The New York Times and USA Today bestseller! This eye-opening book challenges you to do the essential work of unpacking your biases, and helps white people take action and dismantle the privilege within themselves so that you can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.
“Layla Saad is one of the most important and valuable teachers we have right now on the subject of white supremacy and racial injustice.”―New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert
Based on the viral Instagram challenge that captivated participants worldwide, Me and White Supremacy takes readers on a 28-day journey, complete with journal prompts, to do the necessary and vital work that can ultimately lead to improving race relations.
Updated and expanded from the original workbook (downloaded by nearly 100,000 people), this critical text helps you take the work deeper by adding more historical and cultural contexts, sharing moving stories and anecdotes, and including expanded definitions, examples, and further resources, giving you the language to understand racism, and to dismantle your own biases, whether you are using the book on your own, with a book club, or looking to start family activism in your own home.
This book will walk you step-by-step through the work of examining:
- Examining your own white privilege
- What allyship really means
- Anti-blackness, racial stereotypes, and cultural appropriation
- Changing the way that you view and respond to race
- How to continue the work to create social change
Awareness leads to action, and action leads to change. For readers of White Fragility, White Rage, So You Want To Talk About Race, The New Jim Crow, How to Be an Anti-Racist and more who are ready to closely examine their own beliefs and biases and do the work it will take to create social change.
“Layla Saad moves her readers from their heads into their hearts, and ultimately, into their practice. We won’t end white supremacy through an intellectual understanding alone; we must put that understanding into action.”―Robin DiAngelo, author of New York Times bestseller White Fragility
Jessie K. –
I had heard great things about this book, and don’t realize it was a workbook w journaling prompts. Designed to lead the reader through a journey of discovering what it means in both macro and micro ways, to be anti-racist.It was such an intense journey and read that it took me well over 28 days to complete, and of course the work goes on. This book is not a casual read, and without committing to do the journaling and discussions, it really isn’t worth reading, as you won’t even scratch the surface of what this book attempts to help you accomplish. Absolutely will use this book as a resource and read again.
Kindle Customer –
This book was difficult, emotional, and challenging. It was also one of the most impacting and important books that I have ever read. Anyone interested in trying to become antiracist needs to read this, particularly if they are white.
Amazon Customer –
This book caused me to deeply reflect and begin to heal deeply entrenched racist beliefs.
Meggan Watterson –
Layla Saad, with brilliance, and scholarship, and profound heart, leads us through 28-days of anti-racism work. Essential, crucial, and critical work. She provides “Reflective Journaling Prompts” at the end of each chapter that help to integrate all the information she shares and also helps to make each chapter personal, transformational. This is a book, and a workbook, that will I trust stand the test of time and reach every heart ready to do this essential work.
Yvette Noel –
This book is necessary and vital work. The chapters are clear and concise, giving you a very clear definition of terms. Layla provides plenty of resources and her thought-provoking journaling prompts will convict you, challenge you, and help you become a better ancestor. Being anti-racist is life-long work and this book is a great place to start.
Karen –
Me and White Supremacy is a step by step, structured approach to examining our unconscious racial biases, holding them up to the light, and then taking action on our insights. Highly recommend.
Amazon Customer –
Great book. Really forces you to think about racism and how racism affected me as a Filipina-American. Racism exists in all countries even in the same race. The journaling prompts brought me to tears as I wrote my answers on paper. This book needs to be required reading for eveyone!
Janel J –
This was a spiritually challenging book, but it really helped me take an honest look at my own heart. I really appreciate Layla’s honest work and clear writing. She’s also a really great Instagram follow! As she says in the first chapter, this is love work.
Jennie Olson Six –
I would recommend this to anyone who is waking up to realize they have been a part of the problem. This book will guide you through the painful truth and onto the path of a lifelong learning and unlearning process.
Amazon Customer –
Absolutely amazing. A refreshingly unique perspective on the biggest sickness (racism) affecting humanity. 10/10 would highly recommend.
