AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON WHITE RESPONSIBILITY by Carolyn L. Baker follows a white woman’s journey growing up in segregated Southern California coming of age in the counter-cultural 1960s. Baker’s “aha” moment came, decades later, in her mid-sixties during Black History Month when she first learned of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. From this revelation, Baker shares her personal journey and observations on her awakening of cultural white privilege and unintentional racial harm to becoming an ally in building a more humane community. An Unintentional Accomplice recalls America’s reality versus the American dream, highlights institutionalized discrimination, and calls for a redesigned feminism. Of particular importance to Baker are the principles of “nothing about us without us,” and the role of the community to heal and sustain all of its members. Her goal is to create a space for individuals who, like the author, might recognize themselves in the midst of the racial divide, and to challenge, inspire, and uplift them to do the personal work required to foster a bridge of respect among all people. AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE is a non-judgmental personal narrative designed to encourage readers to appeal to, and act upon, “the better angels of our nature.”
Contributors
Introduction by Gabrielle David
GABRIELLE DAVID is the publisher of 2Leaf Press, a Black/Brown female-led nonprofit press based in New York that promotes multicultural literature and literacy, of which she serves as executive director. She is also editor-in-chief of the award-winning quarterly phati’tude Literary Magazine. Her poetry and essays have appeared in the Paterson Literary Review, Journal of New Jersey Poets, AIM Magazine, and the Huffington Post,and she is an editor of Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry by Jesús Papoleto Meléndez (2012), The Branches of The Tree of Life (2014), What Does it Mean to be White in America? (2016), and is the author of the TRAILBLAZERS series (https://trailblazersblackwomen.org). https://gabrielledavid.com
Readers' Reviews
AMAZON
Carolyn Baker’s book strikes at the heart of so many white Americans who came of age in the 60s and 70s. An Unintentional Accomplice focuses on our generation that was raised in all-white suburban societies and moved up into work environments of privilege. We climbed a ladder to success that excluded anyone that didn’t look much like us. Did I feel guilt? Most of my life I didn’t think so. Carolyn’s book goes through the ways we can make changes in our society by making changes in our lives such as speaking up. Colin Kaepernick started a movement to speak out about injustices that most of the white affluent fans don’t know about or believe exists. Thanks to this book, I’m more aware of the racial history of our nation and finding the best path forward for all of us. Jack Bair (8/11/2020)
AMAZON
What makes this book unique is that it is a white woman’s reckoning with racial inequality and coming to an understanding of the price of our “blindness.” I can identify with her journey. This is a book to read again and again. Near the end of the book is a statement that literally stopped me: “When experiencing cognitive dissonance, one must either change an aspect of one’s view or deny its existence.” I, for one, am tired of twisting myself into a pretzel trying to deny its existence. Pattie Devine (9/9/2020)
AMAZON
Carolyn Baker’s personal perspective on white responsibility could not have landed into my (or anyone’s) hands in more perfect timing! In searching my heart and soul for my part in healing racial divide and understanding how my whiteness affects the process, in Carolyn’s sojourn I found a much needed barometer to measure my privilege and a compass to point me in the right direction. This beautifully penned memoir did just that, as I walked with Carolyn in her honest, authentic, transparent journey through her whiteness. A primer for healing. Highly recommended! Dixie G. (3/28/2021)
AMAZON
This is a very good book. Written by a white, middle-class American woman primarily for other white, middle-class American women, the author’s story is shared with a depth of both clarity and compassion that is rare when discussing long standing issues of systemic racism. The author shares her experience of a childhood that might seem idyllic while, at the same time, pointing out how in hindsight she now sees how many of the opportunities and assumptions that she took for granted were the direct result of government policies and cultural beliefs that explicitly excluded people of color. Rachel Heslin (10/12/2020)
AMAZON
What makes this book unique is that it is a white woman’s reckoning with racial inequality and coming to an understanding of the price of our “blindness.” I can identify with her journey. This is a book to read again and again. Near the end of the book is a statement that literally stopped me: “When experiencing cognitive dissonance, one must either change an aspect of one’s view or deny its existence.” I, for one, am tired of twisting myself into a pretzel trying to deny its existence.
What I found most refreshing about “An Unintentional Accomplice” was the lack of guilt or posturing. The author’s presentation is sorrowful for the unconscious harm she has inadvertently contributed to causing, yet very matter of fact: these are things that have been (and still are) a problem, this is how they affected me, this is how I changed when I learned about them, and — most importantly — here are things that each of us can do to make things better for everyone. It brings to mind Maya Angelou’s famous directive: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” An Unintentional Accomplice starts as education and ends as an excellent inspiration to do better. Pattie Devine (9/9/2020)
BARNES & NOBLE
A well-written book on one woman’s reckoning with her own unintentional racism by the mere fact of being a white baby boomer. After seeing on PBS the gut wrenching story of 14 year old Emmett Till’s brutal murder and wondering why she had never heard this story before, she sets out to educate herself and see in an honest way how just by being white she has been afforded great opportunities that were not and are not available to black Americans.
