Overview

"Anti-racism work cannot be reduced to a single checklist of ""dos"" and ""don'ts."" As society shifts its perspective on true allyship-moving from being ""not racist"" to ""anti-racist""-White allies are being called upon to actively work toward changing the status quo. However, the vast majority of resources on this topic emphasize educating allies about anti-racism without teaching them how to actually do anti-racism work. This leaves well-meaning allies feeling stuck, frustrated, and afraid of getting it wrong. Beyond Fragility fills this undeniable gap by providing you with a concrete, step-by-step approach to effective anti-racism allyship. Filled with case examples, guided reflections, and skill-building exercises, this book provides you with the skills to: * Understand and avoid common mishaps in anti-racist work, such as misunderstanding what racism is, not knowing how to recognize racism, or not having a clear anti-racist identity * Cope with intense emotions like guilt, fear, hopelessness, and anger that may arise when discussing racism and privilege * Navigate complex interpersonal interactions, whether it's validating the experiences of BIPOC peers, recovering from a racist misstep, or speaking out against racist comments Anti-racist allyship is not an innate essence-nor is it something you were born knowing how to do. But with the tools in this book, you can learn new skills that allow you to engage in impactful and sustainable allyship in every space you occupy."

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9781962305068

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Reviews

"""Well-intentioned White people often fear saying or doing something wrong across race, leaving them immobilized and ineffective. This accessible guidebook goes beyond the 'what' of anti-racist allyship and provides the 'how.' Through exercises, reflection questions, and familiar scenarios, Beyond Fragility supports potential White allies in developing the skills and agency to break through immobilization and stay true to the ongoing commitment of anti-racism allyship."" --Robin DiAngelo, PhD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of White Fragility and Nice Racism ""Beyond Fragility is a powerfully instructive guide that reduces the defensiveness, uncertainty, and discomfort that many White people experience when it comes to confronting racial inequality. Its scientifically informed skills are drawn from the foundational principles of dialectical behavior therapy, making it a must-read for anyone who is devoted to embracing anti-racist allyship and actually doing the work."" --Rheeda Walker, PhD, author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health and No Racial Elephants in the Therapy Room ""Beyond Fragility is a groundbreaking guide that transcends rhetoric, providing a practical roadmap for effective anti-racist allyship. This is an essential resource for anyone interested in dismantling racism. Mekawi, Watson-Singleton, and Dawson offer a framework to dissect and confront the intricate web of racism on individual, cultural, and systemic fronts. What sets this book apart is its hands-on approach, providing concrete activities that cultivate awareness and empower allies with tangible tools. Rooted in skills development, Beyond Fragility navigates the journey to adopting an anti-racist identity, emphasizing the crucial alignment of values and identity with the principles of anti-racism. The narrative dives into the messiness of this transformation, incorporating case studies, assessments, and reflection prompts throughout, transforming the material into a living, breathing guide. This meticulously crafted resource identifies and offers insights to overcome barriers to effective allyship, ensuring that readers emerge equipped to build anti-racist skills in the real world. Beyond Fragility is not just a book; it's an indispensable companion for those committed to genuine change."" --Helen A. Neville, PhD, professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; past president of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race (APA, Division 45); and director of the Race-Advocacy-Civic Engagement (RACE) Lab ""I am completely blown away by Beyond Fragility. Ultimately, I agree with the authors that this is a book for White people that doesn't center Whiteness. It does not center our comfort, our ignorance, or our fear of consequences--we are compelled to show up in more effective ways. As a therapist, I was immediately struck by the idea that we, as White allies, cannot do effective anti-racist work outside of our window of tolerance. That is part of why this book is so unique and powerful--the authors acknowledge that as allies, we cannot solely educate ourselves into anti-racism. We must use our emotional regulation skills, and these emotional regulation skills are anti-racist skills. The authors also perfectly balance compassion and conviction by tapping into the deeply human nature of the anti-racism process. They neither coddle nor condemn; while reading, I felt as though I was speaking to a longtime trusted therapist. Even as someone who has been on the anti-racism journey for many years, Beyond Fragility clarified my own thinking and I look forward to coming back to it again and again."" --KC Davis, LPC, author of How to Keep House While Drowning and creator of @strugglecare ""If you're a White person in the United States and you want to be a better ally or social justice advocate, then Beyond Fragility is the book for you. Through digestible definitions and easy-to-follow worksheets, the authors have gifted readers with an opportunity to explore their racial biases, to challenge the problematic messages they have been socialized with, and to develop and practice the skill sets needed to fight against racism in their everyday lives. What I appreciate most about the book is that it acknowledges the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral difficulties that White people may face when confronting racism, while reminding them that they must work consciously and intentionally hard to transform our society into one that is equitable and anti-racist."" --Dr. Kevin Nadal, distinguished professor, past president of the Asian American Psychological Association, and author of Microaggressions and Traumatic Stress ""As an expert in the field of racial trauma, I have devoted my career to helping youth and adults of color heal from the pernicious and traumatic effects of chronic structural racism. Healing