Extremely well researched, White Tears/Brown Scars highlights on an international scale how a history of colonization and racism go hand-in-hand with white feminism. Definitely worth picking up.

This is a really important, really underrated read. I think this book is as important, if not more important than "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo, because of its focus on the impact of racist behaviours and cultures. As a woman of colour, this book was extraordinarily validating for me, and I strongly believe that other women of colour will feel the same. Ruby Hamad put the muscle (i.e. research) and words into experiences that women of colour have had for generations, with roots in Western history, and allows for us to truly understand the things that we have faced in a way that hasn't been outlined before. Just as it is important for women of colour to read this for validation and understanding, it is just as important for white folks to read this because I believe, if consumed with an open mind and without defensiveness, it could allow white folks to truly understand some of the defensive maneuvers they employ when being confronted with racism. I think it could bring to light some subconscious ideologies that may exist, but it could also force a person who is knowingly behaving in these ways to self reflect and trace where these kinds of behaviours really comes from. Hamad does a phenomenal job in this book; she invokes personal anecdotes, the stories and experiences of other women of colour she has interviewed, and appeals to things that most folks reading this book have some knowledge of (such as The Hunger Games controversy, "BBQ Becky," Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the backlash she has faced, etc). This book is not a quick read, and it can be quite a difficult one. I suggest readers take their time with it, honour their feelings throughout, and most important, listen to what Hamad has to say, especially if you are not a woman of colour.

As a white, heterosexual, cis-woman, I am constantly on the lookout for books that will educate me on the experiences of others. White Tears/Brown Scars highlights the experiences of women of color in modern society and actually challenged my idea of feminism. It is one thing to say that you are an intersectional feminist, but it is another thing to actually practice that ideology in your life on a daily basis. Hamad, the author lays out a well-researched history of colonialism and capitalism and how those concepts have negatively impacted women of color. She also focuses on how white women have and currently are playing a huge role in the oppression of women of color. This is an important book because it touches on some major topics that are often left unsaid when focusing on feminism due to scholars not wanting to "rock the boat" with white women. When this book comes out, I hope that many people take the time to read this title and reflect on their own behaviors that are unintentionally contributing to the oppression of others.

An excellent book--it really dove into both the history of white feminism but made connections to today in a way I've seen other books struggle to in the past. Her writing is very immediate and compelling and really illustrates how society is set up to maintain the status quo even in organizations and in politics that are supposedly open-minded and human rights-focused. A must-read.

As a brown female, I absolutely loved this book. Ruby and I may not be the same kind of brown but we have had similar experiences due to our skin color/ethnicity. I highly recommend this book!!! So good especially with the current racial climate.

This is an important contribution to the far-ranging conversation about white supremacy and the destructive ways it shapes how we humans see and treat each other. Hamad's writing takes us across history and around the globe to demonstrate systemic and personal misuses of power that white women wield over Black and Brown people. She's a clear writer, a careful researcher, and an engaging storyteller.

I'll be re-reading "White Tears/Brown Scars" and look forward to using it in anti-racism discussion groups, while recognizing that anti-racism work must lead to action.
#NetGalley, #WhiteTearsBrownScars

I love Ruby Hamad for this attempt to navigate the knotty nexus of gender, race, and feminism. I felt more like I was talking with a friend than I was reading a manifesto. That approach has pros and cons.

It reminded me of the reading experience I have with Richard Dawkins. With both of these authors I feel they are making assumptions about what’s obvious to them—that everyone already knows this thing they’re talking about—and in other cases they overexplain what really does feel obvious. I just didn’t fit well with Hamad’s assumptions about her general reader.

Another thing I found interesting here is that Hamad sometimes wrote as “we” in her sentences, and sometimes addresses “you” or “women,” and I wasn’t always sure who belonged to “we” or “you” or “women.”

On the whole it was enjoyable and enlightening.

White Tears, Brown Scars is an eye opening book for anyone like me who has not experienced racism on a daily basis. As a white woman, I felt I was the perfect audience for what Ruby Hamad had to say. While discussing race and racism is an uncomfortable topic for many people, Ruby shows us the importance of remaining calm, seeing, and hearing the concerns of our BIPOC colleagues, friends and neighbors. I truly appreciated this book.

There is a long-standing and pervasive myth that white women were more "benign" during the antebellum era, even though it is well-established by several scholars that several of them owned slaves and treated them in some of the most inhumane ways possible. The same myth continues today, that white women are "kinder" and more "empathic," particularly to other women, but if ever there was a book that contained scads of proof that this is beyond untrue, this book is it. There is a large body of scholarship coming out in the last few decades that shows white women weaponize white supremacy and patriarchy, using them as tools against Black and Indigenous women as well as other women of marginalized backgrounds. This is particularly evident in the workplace, with many white women using their tears to convince a supervisor or manager that a Black or brown female colleague is "harassing" them or "bullying" them--something that usually comes with repercussions for the person being unjustly accused and profiled, including but not limiting to reprimands from HR, demands of apologies to the white co-worker, sensitivity training, or being fired (sometimes all of the above).

Many white women like to think of themselves as allies, particularly in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, but they need to hear the message of this book the most.

