Review of "It Was Never About That" by Paul Ladipo

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I was pretty excited when I learned that Paul Ladipo was releasing an anti-racism book. I have been following him on LinkedIn for years, and his posts are insightful. So I knew that a book that built on the body of work he's developed through his posts was bound to be a worthwhile read. And I wasn't disappointed. I was lucky enough to get an advance reader copy, and here's what I said when I finished the book.

TL;DR Review of "It Was Never About That"

In "It Was Never About That", Paul Ladipo expertly counters racism denial, examines the paths that brought us to the DEI backlash era, and dares to imagine a better future in all spheres of society through true allyship. Most importantly, it prompts reflection and action via anecdotes, takeaways and questions that help readers cement the insights and knowledge provided. Written in a direct and informative tone, this book is an excellent and accessible teaching and learning tool which will serve as a resource both for would-be allies and for those already doing the work in an ever-shifting landscape. Highly recommended.

Learn more about "It Was Never About That" on Paul's website or on Amazon, or read on for my detailed review.

Detailed Review of "It Was Never About That"

The book is divided into three sections and 12 chapters, and these include takeaways and discussion questions to cement the learning.

The tone is set right from the preface, which examines the reversed momentum on DEI and anti-racism. I especially liked that the author made a distinction between the two strands of fighting oppression. This section also covers differences between overt and the still very harmful covert examples of racism.

Part 1

Part 1 looks at the mental gymnastics used to avoid accountability. Chapter 1 shows the disparity between nice behaviour and support for policies and actions that harm Black people. As Paul points out, there's no point in being nice if you are supporting harm. In this chapter he also dismantles common misguided "defences" against racism (such as having a Black partner or friend) in a well written and clear argument that most will find it hard to refute. And he shows how so called "colour blindness" causes harm from the highest levels to interpersonal situations.

Chapter 2 looks at the way denial can help to perpetuate racism, while chapter 3 defines racism as the intersection of prejudice and power and counters some of the most common pushback, including the DARVO moves some make. Then in chapter 4, he takes a clear eyed look at how Black and brown people uphold white supremacy (which he also defines).

Throughout he highlights and defines important terms, making this a useful reference for those new to anti-racism.

Part 2

Part 2 looks at the pendulum swing from George Floyd's murder (chapter 4) to the short-lived racial reckoning, including the post where Paul broke his own silence on racism. Chapter 5 looks at what happened next, focusing on debunking stereotypes, scaremongering and the successful backlash against critical race theory.

Chapter 7, titled "The Liar in Chief", makes an analogy between 47 and an abuser trying to win someone back. Here, Paul digs into the tactics, the use of racism, and the manipulation by 47's supporters. He also makes a telling link between the US president's rhetoric, the arguments used to justify settler colonialism plus the rhetoric of the KKK in the early 20th century.

To round out this section, chapter 8 looks at advocacy. It discusses the shame cycle and how those emotions were manipulated by the anti DEI crowd. It also unpacks some of the emotions that come up when talking about DEI and anti-racism and suggests that it's important to identify and process them. Finally, Paul shares three questions to ask to deal with the emotions as well as ways to make a difference wherever you are.

Part 3

Part 3 is all about where we go from here. In chapter 9, Paul suggests that DEI begins at home, and uses the analogy of people not reading the racism manual so they don't build up awareness of racism and the ability to have challenging conversations about it. That needs to change. This chapter also includes thoughts on the importance of representation and suggestions on how to have conversations with kids.

Chapter 10 looks at the workplace context, while chapter 11 tackles using the church as an agent of social justice. To round out the section, chapter 12 is aimed at allies racialised as white. It covers white privilege, using it for good, understanding the importance of lived experience, and more. As Paul points out, liking Black culture isn't allyship.

The book concludes with tips on self-care for advocates, which I love.

My Overall View

I found "It Was Never About That" in keeping with the direct, informative and inviting approach which I have seen from Paul on LinkedIn. For me, the most important aspect of the book is the invitation to reflect. While it doesn't shy away from confronting truths, the author is understanding of where people may be coming to the work and makes it easy to enter at any point.

The takeaways and reflection questions help to cement the knowledge. And you can't come away from this book without learning some history and background that inform where we are.

The book speaks to would be allies and those doing the work, offering foundational concepts along with encouragement and tackling some of the most egregious arguments. I love the anecdotes and stories from both personal and work life that bring the points to life. And while this does not claim to be a comprehensive history, for those who like me enjoy rabbit holes there are plenty of leads to follow.

This is a book I plan to use and recommend as an excellent teaching and learning tool . I'd love to hear your thoughts when you read it.

Learn more about "It Was Never About That" on Paul's website or on Amazon

10 Standout Quotes from "It Was Never About That"

As always, I'd like to share 10 quotes that stood out to me from "It Was Never About That":

"Society can't cure a problem it can't define".
"Racism is committed by everyday people in everyday situations".
"These are the folks who demand unity without any accountability or reconciliation for racism against Black and other racially marginalised individuals."
"From day one, America has marginalised people based on race (and many other identities), and every time a group pushes back, their movements are labeled divisive."
"We can make a conscious choice to end racism today, and we can keep fighting for a better future."
"It's as if race and racism are the uncomfortable parts of a movie people fast forward through to get to the scenes they like."
"the presence of Black people does not make racism vanish "
"targeting a demographic does no good if they have no shot at upward mobility."
"Unless you are examining your own biases, learning how the further marginalise those who are already oppressed, AND pursuing equity, you are not an ally."
"If you are white in DEI, you need to understand that race intersects every other identity."

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

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