The problem with DiAngelo’s book is not actually most of the basic ideas in it, which aren’t even here but those she’s borrowed from the larger framework of anti-racist activism of (mostly) Black people. The problem is with how limited and corporate the scope and style of it is.

It’s a diversity training manual for how white people can be less defensive and hostile to having their own participation in systemic racism called out, which is in of itself not a bad thing. It’s just not what the larger movement should be about.

People who are using this opportunity to dunk on the book for talking about how white supremacy is everywhere and white people should all examine their own behavior for signs of it as though THAT’S why the book sucks are telling on themselves.

The actual critique is that white liberals are focusing entirely too much on how to fix their own interpersonal and professional racism than they are in supporting actually radical substantive political change like defunding/abolishing the police. That’s it.

The ideas in the book itself about white supremacy and how pervasive it is (leaving aside its purpose/style/author) are only bad if you in fact have a problem with the fundamental tenets of anti-racist organizing and Black liberation. The point is this book is not nearly enough.