The Science of Racism: Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don't—Yet

Summary

A frank, funny, and eye-opening book on what we know about racism, how we know it, and how we can start to fix it

Polls show, time and again, that the public is rigidly divided on even the most basic questions about racism—like whether it exists. Half will say that it does, while the other half will say it’s no longer a problem.

Despite increasingly vocal and polarized opinion, it seems as if we, as a society, have no more clarity about racism than we did a generation ago. But science says otherwise. In The Science of Racism, social psychologist Keon West cuts through the divisive anecdotes and rhetoric, with decades’ worth of clear, factual, rigorous, and quantitative research to reveal truths about racism that are shocking and tragic, but also occasionally funny and entertaining.

He looks at how racism impacts every stage and all facets of life, from birth to death, in education, the workplace, personal relationships, the justice system, health care, and even things like the hidden financial cost of selling items online while Black. And he exposes the inadequacy of many attempts to address racism today, and lays out a better way forward.

Whatever you’ve read before, The Science of Racism will ensure that you never see racism in quite the same way again.

“This isn’t like any other book you’ve read about racism. It is feverishly devoted to data, painting an unarguable picture of the extent and scope of racism in our society. Read this book and you’ll win every debate you’ll ever have with anyone who doubts the existence of racism.”—Natasha Devon