Author Celeste Headlee explains 'Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism' in new book
As a self-described “light-skinned Black Jew,” journalist and author Celeste Headlee often hears things people wouldn’t otherwise say.
In one instance, a neighbor asked her to pick up his mail so that “those people” — he said nodding toward a Black neighborhood — wouldn’t know he was away. She agreed, but also said she’s one of those people. She breaks down how to have such conversations in her new book “Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism — and How to Do It.”
Headlee spoke to scientists and researchers who all say the only way to have engaging conversations about race — especially with a racist — is to listen and ask good questions. Even former Neo-Nazi Derek Black, the godson of former KKK leader David Duke, says a couple of caring young people with good questions at college changed his mind.
Headlee says she defines racist as “someone who makes assumptions about somebody else, either positive or negative based on their perceived race.” That definition includes everyone, she says, because scientific and observational studies show all people make assumptions about one another.
“It means that when you enter this conversation, you’re not coming from a place above ready to tell somebody else how wrong
