Writing directly to white people as a white person, DiAngelo identifies many common white racial patterns and breaks down how well-intentioned white people unknowingly perpetuate racial harm. DiAngelo explains how spiritual white progressives seeking community by co-opting Indigenous and other groups’ rituals create separation, not connection. She challenges the ideology of individualism and explains why it is OK to generalize about white people, and she demonstrates how white people who experience other oppressions still benefit from systemic racism. Writing candidly about her own missteps and struggles, she models a path forward, encouraging white readers to continually face their complicity and embrace courage, lifelong commitment, and accountability. Nice Racism is an essential work for any white person who recognizes the existence of systemic racism and white supremacy and wants to take steps to align their values with their actual practice. BIPOC readers may also find the “insiders” perspective useful for navigating whiteness.

Introduction -- What is a nice racist? -- Why it's OK to generalize about White people -- There is no choir -- What's wrong with niceness? -- The moves of White progressives -- Spiritual, not religious -- Let's talk about shame -- What about my trauma? -- We aren't actually that nice -- How White people who experience other oppressions can still be racist, or "But I'm a minority myself!" -- How do you make a White progressive a better racist? -- Niceness is not courageous: how to align your professed values with your actual practice.