The author explains that she uses the term "brown" to refer to all nonblack people of color, and is distinct from the use of "black" people throughout the book, while acknowledging: "...virtually all terms used when discussing race are imprecise because race is an imposition, not a biological reality." (In other words, race is a man-made construct artificially imposed by White, mainly Western European peoples to all who they perceived to be non-white.)

She also distills how "whiteness" operates, as well as zeroing in on those who benefit most from the perception of whiteness. As well, she explains her misgivings over the term 'people of color' because it is too close to 'colored' "...as well as the danger that it can collapse the needs and issues of certain marginalized racial groups into others." Similarly, terms such as "nonwhite" imply white is a default, so she tries to avoid using that.

We are not sure when, but somehow, over time, prioritizing the emotional comfort of white people took over everything, every little interaction, every post, and so on. It is incredibly demoralizing and destructive.

When the author describes the fear of what happened when she posted her article on white women's tears in The Guardian, it was terrifying. Trolls, haters, threat-makers, and so on have gone--and continue to go too far--and this case was no exception.

The author is not saying that white women don't experience oppression or horrible things from men. She's saying: recognize that you don't have to deal with the additional burden of race on top of that. She also explains very well what she calls "the weaponization of White Womanhood."

She deconstructs the major stereotypes of marginalized women, for example the Black Jezebel, Mammy, Sapphire, and so on. The wide swathe of backgrounds, religions, and socio-economic classes she deconstructs is truly impressive. She devotes a significant chunk of the book to how Aboriginal women in Australia were (and are) treated by the largely White Europeans, which is a hugely important but often underrepresented area of scholarship.

She also discusses the degradation of the bodies of women of colour, as well as the entitlement white men felt (and feel) to women's bodies. Her deconstruction of the Disney adaptation of Pocahontas is well worth the price of admission, as well as her discussion of contemporary political figures, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, attacks from the political Right in the United States, and men who paint her as the Angry Brown Woman.

"Apart from Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek and Aladdin’s Mena Massoud there is a dearth of openly Arab/Middle Eastern actors in the public eye." She devotes a portion of the book to discuss the fact that women in Hollywood from Arabic backgrounds, such as Shannon Elizabeth, seem to succeed when they drop their ethnic surname (in Shannon's case, the Lebanese surname Fadal), because "...it seems that to be successful as an Arab in the entertainment industry, [this] requires passing for white." She also devotes an extensive section of the book to describe the nuances of passing in marginalized communities.

Additionally, she discusses the structures of systemic racism worldwide that have allowed white women to weaponize themselves against people of color. When we discover where these systems have come from, it explains why white women feel so emboldened to call the police to report Black people for things that aren't crimes, like sleeping in the student lounge of their own dorm, or waiting in line to use the restroom at a Starbucks.

The main crux of her argument is this: "...white women are not only aware of their privileged status in society but use it to surreptitiously manipulate and dominate people of color, only to resort to the damsel in distress archetype of white female innocence and victimhood when challenged..." Further, the damsel "could only be white" and "only white women were considered worthy of protecting, because only white women could ensure the continuation of a 'pure white race.'"

She also explains the limitations of white women's tears, which, for instance, don't work against white men (just look at the Orange Goblin in the White House who I refer to as #45). Or the case of Brett Kavanaugh.

Essentially, the author breaks down and analyzes every topic you're hoping she will cover from historical to political.

Though many may not know it, white women are no strangers to the KKK. Let's also not forget that "it was white women who were at the forefront of the grassroots resistance to school desegregation in the
mid-twentieth century."

As she asserts, "Whiteness was invisible. White people just were. They set the standard and we had to try to meet it."

Basically, this is such an essential text not only within academia, but for everyone, especially in the wake of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and my hope is that it will be as widely read as possible. It is a masterpiece in this area of study.

I am so honored to have been able to read and review this book before its publishing date. This book is going to cause a lot of waves, but in all honesty, it is important and needed at this point in history.
This book centers on the relationship between white women and their effect on the suffering of women in color throughout the world. There are supremely interesting discussions regarding the colonization of Australia and how white women were right on the front lines of removing Aboriginal children from their families.
This book will be hard to read. Not because it's written drily, but because it gets at the heart of why intersectional feminism is so important and why performative activism hurts and hinders the movement of not only feminism but also anti-racism. This is an important text for all to read, not just white women, and not just women, even. This is important because it can show us a road forward and how to create and steer dialogue amongst ourselves.
As a white woman, it is difficult to admit, but I am not innocent in any way. I am a part of a system that has created difficulties and strife for people of color and I am owning up to that. Having read this, I am committed to understanding that it is not my choice to decide the way forward, but to follow the leaders of movements and be there by their side to us my privilege for good, and to help.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An intense look at the tension between feminism and race,A deep dive into the issues well written well argued.A book perfect for discussions,a book that leaves a lot to think about .#netgalley#catapult

A strong addition to the Black Lives Matter bookshelf. Not an entry point, however, but a later read/deeper dive for those committed to being/becoming Antiracist.

