Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad Summary

Me and White Supremacy is a 28-day guided workbook designed to help readers confront and dismantle internalized racism. Through daily reflections, Layla Saad explores systemic concepts like white privilege, fragility, and anti-Blackness, urging participants to recognize their role in perpetuating white supremacy. The book combines personal narratives, historical context, and actionable exercises to foster lasting anti-racist change.

This book is primarily aimed at white and white-adjacent individuals seeking to unlearn racist behaviors, though it’s also valuable for educators, leaders, and anyone committed to racial justice. Saad’s workbook-style approach makes it ideal for readers ready to engage in introspective, uncomfortable work to become "good ancestors" in the fight against systemic oppression.

Yes, particularly for its structured, actionable framework to confront racism. A New York Times bestseller, the book has been praised for transforming abstract concepts into personal accountability tools. Critics note its intensity, but many credit it for sparking meaningful dialogue and institutional anti-racism initiatives.

Key ideas include:

• White fragility: Defensiveness when discussing racism.
• Anti-Blackness: Systemic devaluation of Black lives.
• Tone policing: Silencing marginalized voices by criticizing their delivery.
• White centering: Prioritizing white comfort in racial discussions.
  Saad ties these to broader systems of power, urging readers to dismantle them daily.

Each day focuses on a specific theme (e.g., allyship, cultural appropriation), with journal prompts for self-reflection. Participants confront uncomfortable truths about their biases, then commit to actionable changes. The process emphasizes consistency and accountability, building toward long-term anti-racist practices.

• “White supremacy is an ideology… you have been born into by virtue of your white privilege”
• “Allyship is not an identity—it is a lifelong process”
  These lines underscore the book’s focus on systemic complicity and ongoing action over performative gestures.

Some argue the book’s narrow focus on individual change overlooks structural reforms. Others critique its dense terminology (e.g., “white adjacent”) as alienating to newcomers. Despite this, many praise its unflinching approach to personal accountability.

Unlike theoretical works, Saad’s workbook offers a structured, participatory approach. It complements Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility by providing daily exercises, while aligning with Ibram X. Kendi’s systemic analysis in How to Be an Antiracist.

The book’s frameworks help organizations address inequities through policies like inclusive hiring and bias training. Educators use its exercises to teach privilege dynamics, while teams adopt its journaling prompts for accountability discussions.

As global racial justice movements persist, Saad’s work remains critical for addressing evolving forms of systemic racism. Its focus on intergenerational change (“becoming good ancestors”) aligns with contemporary calls for sustainable equity efforts.

A Black Muslim woman of East African and Arab heritage, Saad draws from her multicultural upbringing in the UK and life in Qatar. Her unique perspective bridges academic rigor and accessible storytelling, solidified through her law degree and anti-racism advocacy.

This metaphor urges readers to act in ways that benefit future generations, such as dismantling racist systems today. Saad argues that anti-racism is a legacy project requiring daily commitment beyond performative gestures.