Do the Work!: An Antiracist Activity Book by W. Kamau Bell

Do the Work!: An Antiracist Activity Book Reviews

• 
  Traci Thomas

  This book is really fun and filled with a lot of great info, tools, and history. I love the activity book premise. Really smart and makes the racism go down easier (I’d imagine). The book is very much aimed at white audiences and I just wish it was able to be more advanced to include POC in all of this. Much of the history was stuff I was well versed in, so more unique examples might’ve helped there.
• 
  Shelby (allthebooksalltheways)

  **IG REVIEW**
  
  ✍️ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ✍️
  
  🔹"𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸
  𝗔𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸"
  🔹𝗕𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪. 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘂 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹
  🔹𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀: 𝟭𝟳𝟲
  🔹𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟰.𝟳𝟮 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 😱
  (𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯!!)
  
  My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 5/5 stars
  
  This was amazing y'all! 🙌 What a fantastic, interactive, participatory, easy-to-use workbook. 👏 I have read quite a bit of anti-racist literature, but nothing like this (until now)! What sets this apart is that it's FUN! Antiracist reading is typically not "fun" -- important, yes. Enjoyable, yes (if you enjoy learning). But never fun. Yet Kate and Kamau (and Dian) found a way to create this approachable, relatable, often humorous, workbook that really lets the reader take part. I don't know about you, but I LOVE learning in this way. "Do the Work" allows the readers to get their hands dirty (figuratively speaking), YOU help write the story based on YOUR experiences and knowledge. It's a personalized anti-racist book that meets you where you are. And this is so important because we all come into this journey at different places. So each reader takes something different from the experience. 💕
  
  The other thing that really sets this apart is that it helps you develop a plan for AFTER. So not only did I learn a lot from reading and working on this, it will serve as a guide moving forward as I continue to DO THE WORK. 👏
  
  I wish I had a million caption characters here because I could go on and on. But I'll just say this... If learning and growing as a human is something you're interested in, GET THIS BOOK! 🙌
  It is available NOW!
  
  Thank you @k8shots @wkamaubell @workmanpub @dianholton @tandemcollectiveglobal for including me in this readalong. This was such a great experience!!❤️
• 
  MookNana

  This book should be savored slowly, in small bites. As dismantling white supremacy is obviously a gargantuan, multi-faceted imperative, overwhelm and fear seem to be substantial obstacles to getting interested people to actually act. This book tries really hard to acknowledge and work through that, and it's appreciated.
  
  I liked the multi-modal approach to conveying information. The infographics, comic panels, games, and interactive activities really help to encourage readers to think about ideas in ways they haven't before. The authors aren't pulling any punches, but still inject enough humor to help the medicine go down.
  
  This would definitely be appropriate for high schoolers and adults, but middle schoolers who are strong readers would also do well. It would make a really good text for a group study as part of a school club, civic organization, or faith community. I'm glad to have read it and I'm looking forward to coming back to it again and again as I work through the...well...work!
  
  Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
• 
  Kelle

  Interesting approach to a very difficult topic. While I read through the entire book, I did not stop for all exercises and plan now to go back and revisit those unfinished exercises in a more introspective manner. This was a church study and I learned there is so much I don’t know that I need to spend time deciding what/how I want to learn more. Recommended.
• 
  Dawn Michelle

  This is an amazing, MUCH NEEDED, and extremely timely workbook geared towards children and children's - middle grade [I can see this being used for YA too] and how they can learn and fight against racism. I had this in the kindle so I was unable to do all the activities [I may just have to buy it to be able to complete all them], so I highly suggest this be bought in print form as there are many things that need to be colored, written about [there are games, essays and the like, all geared to teaching about racism and how to be anti-racist] and tore out to hang up [that is the first thing in the book - a poster. It is fantastic].
  
