Reckoning - by Terri E Givens (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Anti-racist movements have continued to grow worldwide after the death of George Floyd in 2020. Following the BLM protests, many promises were made to deal with the impact of structural discrimination. While this led to more talk than action, there has also been meaningful change, some of which has gone under the radar. The US media focused primarily on the backlash that resulted in book bans and laws against having DEI offices in universities.

In contrast, this book, a follow-up to Terri E. Givens's bestselling book Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides, highlights the promises that were delivered. It focuses on hope and taking action and creating a positive environment including the use of the radical empathy approach to empower ongoing change.

Review Quotes

"The case studies span sectors and range from individual action to organizational policy making. Make the shift from knowing something must be done to being the one doing something." Elisa Camahort Page, Optionality

"At a time when DEI efforts are being demonized and empathy is being weaponized, Reckoning is a passionate rebuttal to the fear-based narratives eroding our shared humanity." Anita Nowak, McGill University

"In a context where backlash often dominates the headlines, this book offers a crucial and refreshing perspective. By focusing on delivered promises rather than broken ones, Terri Givens shows how radical empathy can be a powerful driver of lasting change. A timely and necessary contribution in an essential book."Rokhaya Diallo, writer, filmmaker, journalist & TV host

"As Grace Paley once said, 'the only recognizable feature of hope is action' - and at a time when we need hope more than ever, Terri Givens delivers proof and paths forward for continued action." Sara Blanchard, co-author of Dear White Women and co-host of the podcast What Do You Mean By That?

"A clear and concise resource that guides us to leverage empathy in order to improve our systems, our organizations and ourselves." Suzanne Wertheim, author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide

"This is a compelling and nuanced analysis of the post-2020 landscape of anti-racist efforts, cutting through the dominant narratives of backlash to highlight substantive, often overlooked progress. As a scholar and practitioner, Givens brings intellectual rigor and moral clarity to this follow-up to Radical Empathy, grounding her work in actionable frameworks that are both analytically rich and practically applicable. An essential resource for educators, researchers and institutional leaders committed to advancing equity and structural change within academia and beyond." Robin H. Holmes-Sullivan, Lewis & Clark College

About the Author

Terri E. Givens is Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia. A sought-after expert and speaker, she has lectured and served on panels at international and national conferences on topics as diverse as immigration politics, the radical right, minorities, the globalization of public policy and how to manage life in academia.

Dr Givens is a popular writer, blogger and social media enthusiast and can be found online, on Facebook and LinkedIn.