Discusses the many ways that racism and hierarchies of language hinder honesty and harm society.

In this bold attempt to challenge readers’ assumptions about racial prejudice, JPB Gerald explores how racism and hierarchies of language hinder effective education and harm societies around the world. Through a wide range of interviews with experts in areas ranging from US states generally perceived as being progressive to countries including Finland, Algeria and Japan, the author explores how a centuries-long battle for control of the narrative around race and language continues to be fought across the globe.

The chapters address how racism and harmful linguistic ideologies are perceived, and how these perceptions are influenced and exacerbated by popular culture, which often obscures the reality of intersecting axes of oppression. The book concludes by drawing together the common threads and exploring how readers can challenge and change the narrative.