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  • Woke Racism

  • How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America
  • Written by: John McWhorter
  • Narrated by: John McWhorter
  • Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (231 ratings)

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Woke Racism

Written by: John McWhorter
Narrated by: John McWhorter
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Publisher's Summary

Acclaimed linguist and award-winning writer John McWhorter argues that an illiberal neoracism, disguised as antiracism, is hurting Black communities and weakening the American social fabric.

Americans of good will on both the left and the right are secretly asking themselves the same question: How has the conversation on race in America gone so crazy? We’re told to read books and listen to music by people of color but that wearing certain clothes is “appropriation”. We hear that being White automatically gives you privilege and that being Black makes you a victim. We want to speak up but fear we’ll be seen as unwoke, or worse, labeled a racist. According to John McWhorter, the problem is that a well-meaning but pernicious form of antiracism has become, not a progressive ideology, but a religion - and one that’s illogical, unreachable, and unintentionally neoracist.

In Woke Racism, McWhorter reveals the workings of this new religion, from the original sin of “White privilege” and the weaponization of cancel culture to ban heretics, to the evangelical fervor of the “woke mob”. He shows how this religion that claims to “dismantle racist structures” is actually harming his fellow Black Americans by infantilizing Black people, setting Black students up for failure, and passing policies that disproportionately damage Black communities. The new religion might be called “antiracism”, but it features a racial essentialism that’s barely distinguishable from racist arguments of the past.

Fortunately for Black America, and for all of us, it’s not too late to push back against woke racism. McWhorter shares scripts and encouragement with those trying to deprogram friends and family. And most importantly, he offers a road map to justice that actually will help, not hurt, Black America.

©2021 John McWhorter (P)2021 Penguin Audio
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What the critics say

"This is a passionate, often fiery book, but it is also seriously considered and scrupulously reasoned. Whether or not readers are persuaded by McWhorter’s analysis, they must, in the name of intellectual honesty, consider the book mandatory reading." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"McWhorter brings us much-needed pointed social commentary with humor and grace. Give this book to those who are questioning the new religion, even those who have found it. Woke Racism has the capacity to melt the hatred and fervor that is now all the rage, and to bring love and forgiveness, logic and discourse, back into fashion.” (Heather E. Heying, evolutionary biologist and coauthor of A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century)

“Scathingly brilliant and strawman-killing from the get-go, Woke Racism will make you stop in your tracks no matter what your politics are—and very possibly reexamine some of your deepest held convictions. Masterfully and beautifully written, this book is a powerful appeal for common sense.” (Amy Chua, professor at Yale Law School and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and Political Tribes)

What listeners say about Woke Racism

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Clear, succinct, thorough, practical and true

Dr. McWhorter gives an impassioned and fair critique of what is really holding us back from moving beyond race and truly being judged only by the content of our character. His folksy and accessible delivery is a delight to listen to also.

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Wonderfully Written

Great and easy to understand summary of the ideas we're dealing with, and why logic and criticism never ends up working to dissuade the disciples of these ideas.

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McWhorter's takin' orders & serving up smackdowns.

I'm a vehemently non-religious person and this book has given me clarity as to how I can diagnose and approach some of the more troubled ideas and behavior I've come across in recent years. Thanks John.

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Essential text for the modern conversation on race

Truer words have never been spoken. As a black woman, I consider this an essential read.

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Great analysis

Thoughtful and clear headed. A must buy! A book needed to be heard by the left.

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Brilliant Book

I am so impressed by Professor McWhorters understanding and how he backs up that understanding by fact and acute observations. I would strongly urge everyone who comes in contact with this book to listen to it. Spread the word!

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illuminating

Beautifully written and read succinct and insightful examination of the racism and soft bigotry of low expectations being exhalted by the contemporary left.

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Woke harm

One usually tends to like books that promulgates one’s own lonely opinions.
McWhorter is an elegant writer and now I have discovered, is an excellent narrator. However, the reason I purchased this book was to see if there was support for my belief that telling people, especially children, that they were hard done by and need lots of help to meet their goals, was not a healthy state of mind to instill in anyone. I was pleased to see my opinion supported with common sense and facts.

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An excellent book

An intelligent and thoughtful assessment of what has become an emotional powder keg as Dr.M. so eloquently describes.
A bit too sarcastic in places, as it seemed that he was arguing against his own hypnosis.

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Finally some rational thoughts on the state of our media in the world

What a great book!

I felt as if McWhorter captured my thoughts, put words to articulate my frustrations with social media and generally laid a path forward for addressing the woke behaviour that has captured all of our modern thought. I also have to say he was one of my favourite narrators yet on audible because he brought humour and sharp wit to all of his arguments making me cheer along with each of his points as he made them.

Living in and being from Canada didn’t actually make a difference because the same arrogance has caught up many “politically correct” movements that we are subject to here and has a wide range of applicability to most of the dogma based thinking that lacks a rational mind.

The concept of “the Elect” that McWhorter so articulately lays out can be applied to many circumstances where people don’t actually listen for others opinions, but instead bully others with their own opinions, insisting them as moral facts.

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2 people found this helpful