The Good Ally

by Nova Reid

Overview

‘I invite you to be courageous and get comfortable with being uncomfortable, because any discomfort you feel is temporary and pales in comparison to what black and brown people often have to experience on a daily basis.Are you ready? 

The Good Ally is an urgent call to arms to become better allies against racism and provides a thoughtful approach, centering collective healing, to do so.

It is a book for those against persistent racial injustice, hungry to expand their knowledge and understanding of systemic racism in Britain and beyond. It uncovers the roots of racism and its birthplace, anti-Blackness.

It is for those who not only want to be able to better recognise both subtle and overt forms of racism in action, to examine their powerful role in it, but who want to know what to do about it. The answer often lies within.

The Good Ally is the answer to ‘what next?’

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780008439521
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	1,070,214
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Nova Reid is an activist, TED speaker, podcast host and author, on a purpose-driven mission to improve racial justice, by helping people be the change they want to see by courageously unlearning their racism.

She regularly appears on BBC News, Sky News and BBC Radio as a media expert, and received a Social Impact Award at the Precious Awards. Nova is a passionate advocate for equity, collective healing and helping people use self-agency to role-model change.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 The Trouble with White Privilege and its Intersection with Racism 16

2 Performative Allyship: The Hero and the Ego 44

3 Grey Matter: Beyond Black and White 68

4 Microaggressions: A Devastating Avalanche 86

5 Disrupting Racialised Fragility and Anti-Blackness 119

6 Moral Monsters: Racism and Shame 153

7 Black Women Are Divine 194

8 Armour Up: Self-Care and Advocacy 243

9 Raising the Next Generation 259

10 Brokering Change: Tackling Racism at Work 306

11 Brokering Change: Action and Advocacy 342

12 Courage is Contagious 395

Epilogue 406

Endnotes 411

Acknowledgements 441

Further Resources 444

Editorial Reviews

‘Nova’s book for me is a mental health manual for dealing with the everyday issues that arise when navigating a system that seeks to deny the existence of structural racism. She not only gives the reader detailed examples of the things that can and do arise, she also expertly offers solutions that help deal with them.’
David Harewood MBE, actor and author of Maybe I Don’t Belong Here

‘The Good Ally is a powerful trojan horse. While the title calls out to every white person who has wanted to know 'How can I become a good anti-racist ally?', it's content delivers hard-hitting facts, stories, and reflections that remind us that it's not about being good, it's about doing better.’
Layla F. Saad, Sunday Times bestselling author of Me and White Supremacy

‘On the journey to becoming a better and more effective ally, Nova’s book is a must read. It will prompt deep reflection, it will make you smile, and it might even make you cry. Through this process, it powerfully provides the insight and guidance each of us need to be better.’ Gary Coombe, CEO P&G – Global Grooming Business

‘Nova Reid is one of the most generous, open-hearted, energising writers working today. The Good Ally is a beautiful, bold and no-BS guide to getting uncomfortable, digging deep and being fully human. It will be the best and hardest work you ever do. You will not regret it.’ Emma Gannon

‘Powerful, exhilarating and confronting, this book stayed at the front of my thoughts, long after I'd finished it.’ Zoe Williams, Guardian Columnist

‘A powerful book for change that comes at a time when we need it most. Nova seamlessly weaves together historical and personal storytelling with practical advice, creating a work that is informative, confronting and moving.’ Matthew Williams, author of The Science of Hate and Professor of Criminology Cardiff University

From the Publisher