  The authors work well together and while it does a deep dive into racism, it is never overwhelming and it is done in a way that pretty much all ages can understand [and any adult can make it understandable for even very littles]. Kids will enjoy the games and the note taking; the authors make learning fun and not a chore and this book will absolutely be teaching the children [AND adults] who read and use this. I can see them going back to this over and over again as they encounter real life and see what they have learned about played out in front of them.
  
  So well done. This is a must read.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, W. Kamau Bell, Katie Schatz, and Workman Publishing Company for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Emmalita

  Do you fondly remember doing activity books when you were a kid? Are you still working out how to turn your antiracist aspirations into a life of action?* W. Kamau Bell ( a Black American man) and Kate Schatz (a white American woman) have put together an antiracist activity book that is perfect for adults and older teens. It is US focused, so while antiracism is necessary around the world, the specifics of history and law won’t apply.
  
  Not everyone will appreciate the nostalgic format of crossword puzzles, word scrambles, fill in the blanks, and pages for coloring. But I did! The exercises are not just for fun. I thought the coloring pages to illustrate redlining were a brilliant way to take knowledge from abstract to visceral. I really enjoyed it, though because I had a locked PDF advance reader copy, I couldn’t actually interact with the book as intended. Still, I will really enjoy coloring the Audre Lord quote:
  
  To acknowledge privilege is the first step in making it available for wider use.
  
  The book does a great job of walking the reader step by step through concepts and linking those concepts to direct action. I particularly appreciated that Bell and Schatz presented history as choices that were made, those choices were driven by desire to create and protect wealth, and they link those choices to the world we live in today. There was a lot of information that wasn’t new to me, but it was really nice to have it all in one place and used as context for the current state of affairs.
  
  This would be a good companion book to any antiracist library. I think it’s important to have many tools in your toolbox, and this one is nice for people who find journaling hard. It’s me, I find journaling hard.
  
  I received this as an advance reader copy from Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley. My opinions are freely and honestly given.
  
  *That’s a trick question, achieving perfect antiracism is nearly impossible, the point is to keep working at it.
• 
  Shelley Anderson

  Funny and thought-provoking in turns, this activity book is full of crossword puzzles, hidden pictures, word searches/scramble, pop quizzes, pictures to color and much more, all geared towards helping people become more active in the struggle for racial justice. It is lavishly illustrated (by some 16 different illustrators) and filled with resources, including books and organizations to plug into. I both learned a lot and enjoyed the process.
  
  It takes the form of a dialogue between Black comedian and television host W. Kamau Bell and white queer feminist writer Kate Schatz. They model respectful ways to talk--and listen--about race. There's a pocket history, with time line, of race relations in the US (I flunked the 15 sample questions from Alabama's 68-question-long Literacy Test of 1965, one of the many hurdles developed to stop Blacks and poor whites from voting), then definitions of on words like racism, bias, prejudice and white supremacy.
  
  I especially appreciated the authors's candid talk of times they messed up, the examples of how to apologize and move past defensiveness, and how to start conversations about racism. There are several activities that help in self-reflection, and an entire last chapter on ways to keep continuing antiracist work.
  
  While the focus is on anti-Black racism, the authors weave in stories from many marginalized groups (Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, Asian American and Pacific Islanders). There are examples of people who have done the work, and very concrete suggestions on opportunities we all have to dismantle racism and white supremacy.
  
  This is a practical, inspiring activity workbook, the kind to give as a gift to friends and family.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Theresa

  Who says that raising ones consciousness has to be dreary? Bell and Schatz have created a workbook with fun activities and serious text about racism and what we can do to enlighten ourselves and do the work to change the world. They've included everything from pictures to color or draw, crossword puzzles, little quizzes to test our knowledge of history, a paper doll, stickers and other activities to engage us in the work of fighting white supremacy. Surrounding the games is a eye-opening text about how racism has functioned as part of the very fabric of this country. It's also full of advice about how to confront racism with friends and family, how to have meaningful conversations with self and others and how to continue to work it takes to be an effective adversary to white supremacy. As one would expect this workbook also contains the humor that W. Kamau Bell is known for.
• 
  Stacey

