Weapons of Whiteness: Exposing The Master's Tools Behind The Mask of Anti-Blackness

I’ve been sitting in my white liberal bubble for years wondering how I can better understand racism. From an intellectual POV I thought I was a non-racist nice white lady. Wrong. I have learned I am simmering with violent tendencies and micro aggressions that are steeped in my own privilege and racism, which I’ve now acknowledged, understand, and see in myself. The “Weapons of Whiteness tm” that Catrice has identified, explained, and cataloged are an essential tool and starting point for anyone who wants to understand racism. This books helped me understand the issues and pain that Black women endure in a way that I was unable or willing to see before. This book has given me a map to unwind my own racism and gives me hope I can be an ally. I have been able to have much more effective conversations with my friends and family who say “All lives matter!” “I don’t see color,” “There is no racism’” “What about Black on Black crime,” etc. because of this book. It is life changing.

Catrice Jackson brilliantly guides Black folx in understanding how 400 years of racism, abuse, and the violent use of Weapons of Whiteness™️ lead to the death (literal and spiritual) of Black, Indigenous, and all those who are not deemed white by self-proclaimed supremacy over others. Ms. Jackson expertly dismantles the fallacy of white supremacy through history and exposes through her years of experience, education, and continuing survival from the violence of Weapons of Whiteness™️ used against her. As a White woman reading Ms. Jackson’s words, it’s immediately apparent why her voice MUST be heard if racial justice is to be achieved. This book is not written for white women but should be read by us. If you are looking to be coddled, look elsewhere. The power of this book will jar you awake and guide you towards a deep understanding of how we, as white folx, use Weapons of Whiteness™️ to dehumanize Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color within our communities. READ IT AND WAKE UP NOW!”

As a white woman, I will never fully understand the injustices and pain that people of color face every day because of their skin color, but I can and will do everything possible to learn, recognize, uproot, and destroy my internal racism, and become part of the solution to end white supremacy/terrorism. "Weapons of Whiteness" is essential for doing my own anti-racism work. It is an unbelievably engaging and eye-opening book that helped me learn, unlearn, recognize, understand, and reflect. I will definitely come back to this book time and time again. I can honestly say that I have never ever felt compelled to read any book before in my life...until I picked up Catrice's books. I highly recommend this book as well as "Antagonists, Advocates, and Allies" for both starting and/or continuing your anti-racism work. I also just ordered "White Spaces Missing Faces" and can't wait to dig in! Thank you Catrice for your labor and your gift.

White Privilege and White Supremacy come in many forms but behind every case is an imbalance of power, sometimes invisible to those who possess it, and ever-present for those who don’t. Catrice M. Jackson, a leading voice for racial justice, skillfully documents all the Weapons of Whitness™ and how they are used against Black people.As a white woman committed to doing anti-racism work, this book is invaluable to me. I have been causing harm by using many of the Weapons of Whitness™ Jackson documents, and only by reading this book have become aware and learned how to lay them down. If you are a white person who does anti-racism work, this book is essential. And as Jackson says, “If you don’t have an anti-racism plan, you plan to be racist.”

As a white woman reading Weapons of Whiteness, I have a better understanding of how my default behaviors cause harm--and how to stop these behaviors. In Catrice Jackson's trademark style of "calling a thing a thing," she used clear, unequivocal words that helped me see with new eyes. Her questions for reflection at the end of each chapter invited me to shine the light on the ways I've caused harm so I can stop. I am so grateful for this book, and I know I will return to it again and again as a handbook for learning and unlearning. If you are a white woman who is serious about anti-racism (not just saying it as a word but practicing it as your way of living), this book is a MUST BUY.

As a white woman, reading this book helped me understand more deeply just how toxic whiteness is and the ways in which I can, and do, cause harm.I found the "Weapons of Whiteness™ Inventory" at the back of the book to be particularly helpful. With 45 defined weapons, it's clear just how prevalent these weapons are and how great our potential is to pick them up if we aren't vigilant in doing our inner anti-racism work.Just like Catrice's other books, I will use this as a reference often so that I may continue to unlearn all the violence of my whiteness.

Though this book was not written specifically for white people, ALL white people will benefit from reading this book. Catrice Jackson names things that I had some consciousness of but didn’t fully understand until I read about them. Weapons of whiteness is an incredible insight into how whiteness is violent and toxic. Understanding what those weapons are, is a very important step to being a less harmful person to Black and Brown people. The writing prompts are also very helpful in confronting harm you’ve done and recognizing how not to in the future. 10/10 would recommend.

As a white woman, this book showed me how deep the infection of white terrorism has gone into our collective bodies, spirits...our genes. The author explains how the toxin of whiteness impacts how black people treat each other. The end of the book contains a section that breaks down all the individual Weapons of Whiteness ™️ so that you can easily see all the different angles that we can do harm. This book is both a practical tool and a personal call forward to deepening your personal work of becoming less racist.

Super resourceful every time, though. Heal as I grow. Like that about your writing styles. Raw yet real and gentle all at the same time! Appreciate you Patrice, give thank.