Let's talk about Robin DeAngelo.
I am starting to really question some of her work.
First, while we don't want to think of those doing antiracist work as grifters (Shaun King for example) I am starting to question some of her motives. She is paid large sums of money to do corporate training. And there's this paradox because if you don't agree with her you're demonstrating "fragility". So she keeps getting paid.
But secondly, and more importantly, the crux of her work seems to be focused on doing internal work. She doesn't seem to be focused on antiracist policy, in contrast to someone like Ibram X. Kendi. I have dealt with racist teachers. They don't listen. You can give them books and trainings; it doesn't matter. As Kendi put it, education without policy work is "suicide" to the "body politic". White supremacy is clearly institutional, and acknowledging white supremacy in one's self is but a step. Then the real work begins in the world.
To clarify, I think some of the things she writes are good. (I do think the writing exercises of Layla F. Saad are more beneficial however.) And I do believe that white liberals are the biggest enablers of white supremacy. I've seen it in my own family members. Ultimately I believe that our work must be rooted in antiracist policy. White liberals can read all the books they want; if they're not putting what they learned into action it is futile.