GW –
I’m a white woman who has lived – as a professed non-racist – a life that has been all-white, all-the-time.This book has begun to dissolve the unconscious belief system that I’ve lived in all my life. The author gently but firmly draws out the elements of the white conditioning I have not been aware of or understood before: the white silence, the realities of white privilege (not just the obvious benefits of better schools and housing, but the subtle benefit of not growing up afraid because of skin color.) She has made me see the shocking reality of my unconscious beliefs about white superiority, white exceptionalism, white centering, and racist stereotypes.Most abhorrent to me has been my realization of my complicity in maintaining the white supremacist system by my white apathy.I appreciate the author’s loving approach to this radical education. The invitation is to see the system for what it is and to begin to question, challenge, and ultimately dismantle the system.I’m telling everyone to read this book. Now. Thank you, Layla Saad for writing this book.
Laura –
Got this for a book club, didn’t end up participating in the book club, this book really tries to make you think and can get personal.
open minded person –
If you are a white person reading this book, you will want to throw it across the room several times throughout, but in the end, you will be so grateful for the powerful knowledge and so aware of the racism and white supremacy that western society is built on. You will feel as though a vail has been pulled away that you have unknowingly been explicit to. You will have the opportunity to be a better ancestor! Let the work begin. This is a road map to proceed. I am so grateful for all of the work, time and energy the author, Layla Saad, put into this book. It clarifies terms that describe what I see, but did not have the language for such as: anti blackness, white exceptionalism and white centering. If you are white, the hard part is when you see yourself and you will, but you will be ok. The only way out is through.The Writing prompts after each section are the key to the self reflection this book requires and helped me to break through my own deep seated biases. At the end of the book, in the appendix, there is a guide to work in groups. Reading this book on your own, Without support, can be isolating but still of great value. I do plan on going back and reading it again to be a part of a group circle.It may be a challenging book to read, but it is the kind of book you will want to reference again and again. You will want to refer to it as you see the world unfold through your more aware eyes And you will catch yourself too. I have started buying copies for friends so that when they want to throw this book, they can call me.
Rani –
Must read for self analysis in our current climate. It’s awesome!
k8iedid –
As a white lady trying to hold up a mirror to my own privilege, these exercises were incredibly eye opening. I recommend this book to everyone who asks me how and where to start.
Claire –
I want to thank Layla Saad for writing such an eye-opening, enlightening work. I read the book cover-to-cover in one day, and up until now I had no idea just how many BIPOC I have hurt in my lifetime with my white fragility, white supremacy, white exceptionalism, white saviorism, and white silence. Since I was born and raised in a very diverse city and attended very diverse elementary and high schools, it’s likely that my unconscious racist thoughts and actions resulted in a larger BIPOC body count than the average white person. I shudder to imagine the hallways of my school literally filled with the Black and Brown people who were murdered by white cops as a result of the white supremacy that I never knew I held. I will devote the rest of my life to paying reparations to the families of the BIPOC students who lost their lives to white supremacy. Thank you, Layla!
E. Schwartz –
This is so important for “doing your work” as a white person who wants to address long-term, ingrained issues of racism without burdening people of color with your reflections. It would be great for a group of white folks to get together and use this and be able to talk about the stuff you uncover. I’m grateful for the author’s gentle leading through this process.
Brittany M –
Incredibly important read. I encourage anyone wanting to educate themselves on systemic and internal racism to read.
Tiff –
I started reading this book thinking I was reading another book on systematic racism like the ones I have dedicated to start reading this year. I realize it is a book more suited for white people which is fine. I am glad I have a book to recommend to my white counterparts who want to do the work.
Samantha Downing –
Be a good ancestor and lead by example. Great book, has practical lessons to do, to uncover your own implicit bias, understand racism, and how using that knowledge to stop being complicit in it.
Edna Johnston –
a must buy! easy to read and useful in groups for weekly discussions!
Amazon Customer –
This book was so thought provoking and it really dug deep into my feelings about white supremacy. At first you might not want to keep reading because you may feel uncomfortable, but it’s important to go through this in order to help understand how to practice anti-racism and support BIPOC.DEFINITELY a book I would recommend to all my friends and family. We all need to take a stand and help BIPOC by understanding how we as white people use white privilege and fragility in our everyday lives.
Amanda –
Everyone, particularly white allies, should read this. It’s written in a simple and non-confrontational manner that keeps you engaged so that you deeply explore your own perceptions, actions, and biases.
Dreamcrusher –
This came reccomended in an article I read.Everyone that is concerned about human rights should read this book and challenge their ingrained thinking.
Jeri –
This book is a game changer – it is not just for White and White-passing people. As a Person of Color, this book has given me the language to understand racism in action including examples. This is a very important tool that I will use to educate and empower myself and my family. No matter what your race is, I recommend this amazing work. For anyone who wants to understand racism, improve their understanding of what white supremacy actually is, and take practical steps to do their part in improving race relations and doing the actual work of bringing about racial equality.
