Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2020

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction

Part 1, Chapters 1-6

Part 2, Chapters 7-11

Part 3, Chapters 12-15

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Themes

Dialogue as an Instrument of Change

Open and honest communication is the foundation of Acho’s book. His title, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, stresses that the exchanges will challenge readers. The aim of these difficult conversations is not to punish White people, but rather, to educate them about various aspects of race and racism in the US. Acho’s book mirrors his popular YouTube series in tone and content: Although racism is a serious topic, his informal writing style sets readers at ease. Moreover, Acho makes questions as integral to the book as they are to the video series—each chapter begins with a question Acho received from a viewer via email, questions he answers in a frank, unvarnished manner. Indeed, the original title of Acho’s series was Questions White People Have, reflecting the centrality of dialogue to his project.

Acho aims to affect change through dialogue. Educating White people, however, is not the end goal, but a point of departure. Fostering an awareness of the plight of Black people and an appreciation of Black culture increases sensitivity and understanding and cultivates allyship. By engaging in conversations within their own social circles, allies can in turn educate others and call out their same-race peers for biased behavior, thereby contributing to the fight for a more equal society.

The Relevance of History

Historical context plays a key role in Acho’s book, adding nuance and a broader scope to the topic at hand. Acho touches on key moments in US history, including slavery, the Civil War, the Civil Rights era, and more recent events. The goal of these discussions is to draw connections between the racism of today and past manifestations of racism, allowing readers to understand how the past continues to inflect the present.

Acho’s treatment of the N-word is particularly enlightening in this regard. Some White people don’t understand why it’s inappropriate for them to use the N-word, pointing to its use by Black people. The prevalence of the N-word in various forms in the song and rap lyrics of Black artists further complicates matters. Acho discusses the origins of the N-word to alert readers of the term’s long history as a pejorative: White people coined N-word for the express purpose of demeaning Black people. This context explains why Acho categorically loathes hearing White people use it: “Let’s just get the basics out of the way right now: No. You can’t use [any variation of the N-word]. There will never be any circumstances under which a white person should use the word […]. Period” (60).

Allyship and Action

Acho’s book and YouTube series aim to recruit allies. Allyship does not consist of making empty gestures on social media. Rather, true allies commit to supporting Black people, and to being active participants in the fight against racism. Participation can take many forms, which Acho outlines at the end of every chapter: Taking part in protests, attending community meetings, writing to elected officials, and lobbying to redirect police funding to social programs all constitute acts of allyship, as does supporting measures to diversify workplaces and schools.

Allyship also demands introspection. White people must reflect on their implicit biases and acknowledge their privilege in order to counter these problems. Other supporting actions include affirming people’s particularities and differences, not engaging in cultural appropriation, not perpetuating stereotypes about Black people, and never using the N-word. Talking to family members, friends, and colleagues about racism is also the act of an ally. Perhaps the most important way to be an ally, though, is by voting for political candidates who advocate for equality and racial justice. Acho’s book and YouTube series stress the importance of dialogue. However, Acho consistently argues that true allyship demands that conversation move to action. As the death of Heather Heyer reveals, action sometimes comes at a high cost.