  I was a bit skeptical of this at first. The title “Do the Work” felt a little overused to me. But then I saw the authors speak about it at a City Arts and Lectures event in San Francisco and grabbed a copy. It was great! It’s filled with a lot of important history and action steps and ways to reflect on your own life and actions you are taking / not taking to eradicate racism. They tried to design the book with all readers in mind, but it’s especially important for white readers. I’ll probably go back to this book again and again.
• 
  Daniella Mestyanek

  So good. Full of history and fax. Most people don’t know, and tactical lists of actual actions that can be taken. Huge recommend.
• 
  Carolyn Bragg

  I thought the intention of this book was to help all readers identify racism and fight against it or work toward ending it--depending on your methodology.
  
  I expected something constructive. I did not find it. I am very disappointed; I had high hopes that this would bridge the gap between "you'll never understand us" and "how can we understand"?
  
  Upon opening this book, you will find one very long opinion piece (broken up into pieces) on all that is wrong with white people, and how they continue to oppress and live on the the labors of others (basically). Everybody's problems were caused by white people, and someone said a Caucasian skull was most beautiful, so that's why white people check that box at the DMV. (I'm laughing here, because it's written by two comedians, and they're obviously having fun with this.)
  
  The problem is that it is very unclear where the joking begins and ends. Our hosts, a Black man and a white woman (small "w" explained in the book because white people didn't have to work for a capital letter), are of the same opinion about how nice living in America is in general, but it's filled with terrible places where white people live. Because they're all supremacists to one degree--too much--or the other. (Except for the white lady helping write the book, obviously.)
  
  Between "down with white people" comments, there are disheartening historical facts and stories about things that were done--that certainly should not have been. I welcomed the education. I wish it had been presented with an attitude of of education. That alone--presented in this format--would have been powerful and helpful.
  
  Blacks, people with non-white skin color (so I won't miss a color someone prefers), and people from thousands of cultures, have been discriminated against, treated differently, as "less than," (and worse), and still are, in areas of America. It's true.
  
  What this book fails to do is show how to overcome reverse prejudice--against white people OR prejudice against Blacks and others. Not one single word. It just says how terrible one predominant "race" is. (Although one comeback about race says "Are you a biologist? No? Then sit down.")
  
  Because white people are not all bad, they're not all condescending, and they're not all supremacists. But they only get a very short paragraph or two and a hashtag. #NotAllWhitePeople.
  
  How is anger against a nation of mostly white people going to help? The book's response: When Black people talk about oppression, say "I hear you." Don't talk about personal experiences or pretend to be clever. Don't say what YOU feel. It's THEIR turn to talk.
  
  The activities and games were represented in the book summary to be family or class activities to encourage understanding and open conversation. Unfortunately, they are so heavy-handed I believe many of them present a skewed view of the world.
  
  Yes, learn about the past. Absolutely. Do I disagree with the bad (understatement) things done then and now? YES! Hate everyone for what was done in the past? No. Change how things are done now? YES!
  
  2/5 Stars
  Explanation:
  5 Stars = History and facts
  -1 Star = Condescension and negativity
  -1 Star = Race vilification
  -1 Star = Unbalanced presentation
  
  Thanks to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook in pdf; the review is voluntary.
  
  #DotheWork #NetGalley
  
  
  Note to the publisher:
  "We swear sometimes."
  "That's right. Because sometimes the only way to express how we feel is to $#@*%!!"
  
  This is ridiculous. Teaching children that it's impossible to express themselves without swearing, artificially limits them. It prevents them from learning to identify their feelings when everything is expressed by a few crude or obscene words. It leaves them unable to deal with how they feel (anger, frustration, helplessness, etc.). And that leads to depression and violence. We need fewer inarticulate people, not more.
  
  It's also laughable. They are swearing about sending d** flowers or the smell of s**. How exactly is this necessary to expressing outrage regarding white supremacy? It isn't. They just wanted an excuse to use coarse and low-brow language instead of expressing actual feelings. It's embarrassing.
  
