Robin DiAngelo

Robin DiAngelo is an American academic, speaker, and author. She is best known for her work on white fragility, which she defines as “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.” Through her books, essays, and speaking engagements, DiAngelo has emerged as one of the foremost proponents of a new approach to race in the United States.

DiAngelo earned her PhD in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her academic research has examined the ways in which white people reproduce racial inequality. For example, through her work she has explored how subtle forms of racism are perpetuated and how white people maintain their position of privilege and power. She has also studied the ways that racism impacts mental health, as well as how people learn racial worldviews.

In 2018, DiAngelo’s book, “White Fragility:Why It’s So Hard for White People To Talk About Racism” was published by Beacon Press. In the book, DiAngelo summarizes her multidisciplinary research and outlines her concept of white fragility. She argues that racism is deeply rooted in society, and that white people are not only unaware of their own racial biases, but that it is unacceptable to talk about race, which reinforces the status quo of white supremacy. The book has received critical acclaim and has been widely praised for its accessibility and thought-provoking insights, as well as its timely discussion of race relations in the United States.

The book begins by exploring the underlying dynamics of racism in the United States, and how it impacts the lives of people of color. DiAngelo outlines the ways in which racism is deeply engrained in society, and how white people are routinely unaware of their own biases and privileges. She then outlines her concept of white fragility, and how it manifests in everyday conversations and interactions.

DiAngelo also discusses the role of white people in combating racism. This includes both recognizing their own positions of power and privilege, and recognizing how they can actively work to change the status quo. She encourages readers to look beyond their current ways of thinking and work to create a more just and equitable society.

DiAngelo has since followed “White Fragility” with a series of essays, lectures, and interviews, in which she discussed her research and the ongoing need to address racism and white fragility in the United States. In November 2019, DiAngelo released an adapted audio version of her book.

In 2020, DiAngelo launched her “White Fragility in Organizations” series for corporations, focusing on how understanding white fragility can create a more equitable workplace. She also continues to provide lectures and workshops to organizations, universities, and conferences around the world, discussing the importance of white fragility and how to best respond to it.

Through her work, DiAngelo has emerged as a prominent voice in the conversation around race and racism. Her groundbreaking insights have provided much needed recognition to the role of white fragility in perpetuating racism and inequality continues to provide inspiration to those working to end racism.