John Fiester –
Have read it yet
Irene L –
It has many uncomfortable concepts. I read this as part of a group which was helpful. This is an important moment and this is a good book to better understand how you (maybe unconsciously or unintentionally) contribute to the systemic racism and disenfranchisement of others in our current society simply by being born into privilege.If you are ready to work on yourself this is the book.
Joli –
This work is helpful in a time when every bit of effort to dismantle white supremacy is needed immediately if not sooner. Read it, do it. Thank you to Layla Saad.
Nathan –
I purchased this book because I am part of a group that is going through this book together. We meet once per week. Each week, we go through and discuss one of the daily readings / reflective journal prompts. So far, we have completed the first 5 days. Each day’s reading itself is a short, quick, and easy read. But there is a LOT to unpack, think about, and reflect upon. The book shows me things that I either didn’t think about or realize before. And it also presents things from a different perspective. It is helpful, informative, and practical. I find that each of the prompts immediately hits me. But I also find that I continue to reflect upon the readings for several days and new things come to mind. I think this guide is a very practical, structured, and helpful guide for understanding all the insidious ways that white supremacy shows up in life. And it gives us some very immediate and direct ways to begin actively working to change ourselves and to begin dismantling white supremacy. Highly recommended.
benjamin –
This book arrived quickly with its companion volume.
D. Plummer –
I appreciated the practical reflective activities and the connection to the princies and strategies to utilize the circle way for groups.
laradah –
I had trouble at first with all the definitions & stopped reading for a couple weeks. I had to digest hard material. When I returned, it had made total sense & I felt energized by the challenges laid out in this book. I would recommend it to anyone seeking to go deeper about antiracism & how to deal with changing.
Margaret Patterson –
I use this book in an antiracism group and we read and discuss a chapter a week. This book has been instrumental and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in becoming a better ancestor.
Maricruz –
Everyone must read this book. It will help you unpack your biases anda anti blackness you think you didn’t have
K. D. Wilson –
This book is not just for white people. It is also highly beneficial for bi-racial and white adjacent people of color who struggle with their identity because they have unknowingly embraced white supremacist attitudes and behaviors. This is a very suitable book for personal use, community workshops, and for university classrooms. I dare you to buy it!! I highly recommend this book.
Curtis M. Sawyer –
An excellent, thought provoking examination of white privilege and actions we can take to begin to combat it. I learned uncomfortable things about myself that will help me be a better ally in the future.
Doyle Brown –
Without asking yourself questions you’ll never make self improvement. It’s the basic Socratic method what do you know what don’t you know! This is very timely for the conversations going on internationally
Kindle Customer –
What a wonderful way to self-reflect and dive deeper into your own growth as a good ancestor. It is challenging work, but must be done. This book helps you to face those questions you’ve been avoiding for years.
E –
I have so many underlined sections of this book — it’s a workbook, so come prepared to work! I was really thankful that I was reading this in a group because there is no way to read this book and not want to talk about it. I was also thankful for Layla’s direction and prompts on how to use this book… it’s a great guide for anyone wanting to dig into unlearning white supremacy.
Cheyenne Crooker –
This book was illuminating to a “good one” while simultaneously being SO CHALLENGING. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this to anyone with white passing skin, especially those of you who think you’re “one of the good ones or not a part of the racism problem.”
Amazon Customer –
The concepts and questions are clearly and thoughtfully presented. For meaningful progress toward equity, this book needs to be read and processed, more than once.
AuthorAnnaBella –
As essential as the air we breathe, this book is an imperative tool in yesterday’s and today’s climate. Layla Saad did an outstanding job, unearthing all that is necessary to combat the ever present issues of white privilege, white supremacy and racism. This book is a timeless piece that would never be outdated. This book is multi-purpose in that it serves as a workbook, textbook and reference book. The journal prompts are thought provoking, holding those with biases against all that is black accountable. Combating racism is a long process and will continue to require constant self-education and joint ventures. I challenge all of you to read this book, dedicate the time to do the work and stay committed. Do all you can to become a better ancestor.
Mary Love –
The content is soul transformational. Layla F Saad takes difficult content and provides a compassionate and structured method for white people (me) to start seeing the world differently. Then she provides tools for continual growth. This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read.