work is critical, and at the same time, the burden cannot be on communities of color to figure out how to deal with ongoing racial trauma--as a society, we must work to end structural racism, which requires the willing collaboration of effective White allies. Without the powerful engagement of White allies encouraged in Beyond Fragility, it is difficult to imagine an end to the myriad racist experiences reported time and again by my clients."" --Steven D. Kniffley Jr., PsyD, MPA, ABPP, HSP, senior associate dean for DEI at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, and founder of Kniffley Racial Trauma Therapy and Training ""This book is an essential guide for navigating the complexities of anti-racist allyship in our current era. It addresses core challenges with a comprehensive skills-based and compassionate approach, offering practical exercises and reflections that are invaluable in the fight against racism. Beyond Fragility is both empowering and transformative, making it a crucial read for those serious about making a sustainable difference."" --Kate Truitt, PhD, MBA, author of Healing in Your Hands and Keep Breathing ""For White would-be allies, it is easy to let the fear of 'getting it wrong' prevent you from speaking out against racism. Beyond Fragility is essential reading for anyone looking to break through these barriers and develop the fundamental skills needed to engage in anti-racism work with conviction and clarity."" --Amanda White, LCPC, author of Not Drinking Tonight and founder of @therapyforwomen ""Beyond Fragility is an indispensable guide in our ongoing challenges to lean into true diversity and inclusion. Racism has long been a tool of division that has impacted every ethnic community across the globe. The eradication of this weapon is critical for us to truly move forward as a people versus repeating the trauma of racism endlessly, as has been evidenced through the course of time. I'm so grateful for the tools and strategies that are taught and illuminated in this wonderful book. I highly endorse this book to be utilized in all relevant contexts."" --Eboni Webb, PsyD, HSP, CEO of The Village of Kairos, international speaker and trainer ""This outstanding book is a step-by-step roadmap offering specific information and key skills for engaging in effective anti-racism work. With its masterfully clever use of assessments, affirmations, and acronyms, Beyond Fragility is an essential text that provides readers with actionable approaches to anti-racist allyship that will create sustainable change. The skills are broadly applicable to many contexts; for example, they can be used within families (e.g., talking to your children about race), friendships (e.g., gently calling out a friend), and at work (e.g., doing an equity audit). Whether you are a teacher, lawyer, academic professional, or doctor--or do any work with BIPOC--this book is for you and will take your anti-racist allyship to the next level!"" --Sara Bufferd, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Louisville ""Beyond Fragility is a great resource for anyone who genuinely wants to be a better anti-racist ally but doesn't know how to overcome the fears that get in the way of doing so consistently. While some cross-cultural resources aim for breadth, this book hunkers down on one very crucial cultural factor--anti-racism--and explores it in more depth. With powerfully empathetic insights on the internal and external barriers that hinder allyship efforts, Beyond Fragility provides practical and nonjudgmental strategies for increasing your understanding of cultural experiences and the resulting allyship support opportunities around you, while helping you increase your confidence and efficacy within the personal and professional cross-cultural relationships you are able to cultivate."" --Lambers Fisher, MS, LMFT, MDiv, author of Diversity in Clinical Practice ""I cannot speak highly enough of this book. Yara Mekawi, Natalie Watson-Singleton, and Danyelle Dawson have created a resource that not only provides education around the importance of anti-racism work, but also has action items that are clear and relatable to today's world. This book is a must-have for individuals who have made the commitment to becoming active anti-racists, to being intentional and effective advocates and accomplices to Black people, Indigenous people, and other people of the global majority."" --Portia Burch, activist, abolitionist, justice strategist, and podcast host (@portia.noir) ""Beyond Fragility offers a step-by-step practical guide for White people who want to become more effective anti-racist allies. Based on psychological principles, the authors use everyday language and helpful examples to describe the concrete ways White people can grow as anti-racist allies. Whether someone is just starting or has already been working on anti-racist allyship, this book is a valuable resource for learning more and developing new skills."" --Nathan Todd, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ""Beyond Fragility is an essential read for organizational leaders, therapists, educators, and anyone ready to embark on, or expand, their work as anti-racism allies. The authors address the key factors that stymie our efforts to live as good allies, including our fears, distorted thoughts, and desires to belong and avoid conflict. They guide the reader through research-based, concrete skills for engaging in effective and sustained allyship with examples and strategies that apply to individuals and organizations seeking to create more equitable relationships and institutions. Beyond Fragility is an excellent resource for anyone ready to take on the 'good trouble' of anti-racism allyship."" --NiCole Buchanan, PhD, professor of psychology at Michigan State University ""Beyond Fragility resembles a sumptuous multicourse meal, brimming with anti-racist terminology, illustrative examples, comprehensive case studies, and engaging interactive activities. These elements, enriched with memorable acronyms, rigorously researched definitions, and therapeutic tools, collectively guide White allies from mere theoretical comprehension of anti-racism to tangible, proactive steps. Engaging with the concepts presented in this book has the potential to catalyze profound learning experiences, mend damaged racial relationships, and cultivate a climate of safety within communities and for individuals who have suffered due to racist acts and systemic oppression."" --Monica F. Cox, PhD, CEO, www.drmonicacox.com"

