forward. I think that balance and offering solutions is vital. This book is phenomenal and I hope it ends up widely read.
pickI cried, I laughed, but mostly cried… such a great discussion of how racism has not only oppressed its targets, but all of the population. I hope that we can move our country and world to work together for common goals for the greater good so we can all have nicer things.
pickMcGhee‘s ability to present data in a very readable and engaging manner was impressive. This book walks the reader through aspects of our society, providing a brief history or racist policies, identifies “arguments” as to how so many white people supported such policies, then provides a road map of how to do it better. Really interesting observations and very well written. Highly recommend!
A functioning society rests on a web of mutuality, a willingness among all involved to share enough with one another to accomplish what no one person can do alone.
April reading recap: https://debbybrauer.org/#april-2021-recap
pickThis is a book everyone should read.
Author Heather McGhee presents story after story about how racism hurts everyone- in the economy, education, environment, religion, justice system... with personalized stories from people of color and whites, and with 100 pages of cited research, this books breaks down systemic racism and shows us how it‘s possible to be a better nation.
McGhee is also fantastic reading her book on audio!
pickMcGhee explores how treating jobs, resources, & public interests in the US as a zero sum game has hurt everyone, whites, Blacks, other POC, and has only helped corporate interests. She highlights places where people have created multi-racial coalitions and saved communities while revealing the racist underpinnings of American life that seek to divide us. There is enough for everyone if we work together: education, healthcare, jobs, etc. #audiobook
pickA solid addition to the #antiracist discussion with a focus on how racism affects all, specifically against white people‘s own self interest. Topics like targeted universalism were fully presented as well as how racism ties to environmental health concerns. Really well researched.
pickTruly outstanding. A great addition to an antiracist education at any stage, bc it explains systemic racism in fresh ways, often through the personal stories of a diverse sample of Americans. Best of all is its simple yet super-strong framework: racism harms us all, and working together to eliminate it benefits us all. If we drain the pool to keep people of color out, nobody can swim in the pool anymore. It‘s brilliant but very, very readable.
Going for an audio walk of my own and will drop these off at my local little free library. 💖
Eager to read this!
pickThis book is amazing. It's written by an economist but it's not full of numbers. She talks about real people from all sorts of backgrounds. It's about the actual costs of racism. And it's easy to read. I definitely recommend this one.
#BookSpinBingo square 13
@TheAromaofBooks
#ARC from #OneWorld via #Netgalley
Pub date is 2/16/2021 so you only have to wait until next Tuesday for this one