  They will say, "You didn't like our book or the language we used? It's because you're too white." But the truth is that crude language isn't based on skin color. It's a choice.
• 
  Liz Sieloff simpson

  AMAZING activity book. Interactive, honest, actions to do to make a difference and dive into where I am, what to do with those thoughts and actions to make change. Fun, hard. Everyone can read/do this books. Word searches, coloring, google searches, educational. buy this book and do with your family, friends, co-workers, book clubs!
  
• 
  Sarah

  I received an eARC of this title, and the only disappointing thing is that I couldn't interact with the content fully, because it was tiny on my phone: couldn't color the pictures, cut out the paper dolls, or complete the crosswords.
  
  This is, unfortunately, not going to be a great library book. It is designed to be written in, so most libraries won't buy it (darn those patrons who could easily make a photocopy but choose not to). The downloadable version would be ok, but again, readers can't fully interact with the content.
  
  This is fantastic for readers who don't want to feel like their being lectured but know they need to engage with this critical topic. Most of the text was presented as dialogue between the two authors, so had a very conversational feel. The dialogue also allowed the authors to model concepts like active listening. The different activities require the reader to think, synthesize, and write down their own ideas and experiences, so is perfect for people who learn better by actively doing.
  
  Highly recommended for anyone looking for more resources on this topic.
• 
  Suzanne

  This is a really fun book that is filled with good content. While I don't plan on getting a copy for my library, I do think it would make a really nice gift for people that I know who are interested in learning more about racial and social justice topics. There is a very easy-to-read voice that is used throughout with the conversations and plenty of humor and fun while tackling serious ideas. I am not sure whether or not people would actually do all of the cute activities that are included throughout, but it makes me happy imagining that people might. And, thus, in order to get the full experience, it would be best for people to have their own copy to be able to color, write-in, etc. I originally thought this looked like fun since it is co-written by Bell, and it is indeed true to his style of being thoughtful, heartfelt, serious, and light all at the same time.
• 
  John Driscoll

  A very well-intentioned book that tries to educate white people on the nuances of modern racial issues while softening a few bitter pills with humor. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.
  
  I think the core message here is good: the United States has had a long and insane history of racism, and while we've mostly turned a corner to the point most of us are no longer doing it on purpose, there's still a fair amount of unintentional harm and racially problematic stuff left over in this country (along with a comparatively small but increasingly vocal group of actual, intentional racists), and it's going to take a lot of careful thought and work to continue untangling the mess.
  
  One thing I appreciate is that the authors go out of their way to avoid saying some of the things that most often prevent this message from landing with the audience that most needs to hear it. They don't say "all white people are racist, even if they don't know it." They don't say "Black/Hispanic/Asian/etc. people can't be racist," which is good because that's just plain not true. You can certainly read those things into this book if you try hard enough, but the authors can't help what baggage the reader brings in to the book.
  
  There are a few things in here that I don't entirely agree with, and as a white man it's hard to participate in that conversation because of course no one wants my opinion on this subject, my demographic created the problem in the first place and I'm the one race that doesn't have to face racism in any meaningful way in this country. I understand and expect no less, but man was it difficult to participate in group discussions of this book (my library offered free copies of this to spark discussion) when you know everyone else would have every right to tell you to take several seats and be quiet on this topic. I don't always agree with everything this book has to say, but I at least appreciate the way they're trying to say it, and their intent to establish a friendly dialogue.
  
  That said, a lot of the activities in this book don't land with me. Some of them (coloring pages) feel like pointless busy work, and so I didn't do them. Others I didn't quite get what they were going for. Some others seemed really good. I guess the variety is meant to make sure it can appeal to as broad an audience as possible, but the flipside of that coin is that there's always going to be some activities that don't work for any given reader as well.
  
