Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-168)

Introduction: we can't get there from here -- The challenges of talking to white people about racism -- Racism and white supremacy -- Racism after the civil rights movement -- How does race shape the lives of white people? -- The good/bad binary -- Anti-blackness -- Racial triggers for white people -- The result: white fragility -- White fragility in action -- White fragility and the rules of engagement -- White women's tears -- Where do we go from here?

In this groundbreaking and timely book, antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility. Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo explores how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively. -- Publisher's description.