1283: Why everybody needs to talk about racism (and money) with author Celeste Headlee

So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

This episode originally aired on October 25, 2021.

Celeste Headlee is the author of SPEAKING OF RACE: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism—and How to Do It, In our conversation we talk about the importance of connecting the dots between privilege and wealth, how to actually ask questions about race without sticking your foot in your mouth, the role of social media in furthering discussions about race. And celeste’s own challenges growing up as al light-skinned Black Jewish American, and having to defend this time and time again. Plus: I share some of my curiosities about my own race.

More about Celeste: She is a self-described “light-skinned Black Jew” who has had to defend or define her race since childhood. In her career, Headlee has made it a priority to talk about race proactively but what she discovered is that those exchanges have rarely been productive. While many people say they want to talk about race, the reality is, they want to talk about race with people who agree with them. Now, using science, research and lived experience SPEAKING OF RACE provides insight and advice for how to have meaningful and impactful conversations about this crucial subject. This is the book for people who have tried to debate and argue with friends and have gotten nowhere; those who have stopped talking to a neighbor or dreaded a holiday dinner; and anyone who wants to better understand race and effect meaningful change as a society. Learn more here.