The book provides vignettes of her fascinating life intertwined with facts of how unknowingly as white Americans we too have been unintentional accomplices to racism. There are lists of things to do to take responsibility and make us all better allies to black persons and to become anti-racists, not just passively non-racists. A hearty reading list is provided so if moved, we can educate ourselves and be better allies to persons of color. This book is a recommended read if you are interested in learning more about a white person’s perspective and unintentional contributions to discrimination and her quest to take personal accountability for herself and stand for equality for black Americans. Needed now more than ever! JuneBug, Los Angeles, CA (2020)
BARNES & NOBLE
Carolyn Baker’s personal perspective on white responsibility could not have landed into my (or anyone’s) hands in more perfect timing! In searching heart and soul for my part in healing racial divide and understanding how my whiteness affects the process, I found in Carolyn’s journey a much-needed barometer to measure my privilege and a compass to point me in the right direction. This beautifully penned memoir was a gift, as I walked with Carolyn in her honest, authentic, transparent journey through her whiteness. A primer for healing. Highly recommended! Dix7, Ventura, CA (2021)
GOODREADS
Even though I have been exceptionally busy lately I literally devoured this book. As a POC I couldn’t really relate to Carolyn’s experience, but it was still so interesting to read. It’s important to be self-aware when it comes to the issues going on in the world, and books about White Responsibility are a good resource for widening your self-awareness and knowledge about your privilege. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in learning more about white people’s perspective and unintentional contributions to discrimination. This book goes through the ways we can make changes in our society by making changes in ourselves. Very needed now! Lina, Tunisia (12/13/2020)
GOODREADS
Carolyn Baker does what few privileged white individuals do in this book. She evaluates her past and current life to align to the injustices that have been taking place since the beginning of America. This journey through her evaluation draws attention to racial biases we all have. It’s a testament that knowledge is power and with that, we can all open our eyes and hearts more to make the world a more equal place. Marissa, Nashville, TN (1/3/2021)
GOODREADS
“An Unintentional Accomplice” is my first book by this author. Her story is very candid, yet so sad. We live in a world of many disparities; it is clearly spelt out in this book. It is a sad reality to know that there are so many people who have been fighting for generations to make a difference.
Baker sheds light on a lot. She says “Humans are 99.9 percent the same genetically”. It doesn’t matter to those who are benefiting from others lack though. A very compelling read. Yolisa, Johannesburg, South Africa (11/12/2020)
Here's What People Are Saying
“In AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE, Carolyn Baker lulls us through her ‘cookie cutter’ Southern California childhood and Girl Scout ‘white bred’ mantras—that mirror of Disneylandish life—as we bask on the beach in our own smug skins. Then, like a stiletto, she slips in Emmett Till’s American tragedy making Klan enablers of us all without any need to dress-up in a great white sheet. Baker has clearly called out racism as the timeless tragedy in our time.” ~Richard L. Mitchell, PhD, Cornell University, author of The Education of Adult Offenders
“By honoring the process of reflection, Carolyn Baker faces her status as a privileged white woman growing up in the United States in AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE. Her examination of the implicit/explicit racism deeply rooted in our culture leads her to acknowledge her own racial biases. White Americans are encouraged to follow her lead in the hopes of getting to a place of truth and reconciliation in our country.” ~Emily Scott, Financial Guide and Thought Partner
“Carolyn Baker’s AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE is a deeply moving example of what a heart opened to the suffering of others can inspire.” ~Amber Jayanti, founder of the International School for Tarot & Qabalah Study, 1975, Code Pink Activist since 2006
“The true story of one woman’s personal journey towards life-changing discoveries about white privilege and race. In AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE, Carolyn Baker’s realizations are told with gentle eloquence and deliver enlightening perspectives and compelling insights with power and conviction. Her conclusions ring true, and the importance of Baker’s message is all the more real and urgent as she offers a new holistic and collaborative approach to understanding and overcoming racism.” ~The Honorable John Ladner, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner, retired
“A deep an insightful exploration of personal awakening from the heart of white privilege. AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCOMPLICE leads the reader to their own historical truths that have designed and shaped the hidden societal norms of racism. An honest discovery that shines light on the shadow of division in America to support a needed shift in consciousness and a greater healing of humanity.” ~Lauren Monroe, Healing artist, speaker and co-founder of Project Resiliency and Mind Body Drum
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