This is a must read to understand the issue of racism in the United States. ( )

David Mura has written a phenomenal book about how the myths and narratives of white supremacy are integrated into every facet of American society and the deadly consequences this has for people of color, historically and in the present. He begins with the birth of the nation and the legacy of slavery, portrays how racial myths are perpetuated in the arts and media, and embedded in policy, education and attitudes. The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself is meticulously researched and thoughtfully, coherently written in a conversational, accessible style. Mura lives minutes away from where Philando Castile and George Floyd were killed and was deeply affected by their murders. He connects the ideas in this book to the prevalence of police violence against Black people. Highly recommended for those working toward positive change, both in society and within themselves. Every American needs to read this book. Sadly, those who need to read it the most are neither capable of it, nor open to it.
Thank you to BooksForwardPR and the author for a copy to review.
@booksforwardpr @muradavid #BooksForwardFriends ( )

The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself by David Mura offers the reader, especially the white reader, a nuanced and understandable explanation of the many ways whiteness convinces itself that it is the default in the world.

I saw convinces itself but in fact there are many who actually believe that their whiteness makes them better in every sense. But for those of us who know better and try to both make society better at the same time we try to deprogram ourselves of the lies that pass for fact, this book shows us many of the ways we may well contribute to a racist society even when actively fighting that same society. From implicit bias to how even the best-intentioned stories (novels, movies, etc) can ultimately serve to maintain the status quo, Mura shows how we must begin by looking within. We don't stop advocating for change and claim that working on ourselves is the extent of making the world better, but we work on ourselves so that our activism will truly work to make change and not just shift an already distorted perspective.

I had the pleasure of reading this book while also reading Dina Nayeri's new book Who Gets Believed? Together these wonderful books illuminate how the work we do in society, our activism, must also include work we do on ourselves, an internal personal activism so to speak. Either book alone is a great way to broaden your perspective. Together they serve to give the reader plenty of personal perspective as well as theoretical grounding.

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to make positive change, both in society and in themselves.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )