# The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person - Hardcover

by **Frederick Joseph** (Author)

**The instant _New York Times_ bestseller**  
**Writing from the perspective of a friend, Frederick Joseph offers candid reflections on his own experiences with racism and conversations with prominent artists and activists about theirs--creating an essential read for white people who are committed anti-racists and those newly come to the cause of racial justice.**

"We don't see color." "I didn't know Black people liked _Star Wars_ " "What hood are you from?" For Frederick Joseph, life as a transfer student in a largely white high school was full of wince-worthy moments that he often simply let go. As he grew older, however, he saw these as missed opportunities not only to stand up for himself, but to spread awareness to those white people who didn't see the negative impact they were having.

Speaking directly to the reader, _The Black Friend_ calls up race-related anecdotes from the author's past, weaving in his thoughts on why they were hurtful and how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter features the voice of at least one artist or activist, including Angie Thomas, author of _The Hate U Give_; April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; Jemele Hill, sports journalist and podcast host; and eleven others. Touching on everything from cultural appropriation to power dynamics, "reverse racism" to white privilege, microaggressions to the tragic results of overt racism, this book serves as conversation starter, tool kit, and invaluable window into the life of a former "token Black kid" who now presents himself as the friend many readers need. Backmatter includes an encyclopedia of racism, providing details on relevant historical events, terminology, and more.

### Author Biography

**Frederick Joseph** is the coauthor of _Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World_, with Porsche Joseph. He is also the author of _Patriarchy Blues: Reflections on Manhood_, a collection of essays and poetry and an instant _New York Times_ bestseller, and the picture book _Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream_, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith. An award-winning activist, philanthropist, and marketing professional, Frederick Joseph was named to the 2019 _Forbes_ 30 Under 30 list, is a recipient of the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and was selected for the 2018 Root 100, an annual list of the most influential African Americans. He lives in New York City with his wife, Porsche, and their dog, Stokely.

**Number of Pages:** 272

**Dimensions:** 1.1 x 8.3 x 5.5 IN

**Publication Date:** December 01, 2020

**Accelerated Reader:**

**Quiz Name:** Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person

**Interest Level:** Upper Grades, 9-12

**Reading Level:** 6.8

**Point Value:** 9

## Details

- **Price:** 17.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 17.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person - Hardcover

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