Recovering Racists: Dismantling White Supremacy and Reclaiming Our Humanity - Paperback

by Idelette McVicker (Author), Lisa Harper (Foreword by)

"It is a rare thing for me to stand with a book, explicitly about race and equity, that is written by a white person. Why? Because it is a rare thing to encounter a white person who has followed the lead of people of color into their own transformation so deeply that I trust the message coming from their white body. Idelette McVicker has done the work."--Lisa Sharon Harper (from the foreword)

As a white Afrikaner woman growing up in South Africa during apartheid, Idelette McVicker was steeped in a community and a church that reinforced racism and shielded her from seeing her neighbors' oppression. But a series of circumstances led her to begin questioning everything she thought was true about her identity, her country, and her faith.

Recovering Racists shares McVicker's journey over thirty years and across three continents to shatter the lies of white supremacy embedded deep within her soul. She helps us realize that grappling with the legacy of white supremacy and recovering from racism is lifelong work that requires both inner transformation and societal change. It is for those of us who have hit rock bottom in the human story of race, says McVicker. We must acknowledge our internalized racism, repent of our complicity, and learn new ways of being human.

This book invites us on the long, slow journey of healing the past, making things right, changing old stories, and becoming human together. As we work for the liberation of everyone, we also find liberation for ourselves. Each chapter ends with discussion questions.

Back Jacket

"A beautiful, honest invitation to a better way of being human"

As a white Afrikaner woman growing up in South Africa during apartheid, Idelette McVicker was steeped in a community and a church that reinforced racism and shielded her from seeing her neighbors' oppression.

In Recovering Racists, McVicker shares her journey over thirty years and across three continents to shatter the lies of white supremacy embedded deep within her soul. She helps white Christians realize that grappling with the legacy of white supremacy is a lifelong work that requires both inner transformation and societal change.

"Rejecting white supremacy is work that we all need to do. It has humanized Idelette and relocated her in the human family as a daughter, sister, friend, and accomplice in the work of loving all God's children. I count it a privilege to have witnessed some of the steps along this precious way of love."
--Rev. René August, The Warehouse

"What a powerful book. Idelette is one of my greatest teachers, and I recommend her work with my whole heart."
--Sarah Bessey, editor of the New York Times bestseller A Rhythm of Prayer and author of Jesus Feminist

"A beautiful, honest invitation to a better way of being human in which we embrace each other fully--I hope you'll accept it."
--Kaitlin B. Curtice, author of Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God

"A heartbreakingly honest and gloriously transparent account of the other side of racism, the one most of us deny. I hope and pray that everyone everywhere will read this book."
--Danielle Strickland, communicator, advocate, and author of Better Together

"An absolute must-read for white people seeking to be recovering racists and anti-racists."
--Karen González, immigration advocate and author of The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong

"McVicker's honest grappling with whiteness makes way for us all to lean in and learn from someone who has done the work to reclaim our humanity."
--Tiffany Bluhm, author of Prey Tell and cohost of the Why Tho podcast