Nella –
It was an eye-opener. Amazing and love how she gives you things to do to start solving the problem, not just mentioning the problem we all have.
Judith Greger –
So relevant to our situation today. If you are white you can’t hide behind the phrase “I am color blind “. You are not. This book pushes you to open up those preconceived ideas that made you believe you were color blind. Sharing this in a multi racial book club through my church. The right book at the right time
Tiffani –
This book came highly recommended to me and I’m glad I bought it. It’s a must read for anyone who struggles with understanding white privilege and white supremacy.
Andrew –
Read this book but do the work. Sit with the discomfort but don’t stop learning or moving forward. White supremacy hurts us all, this book is a tool for change if you will do the work.
Jo Ann Wesson –
The author places a firm finger on every aspect of racism and white supremacy within us white people in the United States although she is not from here. A must read by white Americans who want our country to finally live up to it’s professed values.
Heli Sorra –
Buy this book and make sure you do the journaling if you want to make a change. Layla Saad says “you cannot dismantle what you cannot see”, and she helps you to see, with a short reading and journal prompt everyday for 28 days. I am only two weeks in and my eyes and heart are open maybe for the first time ever to the reality I have been living in all along as a white passing person. Buy this book and DO THE WORK!!! It will change your life.
Kcasady –
Take the 1 and 2 star reviews with a hefty dose of salt. This book is an important work with some heavy truths, and yes, sometimes it hurts, but ultimately you’ll be a better person for reading this book.
Naomi –
Great book! Great for a reading group cuz you can break it into 5 sessions and there is a small journaling activity at the end of each section
Julia –
This should be required reading for all white people. I learned so much from this book. It’s an absolutely essential read. It’s also a great book for a discussion group. Had many great discussions with others as we read it together.I want to thank the author for writing this. It’s life changing.
Amy Wilson –
By far the most powerful and poignant book I have ever read! I am a 56-year old white woman. What I learned and know Now, I can’t un-know. I have been called to duty…to action. And I am answering. Thank you, Layla!
S.A. –
As a WOC who benefits from white privilege I found this book very insightful.Sometimes it caused me to get defensive, sometimes it made me feel shame and guilt.But it mostly offered a way to put my good intentions into meaningful actions, and to become antiracist. It provides tools to do the work everyday in little ways, like internal reflection and bigger ways like speaking up and having difficult conversations with family and friends.I would recommend it!
Joh –
This work by Layla Saad is eye-opening and essential for any white person who chooses to engage in internal and external anti-racism work. It expands ones perspective of the definition of white supremacy and racism beyond what many of us who are white previously understood, which enables us to take actions towards racial equality in a more helpful way.
Bridget511 –
This book has been amazing to me. I think of myself as a liberal person and a supporter of the BLM movement. However, this book made me realize how my inaction towards racism in our country is damaging. This is a difficult book to work through, but it is so worth it to change the implicit biases that I have found myself unconsciously portraying in the world.This is book is clear, well written, and the chapters are short and digestible. Would highly recommend it to everyone!
LNorelle –
The weight of this work is heavy and doing it builds strength. I feel more confident and better equipped to have tough conversations with myself and friends, family, acquaintances after reading and completing the prompts. The best, most impactful “self-help” book I’ve ever read.
Nicole –
Do the work, don’t simply read through. This is an incredibly humbling, eye-opening and essential practice, not just a book, that all people with white privilege who benefit from white supremacy ought to do.
K. McNamara –
Unapologetic, and not written to make white persons feel better, it was probably the most transformative read of my adult life. Get the book. Read it. Do the journal prompts and don’t wait for easy answers. Then read it again.
Angie Powers –
No, this book wasn’t hard to read in the traditional sense. It was a reading experience that challenges you. I learned a lot and will keep learning by going back to it
Jane –
This book, read with a small group following the process recommended by the author, helped me dig deeper and understand both more about the roots of racism and how I have absorbed it, unwittingly, unintentionally, and unfortunately. But uncovering that has helped me face up to what I can do to more truly be part of the effort to fight racism. This is a hard book to work through but I can’t recommend it highly enough.