  Overall, I would give this 3-1/2 stars, but since Goodreads doesn't allow half stars, I have to round one way or the other. I decided to round up because I appreciate that the book rarely if ever talks down to the reader. The authors come in assuming that you're here because you recognize that you don't always know best on this issue, and that you have good intentions and are trying to do your best. Some books of this type feel like they're putting up barriers rather than tearing them down, and I think that does more harm than good in getting their message across. I do not believe this book has that problem, unless people come in so defensive that they're completely unreceptive to the message at all (in which case why would they be reading this book in the first place?)
• 
  Ingrid Stephens

  For all the people who find themselves overwhelmed by racial injustice, outraged by the news, shocked by the ugly parts of American history, and who keep asking  “What can  I  DOOOO?”  comes the answer:  Do the Work! 
  
  What a great idea! Why lecture those who need instruction on how to be less racist? They won't listen and most people just shut down when they feel lectured or treated like children.
  An interactive graphic novel is a great way to do it. Make learning seem more like a game, even though the subject matter is nothing to laugh at.
  There is a conversational feel here, as the two authors speak to each other, that gives the feeling of listening to two friends.
  Throw in the interactive aspects, crossword puzzles, coloring, and writing activities. The only issue I had was, being an ebook I couldn’t do the activities.
  This is the kind of book, you need to buy the actual physical book and be willing to write in it. So, probably not going to be much of a library choice either, which is a shame.
  
  Parts of this may make some uncomfortable, even angry. But this is a subject that should make you feel those things! In this day and age, when the world has come so far, learned so much, we are still stuck in the cycle of hate and racism. Judging others by the color of their skin, where they come from, their accents, or where you THINK they come from. It just amazes me how much this country, this world, has not moved on.
  Those willing to change will enjoy this book and use it to better themselves. Those who really need to read this, will most likely just pass right by it. More the shame.
  
  Thanks to @Netgalley, Workman Publishing Company, W. Kamau Bell, and Kate Schatz, for the chance to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
• 
  Lisa notes

  Often our #1 question about racism is: What can I do???
  
  This workbook answers that question.
  
  But not only does this book include serious how-to work, it presents it in a fun way. Along with informative text, the book also includes comics, lift-the-flaps, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, and activities. Kamau and Kate work hard to engage the readers so we'll follow through and act.
  
  What can YOU do? Here are a few of the MANY things listed in this book.
  
  * Shop at local BIPOC- and immigrant-owned businesses.
  * Find out whose land you're on. Learn more about Indigenous customs, languages, and contemporary life.
  * Call out racism in Nextdoor threads.
  * Celebrate activist birthdays.
  * Fight voter suppression.
  * Know your elected representatives and how to contact them.
  * Read books by BIPOC authors.
  * Make new friends who are different from you.
  * VOTE!
  
  Talking about racism is hard.
  
  But as Kamau says,
  
  "White people: It can be hard to talk about racism, but it'll never be as hard as it is to experience racism."
  
  We all can do the work. This workbook shows us how.
  
  My thanks to NetGalley + Workman Publishing for the review copy of this book.
• 
  Katie

  This book was AMAZING! I'm sure it helped that I am the target audience - a white person who wants to be anti-racist and tries to be in daily life, but sometimes doesn't know where or how to start. This book was both informative and funny; I learned a lot about the history of racism in the US, people who "did the work" in the past and the present, and more details about topics that I already knew a little about, like redlining and gerrymandering. The book being written as a dialogue between Bell and Schatz makes it approachable and charming; their differing backgrounds and experiences of racism help illustrate the points that they're making, and they strike a great balance between meeting people wherever they are while also giving you a gentle, but firm push to start doing the work. Then, they give you tons of ways that you can do just that! The activities were also great; they were fun, kept you engaged, and forced you to do more than just read the book and think, "Yep, I agree with all that. Sounds great!"
  
  Do the Work! made me think about more things I want to do in my own life and work, and I can't wait to purchase a copy for myself and the other aspiring anti-racists in my life.
• 
  Du4

  Actually fun given all the tactile activities nestled between history lessons. Word puzzles, coloring, exercises, all aimed at helping you understand your own biases…even if you don’t think you have any.
  
