Reviewed by Kylie Buckley
The Black Friend is a book for everyone, teens, and adults alike. African
American Frederick Joseph discusses racism from a personal perspective, recalling
some poignant events in his life that the reader can learn from. He also
invites a range of guests, including musicians, journalists, authors and more, to
share their own personal experiences of racism. The book explores sub-topics
such as white privilege, cultural appropriation, stereotypes, oppression,
American history, discrimination, microaggression, reverse racism and the false
narratives surrounding affirmative action.
The Black Friend highlights the fact that white people need to do
better. They need to be called out when they do and say things that are hurtful,
ignorant, or offensive; they need to be educated. The Black Friend
provides a myriad of teachable moments for its audience, with some humorous
commentary thrown in to keep things light.
Important words and terms, typed in bold throughout the book, are defined and
expanded upon in ‘An Encyclopedia of Racism’ at the back of the book.
There are also suggestions of things to follow up on, including people to research,
books to read, things to watch and a playlist of songs to listen to. The
Black Friend is highly recommended for readers aged 12 years and older.
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