In the The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person Frederick Joseph draws upon his personal experiences of growing up as a black child in America. He talks about the stereotypes and hurtful comments people said to him because of the colour of his skin, and reflects on them, explaining why these comments were wrong and discusses how he would react to these differently as a grown up.
Joseph writes from the perspective of a friend. He deals with a very serious issue, in a concise way, with bits of added humour. The book is made up of chapters, each covering a core concept, of which Joseph includes his personal anecdotes, as well as interviews with important voices. At the back, you will find a glossary of all key words and concepts discussed through the book, as well as a list of people/books/movies and songs for you to check out to expand your mind further.
I found this book a real eye-opener. Whilst I could see racism evident in society before reading this book, I did like to think that I did all I could to treat people of colour with equality. However, this book has made me realise that there is more I can do. Whilst, I will never know what it is like to be black and to face the injustices that Joseph has faced in his life, by giving me the gift of this book, I would like to hope that this has given me the confidence to call out injustices in the future.
Overall, this book is a must read for teens and adults, and even if you think you don’t need to read it, trust me when I say it is the gift you never knew you needed.
Reads Must 