Rutgers-Camden Anti-Racism Book Study: So You Want to Talk About Race
Chapter 15 - But what if I hate Al Sharpton?
Martin Luther King & Malcolm X
In this chapter, Oluo discusses how Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are generally positioned as opposite ends of a spectrum of respectability and likability. The resources below address the relationship between these two men and their roles in the civil rights movement.
Who Is Al Shapton?
Oluo names Al Shapton in the title of this chapter. Find information about him below.
Discussion Prompt For Chapter 15
Chapter 15, "But what if I hate Al Sharpton?," discusses the issue of respectability politics and tone policing. What burdens of "respectability" and "tone" do you see placed on different populations of color in our society?
From the Book Discussion Guide.
Tone Policing
Tone policing refers to the practice of invoking "civility" in order to silence marginalized voices. Find out more about tone policing below.
