Book - Overcoming Everyday Racism, Susan Cousins (2019)
Image from Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Overcoming Everyday Racism: Building resilience and wellbeing in the face of discrimination and microaggressions - Susan Cousins (2019).
Susan Cousins’ ‘Overcoming Everyday Racism: Building resilience and wellbeing in the face of discrimination and microaggressions’ is a powerful and engaging read. It only took me one afternoon to be well over halfway! Cousins makes it clear that points where she shares personal experiences or solutions is her way and cannot be applied rigidly to anyone else’s. There is no ‘one size fits all’, everyone is unique but can have elements of commonality.
Cousins describes the racism she has experienced from a very young age, weaved in with case studies and present day social and racial issues. The experiences she’s faced as a small child up to more recent events are shocking and unfortunately won’t be isolated events or events of the past for many. It is heartbreaking to read of a child’s thoughts about the world due to the abuse by, mostly, adults. With current discussions and focus on race and the prevalence of racism, this has brought another deeper level to the topics discussed in the book. The text also considers how we understand other people’s behaviour and actions which can be part of the structural racism evident in society and considers actions of the allies against racism.
“Microaggressions can feel like tiny paper cuts – not serious in themselves but add another and another and five paper cuts in one week, 20 in a month and so on…”
This book’s focus is to consider those almost unnoticeable, commonplace, ‘every day’ behaviours. It highlights that there is a lot more to do regarding discriminative practices and microaggressions. I personally have not experienced the levels of racism and discrimination faced by so many. Reading this was the first time I could really relate to something in the discussion of microaggressions. “Where are you from?...No, REALLY from?…But where are your parents from?…” is something that has popped up throughout my life and will likely continue to be. A question followed by another question due to the unsatisfactory answer I have given. It is a form of saying that I don’t belong somewhere, or that who I identify as doesn’t fit with what that person thinks of my identity. The book’s discussion of instances like these, assuring the reader it’s perfectly ok to think or feel the things that arise within when this happens and offering ways to cope with situations like these was a welcome first for me.
Recommended for:
Trainee and qualified counsellors and counselling psychologists (this was actually a recommended text for one of my modules in the doctorate).
If you’re a therapist, it is an essential for the ‘must-read’ book list - it has helped me think about how I approach issues in therapy relating to race and identity due to the useful points for personal reflection in the reflective stop points. There are also numerous references to look up later which can be helpful for developing your anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practices in therapy.
People who have experienced racial discrimination.
Ultimately, the book is aimed at supporting the wellbeing of people facing racial discrimination. I found Cousins’ focus on wellbeing with reflective questions and suggestions brought a different feel to what a book about everyday racism could contain. I was initially concerned about the impact it would have one, but it’s one of warmth, of connection and understanding.