Me and White Supremacy Book Summary

Book Summary

15 min

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Brief Summary

White supremacy is the foundation of western society. You play your part in supporting its existence even if you don’t realize it. Even if you don’t feel you’re racist, you may be benefiting from white privilege.

There are other things that you may not realize are part of the problem. Stereotyping based on race, even if it may seem benign, can enforce biased views. Cultural appropriation can also support supremacy and domination.

If you want to be an ally to BIPOC, you have to dig deeper than the surface-level acceptance. Pointing to the presence of a non-white colleague or friend isn’t enough. You also can’t just claim you don’t see race. Color blindness doesn’t make you not racist. It means you’re ignoring racial differences, including the injustices you want to fight.

To be an effective ally, you need to stop putting yourself first and learn more about BIPOC. You don’t have to always get it right. Just keep learning and finding ways to help. You can do more if you consistently support and amplify BIPOC voices, helping to make meaningful changes in society.

About the Author

Layla Saad started a social media trend of #MeAndWhiteSupremacy. The purpose was to challenge people to think about how they fit into white supremacy for 28 days.

She created a popular “Me and White Supremacy Workbook” which was available as a digital download. In six months, it was downloaded more than 100,000 times. A number of celebrity endorsements helped its popularity.

The British author is also the host of the Good Ancestor Podcast.

Saad was born in Wales and obtained her law degree from Lancaster University in England. She lives in Dubai with her husband and two children. This is her first book.

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Key Insights

If you are white, you are part of white supremacy. This doesn’t mean that you are purposefully racist. But white supremacy has been part of western society for so long that it is now part of everyday culture.

When steps are taken by white people to embrace diversity and confront white supremacy, it can often go wrong. Declarations of color blindness can be as harmful as intentionally racist actions.

If you want to become an ally to Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), you have to learn more about your own white privilege. You have to understand that white supremacy is not just about extremist views, but also about the everyday framework of society that maintains the racial divide.

Being white and looking white comes with privileges, even if you don’t realize it.

If you’re white, you probably don’t feel that you are particularly privileged. You might think that you have just as many obstacles as people of color. But just because you think that doesn’t mean it’s true.

The reality is that white-centered culture is so ingrained into society, you are not even aware of the privileges you experience. From the history books on western civilization to retail marketing, everything is focused on the white cultural identity.

If you’re a parent, white privilege means not having to explain to your children why some people are mean to them. Because being white means that a discussion about racism can be a choice, not a necessity.

White privilege applies to those who can pass for white too, even if their ethnicity is not white. People with lighter skin get the same benefits of white privilege even if they don’t feel white.

So, even if you don’t agree with the racist overtones of white privilege, it is something that exists and that you are permanently associated with based on your skin color.

You have to act against racism.

It’s easy to say that you are not racist and it’s probably true. However, white supremacy and racism are not just about you. It’s a part of western society and it is something that BIPOC have been dealing with for generations.

You have to be able to address the subject of racism without taking critiques of white privilege and white supremacy personally. Tackling racism means taking a critical look at the past actions of society and thinking about your part in them.

So, while you may not consider yourself racist, take a moment to look at the bigger picture. Though you may not agree with the racial divide that occurs in society, do you take any action against it? If someone is being racist in your presence do you call them out or say nothing?

Inaction against racism can be just as harmful as being the antagonist. Do something to prove you’re an ally against racism. This doesn’t mean taking extreme measures to prove your support but taking sensible ones such as educating yourself about the real issues for BIPOC.

Becoming part of the conversation around racism and white supremacy is an important part of advocating...