Author Information

Yara Mekawi, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, co-founder of the DEAR Project, and assistant professor at the University of Louisville. She earned her bachelor's degree in applied psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago and her PhD in clinical-community psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her work focuses on examining racial discrimination and racial prejudice at the intersection of affect and cognition. Dr. Mekawi has published over 60 empirical research papers on topics like dehumanization, racial color-blindness, and racial microaggressions. Dr. Mekawi's clinical work is consistent with an empirically driven, functional-contextualist orientation that emphasizes culturally informed assessment, contextually driven hypothesis generation, collaborative goal setting, and implementation of evidence-based, culturally informed intervention. Administratively, Dr. Mekawi is interested in the assessment and integration of anti-racism and social justice oriented practices within organizations and the implementation of interventions designed to effectively dismantle White supremacy at individual, cultural, and systemic levels. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Natalie Watson-Singleton, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, co-founder of the DEAR Project, and associate professor at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her PhD in clinical-community psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Watson-Singleton strongly identifies as a clinical-community psychologist, which is reflected in her scholarship, teaching, and clinical-community work. Her research focuses on two lines of inquiry: (1) understanding how racism influences African Americans' health disparities, with special attention to African American women and (2) modifying interventions to meet the cultural needs of African Americans. Overall, Dr. Watson-Singleton aims to produce research that can bridge science and practice to improve the lives of marginalized communities. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Danyelle Dawson, MA, is a doctoral candidate in clinical-community psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and co-founder of the DEAR Project. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology and social and economic justice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master's degree in psychology from North Carolina Central University. Ms. Dawson's program of research focuses on (1) the mental and physical impacts of racism and discrimination on marginalized populations and (2) individual- and community-level engagement in resistance and healing (e.g., radical healing, anti-racism advocacy, sociopolitical action, community building). As a researcher trained in both clinical and community psychology, her research and applied work aims to enhance both individual- and systems-level capacity to resist and challenge oppressive contexts and realities. Ms. Dawson has published numerous papers related to these topics and has won several awards recognizing her commitment to diversity and anti-racist endeavors in her work. She has worked with university counseling centers, local mental health boards, and community organizations to build their evaluation capacity and facilitate their intentional work to continuously create and sustain organizational processes consistent with their organizational goals. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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