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Voted one of the ten most read Yes! Magazine articles of 2018, 6 Tips for White People Who Want to Celebrate Black History was co-written with Shay Stewart-Bouley, a.k.a. Black Girl in Maine.
“At the Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, two white seniors started the Exploring Whiteness club in the fall, which now regularly attracts 15 students. They were inspired by reading Waking Up White, a memoir by Debby Irving, a self-proclaimed WASP from New England who discovered in her late 40s that many of the benefits her father had received in housing and education from the G.I. Bill had been denied to millions of African-American veterans. In the book, Ms. Irving writes about “stepping out of a dream” and realizing that the black people she knew lived in a more challenging world than she ever would face.” The New York Times
“…a remarkable and, at times, emotionally searing look at one white woman’s struggle to understand racism. It is part memoir and part guide to changing how we think about race…one of the most important books on race in recent memory.” Readers + Writers Journal
“With eloquence and a sense of urgency, Irving takes us on a journey into the heart of what is arguably the American issue….Waking Up White is a provocative, persuasive call to action. Readers may squirm at some of its arguments, but they will find themselves thinking hard about them. And they will take them to heart. “ Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin
“She’s present in this book in such a refreshing way – you can’t help but feel embarrassed for her at times when you read about something she’s done or said that is cringe worthy. I found Irving to be authentic in her writing and really enjoyed getting to know her. ” A Bookish Way of Life
“Experts at [a] Brown [University] conference call for broader discussion on race issues. Issues of race….often ignored in white homes. White Americans often grow up with a narrow view of American history, which makes it harder for them to understand minority viewpoints and concerns, they said. ” Providence Journal
“It left me with greater understanding and a renewed determination to be the type of person who builds bridges and grows relationships wherever I go.” Owlhaven