DMB –
Layla Saad challenges the reader to examine our own white privileged and fragility and commit to be better, do better, and actively dismantle racist systems.As I read and wrote, I had a variety of feelings from, “this isn’t really me,” to “oh my gosh this is me,” from guilt, to mild pride, the five-year commitment that I have much work to do
ES –
Great book to learn about your own biases
Ineka Estabrook –
This book will guide you through identifying how you, personally, are part of the system that upholds white supremacy and the things you are doing that are racist. Brutally hard, but absolutely necessary to root out racism in our society.
Elizabeth –
This book forces you to put your reading in action. The prompts were definitely thought provoking and important. I would definitely recommend this book.
Deb BW –
Not a comfortable read. In fact, the book is aggressive in its presentation of historical racism – a history we cannot leave behind if we do not face.
Patty Meeks –
I’m, you know, one of the ‘good ones’; I see (or saw) myself as not a racist and well intentioned etc. Midway through the book, I was kind of feeling angry, like the task of being anti racist was impossible for a white person. But my anger was useful: I was in conversation with the author, doing the hard work. I can confidently state that I am an example of white fragility. At least I know where to start from. I would recommend this book to any white person who thinks they mostly understand the problem of racism and who imagines they just need to up their anti racist game a little.
Amazon Customer –
I thought I was “one of the good ones,” a white person who wasn’t racist, didn’t explicitly think I was better than any other race. But I have gone to see just how ingrained racism can be, especially growing up in the US. It’s in the air we breath. This book helped me take a deep inner look, and challenged me to grow. Bc I thought I was “good” and woke already, I wasn’t doing the journal prompts, until the book itself called me out for treating it as an intellectual exercise and not doing the actual work. So thank you for that! I went back and started over and have gotten a much deeper experience from it. Thank you so much for providing this amazing resource for us all to become better humans.
SofiaMFuego –
This book gets to the heart of the matter. Read with a group of four committed women. We all grew with the sharing. A must read.
Kathleen –
Well written and well researched. A great self awareness journey
Melissa Chaffos –
This book must be required in order for us to do what Layla Saad stated “Help change the world. Become a good ancestor.” If you benefit at all from white privilege, you need to do the work in this book to truly make a difference in yourself and others.
Amazon Customer –
If you want to be an ally do the work. Read this book. This book helps white people to take action on one of the most critical issues of our time. And don’t forget to do the work.
Samantha –
Every white person needs to read this. It should be mandatory reading. Each topic that Layla discusses is well thought out and clear for all readers to understand. Her prompts evoke the deepest parts of your inner dialogue and experiences that make you reflect on your contribution to white supremacy, complacency to white privilege, and is an eye opener for internalized racism narratives that have been imbedded in our minds as a white person.This is the best book to start out with and I would confidently say it is A MUST.
Ellen –
I have a long way to go in my personal journey but this definitely help open my eyes and heart to how I have let my white privilege and beliefs influence my life. It has given me ways to seek change and do better.
Phoebe Thompson –
I have referred back to this book often. I have recommended it to countless people who also have read it and recommended it to others.This is not just to be read then put on the bookshelf. Too often, there’s a lot of talk and no action to make a difference in how our BIPOC community members are treated and considered. This book helps to motivate and inspire one to take actions to make a shift in this world, independently and systemically.Some readers might be offended by some of the work, but I have to say that they are the ones who might most benefit from reflecting on what it is that brings up the emotion(s) they feel in order to shift our paradigms and do right by human beings. Have grace with yourself and be brave enough to take on this important work.
Mom of Three –
This is the most powerful learning I have experienced in race. It is a workbook; do the exercises. It has materially impacted my work as an executive coach and I am grateful for Ms. Saad’s wisdom and candor and unflagging steadfast position that white people must do this work before anything gets better. I recommend this nearly daily.
Amazon Customer –
Concepts,examples, logic and strength give this book depth and urgency. Uncovering my racism, excuses, “not seeing” what I was seeing – I’ll never be the same again. Thank you Layla for pressing home the need for growth into the space and light that is possible with a commitment to antiracism.
Nancy Gaston –
The book, which arrived on time in like-new condition, is definitely worth a read.
LadyintheUSA –
As a person of colour, who’s skin is on the lighter side, I highly recommend this book. It made me examine and work on myself in ways I didn’t know I needed to.
Pip Cawley –
The author does an excellent job of describing white supremacy in the broader social context. She connects otherwise abstract concepts to real, everyday experience. I will recommend this book to all of my friends and plan to use it next time I teach. The book is written for a white audience but would be meaningful for any person living in the U.S.