I requested to read and review this book because, as a white woman, I want to understand the plight of my black sisters here in America and around the world.
What this book did for me was help me to understand not only the maltreatment, abuse and degradation of my black sisters, but also my brown sisters.
In this thorough examination of the history of white’s supposed supremacy and definite world domination through racist and sexist means, Ruby Hamad shatters any and all erroneous thoughts involving multiple platforms. The widely-accepted elevation of white women above colored and black women and the globally-adhered promotion of white men above all races, ethnicities and genders is explored, exposed and shut down.
This novel is a must-read for those of all colors who are seeking to not only understand racial injustice but to live out a life of rejection of society’s misaligned and sickening standards and to advocate for the voiceless women of color.

“More and more, I was wondering whether most, if not all, white feminists—which does not mean “any feminist who is white” but refers to feminists who prioritize the concerns of white, middle-class women as though they are representative of all women—are even listening to women of color when we say we experience race and gender simultaneously rather than as distinct and separate impositions.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In “White Tears/Brown Scars”, Ruby Hamad provides a thoughtful and detailed critique of white feminism and the impacts that is has had, and continues to have, on minorities. By exploring the topic both historically and from the current day climate, Hamad was able to successfully address a wide variety of minority groups and how their current experiences and treatment in society have been shaped by historically perpetuated negative stereotypes.

This was a great read and I highly recommend it to anyone who would like a better understanding of feminism and racism in order to be a better intersectional feminist and ally to minority groups.

A well-researched and thorough examination of the global history of race. The author provides examples of colonization and white supremacy, particularly white women and their role, and its impact on BIPOC. As a white woman, I feel like this book must be read multiple times in order to really consume all of the hard truths it contains.

White Tears and Brown Scars is a thought provoking book. Having read White Fragility earlier this month, I thought I had an idea of what this would be (white privilege, I suppose). While thinking through my review, I revisited the emotions I felt reading this, shock, disappointment, sadness, anger.

White Tears/Brown Scars is a must read for white women, but has what I think is a higher entry point for folks that are new to antiracist literature. It's a bit more academic, but very readable with short essays that have a lot of overlap and continuation in themes of intersectional and revolutionary feminism. The author, Ruby Hamad, is a Lebanese-Syrian woman who lives in Australia, but she has a great depth of understanding of racism in the United States in addition to Australia. The examples and stories that she shares to highlight her points are global - which makes this a really unique entry into the current offerings on this topic. The book is absolutely critical when it comes to understanding how white women have chosen to preserve white supremacy instead of ensuring that women's rights are representative of black and brown folks that have faced the most oppression, despite being active members of the movement. It shows how this hurts everyone in the long run and fails to ever create real change.

Hamad dives deep into the tools that white women use - including their tears and privileged status in society- and if you're not familiar, read Hamad's article and also all of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. I highlighted several passages throughout this book, and looking back, the reoccurring theme of the 'white damsel' stands out. As I was reading this, Amy Cooper called the police on a black man who asked her to leash her dog at Central Park - only the latest in a strand of white women calling the police on black people for living their everyday lives. Hamad unapologetically calls out this behavior, pulling no punches as she deftly describes how this behavior by white women has only increased - and how they rely on the archetype of white female innocence and victim-hood to protect them from any consequences. This should be on everyone's list and should end with a solid commitment to being anti-racist and fighting for anti-racist policies. I will be assigning this to our book group at work in the future (once it's released!)

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy for review, all opinions are my own.

This book is full of interesting thoughts and ideas about the current tensions between feminism and race. Hamad provides a great deal of historical context and a broad range of experiences and perspectives from women of color around the world. Recommended for anyone interested in how we got here.

Equal parts cultural criticism and history primer, Hamad’s work is a timely addition to works on intersectional feminism and white saviorism. The first section, briefly exploring stereotypes of Black women and other women of color, may be old hat for some readers but provides solid background information for the rest of the book. It’s refreshing to learn more about how race and feminism relate to each other outside of U.S. settings, as often it is the U.S. perspective that is centered. Hamad especially shines when discussing how whiteness and white feminism is mobilized in the Australian context—this reader, for one, has been inspired to investigate further. Similarly, I appreciate that Hamad has taken care to cite Black and Aboriginal thinkers as well as other thinkers “of color,” proof that these discussions are far from new.

Thank you to Catapult Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available October 6th 2020

In her debut book "White Tears/ Brown Scars", Ruby Hamad paints a sharp, cutting critique of white feminism and its complicity in colonialism worldwide. As a follow up to her divisive Guardian article, Hamad addresses each and every minority group, from Australian indigenous women to East Asian and black women in the US to South Asian women in the UK. With this wide focus, Hamad shows how toxic white femininity is truly an issue that spans the globe. While the book does contain historical examples, Hamad spends a considerable amount of time on office place politics as well as defining theory. That being said, at times the book can almost feel too encompassing leading a reader to get lost. The part I enjoyed the most was Hamad's breakdown of contemporary feminist moments like BBQ Becky or AOC's career and relate it to historical and theoretical context. If these were organized into discrete chapters, the book might have flowed just a bit better! Overall, an enjoyable and validating read for women of color and an eye-opening read for white women.