In the book “The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person,” the author, Frederick Joseph, uses a friendly yet assertive tone to help the reader understand the struggles he goes through as a black man. He has vulnerable discussions with fellow activists and prominent artists regarding topics like mainstream culture, cultural appropriation and appreciation, and his own personal experiences. He explains how white culture is normalized to such a high degree that it can lead to ignorance and microaggressions against people of color, regardless if those microaggressions are intentional or not. Frederick Joseph urges readers to take his words of advice and apply them to their daily lives.

One thing we noticed in our day-to-day lives is that classes like History and English should be more inclusive and provide diverse perspectives from people of all races. For example, during World History, we mostly learn about Europe and their colonization of other parts of the world. Throughout the year, a fellow student noticed, “In the beginning of the year, we focused on topics like Mesopotamia and other early civilizations. As the class progressed we focused less on other cultures and more on the European colonization of these countries as well as the effects Europeans had on these countries.” This curriculum and narrative that the American school system presents is one that we believe promotes the idea of a white-washed mainstream culture. It would be ideal to include learning and understanding of all countries and cultures, especially in a world history course, so that we can cultivate the minds of youth and counteract the marginalization of other ethnicities. 

This secluded way of learning can be found not just in schools but also in other aspects of our lives. We surround ourselves with parents, friends, and family members who might all have the same ideas about politics and ethical beliefs. Frederick Joseph refers to this notion of seclusion as bubbles. In order to get out of the “bubbles” that society and our daily lives put us in, we have to educate ourselves and learn about life outside our personal bubble. Books like “The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person” allow many people to see new viewpoints and deepen their understanding of issues related to race. We highly recommend this book for people who want to broaden their horizons and look at the world with a more open mind. It is geared for people who want to better themselves and truly take the time to hear people of color’s voices. Overall, this book was very educational. It allowed us to analyze our own thoughts and behaviors, as well as reflect on the decisions we made in the past and ones we will make in the future. 

To learn more about the book: “The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person”, visit the site linked below.

https://www.theblackfriendbook.com/