Letters in Black and White
Letters in Black and White
“Finally, we can hear Wink and Jen—two voices of sanity—in this whirlwind of racial polarization and victimology. White privilege, systemic racism, and the woke teach our children an ideology of despair, helplessness, and wanhope. But black history is truly heroic, a trajectory of hope and achievement, overcoming against all odds. This is the great lesson for our future together. A must read for all Americans.”
—Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD, Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychology
About the Book
Unsatisfied with the relentless pace and narrow constraints of social media, two Americans—Winkfield Twyman, Jr. and Jennifer Richmond, a black man and a white woman—rediscovered the art of letter writing and maintained a years-long correspondence about race in the United States. In Letters in Black and White, they share for the first time their exchange in full, charting their journey from wary strangers to trusted confidants.
At a time when many Americans are dazed, confused, and angered by the country’ s current state of race relations, they offer a model not only for having needed but difficult conversations but also for a better way forward. Marked by well-crafted turns of phrase, sharp wit, and sober reflection, they do not rely on those fashionable words and phrases that have been drained of real meaning or are hopelessly saddled with excessive baggage, such as antiracism, white fragility, and allyship. Rather, on topics ranging from the murder of George Floyd and the launch of the 1619 Project to the debate over reparations and the nature of elite black organizations like Jack and Jill of America, they tell the truth as they see it in their own uncorrupted language, speaking for no one but themselves.
Particularly critical of both the ideological battles that fuel media programming and entrench political rivalries and the noble-sounding social and cultural projects that fail time and again to offer any meaningful solutions, they identify productive ways to unify across our differences—ways to find our common humanity and to mend America’ s divided soul. Ultimately, they offer an inspirational message of hope and optimism for all—one that does not allow the past to define our present or predetermine our future.
About the Author(s)
Winkfield Twyman, Jr. is a former law professor and writer who seeks understanding across the color line in America. Born in Richmond, Virginia, he currently lives in San Diego, California.
Jennifer Richmond is the founder of Truth in Between and executive director and co-founder of the Institute for Liberal Values. She also works with EmpowerED Pathways, a non-profit affiliated with Free Black Thought. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Erec Smith (foreword by) is co-founder and president of Free Black Thought.
Izabella Tabarovsky (afterword by) is a senior advisor at the Kennan Institute (Wilson Center).
Details
ISBN: 9781634312363
Format: hardcover/paperback
SRP: $29.95/$19.95
Page count: 400 pages
Trim size: 6 x 9
Pub date: May 2023/April 2024
More Praise
“As a social psychologist, I find Letters in Black and White to be a hallmark book on dissidence in our conforming times. It reminds us of the dangers of ‘groupthink’ as well as the redeeming quality of individual dignity. Until now, I’ve never thought of Old Americans as a viable way through the thicket of race. Read this book for clear and comprehensive writing on the timeless truths that respect neither race nor skin color.”
—Phil Zimbardo, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Stanford University and President and Founder of the Heroic Imagination Project“Letters in Black and White is a real-world example of that mythical beast we keep hearing is all-fired important to encounter: a ‘conversation about race.’ . . . The book aims to start a national conversation about serious topics, across individuals of all backgrounds, that will NOT center on slogans, manipulation, or bullying—and it just might succeed.”
—Wilfred Reilly, PhD, Associate Professor at Kentucky State University and author of Hate Crime Hoax and Taboo“In Letters in Black and White, Jen and Wink do the work many claim is needed; they have an honest conversation about race. In doing so, they show us what can be gained if the conversation takes place in good faith. They discuss DEI, white privilege, the legacy of slavery, and other uncomfortable topics. While they do not always agree, they remain open, honest, and assume positive intent. Jen’s voice is particularly important as she brings a perspective the antiracists disallow. It proves that a conversation about race—and any work that needs to be done—is useless if only black voices can be heard. If DEI consultants and school administrators genuinely want to advance race relations, they must use Letters in Black and White in all of their programs.”
—Charles Love, Executive Director of Seeking Educational Excellence and author of Race Crazy
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