  Highly recommended for everyone but especially white people who want to tackle these subjects but have trouble figuring out how. Some good tools here for broaching hard conversations with stubborn family members and better behavior toward people of color in your everyday life. Remember: doing nothing to understand racism consistently ensures it will pervade perpetually.
  
  Caution: Kamau and Kate’s tone may be a turn/off to some readers, particularly those on the right side of the political spectrum. That’s not to say you should avoid this book; it’s actually a good reason you should consume it. Come at these activities with an open mind and think hard about the lessons presented. It’s not supposed to be a comfort read.
• 
  Macaela

  As someone who is white and trying to be antiracist, I wanted to read this book to figure out what I can do. This activity book breaks down how you can be antiracist. There are conversations between the authors aimed at showing how they have learned and grown. And you get crossword puzzles and coloring pages. There is a lot of information in here, but it’s not overwhelming because they break it down. I recommend reading through a section and doing the activities and then sit and think about it. The authors recommend this as well in some sections. I’ve learned about things I never knew about. I love that they provide a reading list to continue my education. This is definitely a book I’d like to have and I think a lot of people I know are going to get it. I highly recommend this.
  
  Thanks to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
• 
  Lester

  Do the Work! is an easy-to-digest activity book aimed at facilitating self-education about racism, personal biases, and cultivating awareness. This review is of the ebook, but I plan to purchase the print version upon its release so that I can actually go through the exercises and activities. There is a bit of salty language, but the humor and the clear presentation of the material would make this accessible to older kids (with parents who don't sweat language). W. Kamau Bell is hilarious as always with his trademark biting delivery of uncomfortable facts we all need to hear. This is a thought-provoking workbook that is great for anyone having difficulty making it through the denser tomes on racism or who is interested in some expertly lead self-reflection.
• 
  Ellie

  I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It covers so much ground in such an approachable way, from providing historical context to steps to take to actively participate in antiracism efforts. I love the variety within the book that makes it feel so different from your typical piece of nonfiction: there are quizzes to take, conversations between the authors, features on important activists, coloring pages and more!
  
  I was very fortunate to receive a free digital galley of this book through the Publishers Weekly Grab-a-Galley program in exchange for an unbiased review. That said, I already have a print copy on preorder because I like it so much and want to be able to reference it and work through it on my own!
• 
  OM

  WOW!
  
  I've been doing social justice work for close to 7 years now and I wish I had this when I was just starting out. The way the authors use dialogue and activity makes my educator's heart sing. They make it relatable while also not holding back from the truthful reality that is racism and white supremacy.
  
  They cover a range of topics and always make sure to show their relevance to today. Also tips and tricks to dealing with people but most importantly working on yourself and they highlight a bunch of people and resources that people can use making me feel like this is a one-stop shop, though they encourage the reader to read more!
  
  For anyone who is actually trying to do the work, and might just have a lot of questions as to how this is for you.
• 
  Jane

  A half dozen coworkers and I read this workbook, did the activities, and held weekly discussions. I highly recommend that my white friends do the same, either alone using the workbook or with a group if you can find one. It IS work. The book forces you to think and to confront some basic truths about living as a white person in the 21st century, but we all found it very helpful.
  
  The book also contains a lot of humor and different activities like coloring pages and crosswords to break things up. Some of the activities resonated with me and were very thought-provoking; other activities I didn't really get. I think that's why the authors included such a variety of exercises.
  
  It was a lot over six weeks. I will revisit the book after a break.
• 
  Mandy Peterson

  Let me start by saying that the content in this book is a wonderful way to have conversations and examine yourself. Because it is so interactive, it will not make a great library book. I feel like I missed out on a lot by having a digital version of the book instead of paper version. To truly get all of the goodness out of this book, you would need to be able to do the activities. So, I recommend that every interested parent get two copies: one for them and one for their teen. Do the Work together. Build relationships and make the world a better place together.