Robin DiAngelo, the controversial author known for her book White Fragility, is facing serious accusations of plagiarism. Several minority writers claim that DiAngelo has lifted significant portions of their work without proper attribution, sparking outrage among those who have long criticized her approach to discussing race and “white privilege”.
The allegations emerged after multiple authors of color noticed striking similarities between their published works and passages in DiAngelo’s newer writings, including her book Nice Racism, which was released in 2021. The writers, who have remained anonymous, provided evidence to back up their claims, showing that DiAngelo allegedly copied not just ideas, but also specific language and structure, often without crediting the original authors.
So it's just come out that Robin D'Angelo, the woman who invented the concept of white fragility, which launched a thousand progressive ships, plagiarized several sections of the PhD paper in which she coined the term, including an ENTIRE PAGE https://t.co/CascS8meTU
— Claire (@ClairedeLuned) August 26, 2024
This controversy adds to the already heated debate surrounding DiAngelo's approach to race relations. Critics argue that her work perpetuates a simplistic, binary view of race, which not only marginalizes complex racial identities but also centers whiteness in discussions about racism. These plagiarism allegations further complicate her legacy, as they seem to confirm suspicions that her work exploits the very communities it purports to support.
The accusations have led to a deep dive into DiAngelo's work, with scholars and journalists uncovering what they describe as undeniable examples of plagiarism. One writer, a Black academic who focuses on racial justice, pointed out that a passage from DiAngelo’s Nice Racism closely mirrors an article they published years earlier. The similarities are so glaring, they argue, that it’s hard to believe it was coincidental.
‘White Fragility’ author Robin DiAngelo accused of plagiarizing minority scholars in Ph.D thesis https://t.co/xN7Mw1W1p0 pic.twitter.com/bS5faXBVIF
— New York Post (@nypost) August 26, 2024
Another writer, a “Latinx” author, has accused DiAngelo of lifting entire sections from their essays, which discuss the complexities of racial identity in America. They allege that DiAngelo reworded their ideas without giving credit, effectively silencing the voices of people of color while profiting from their intellectual labor.
These revelations have prompted calls for DiAngelo to acknowledge her sources publicly and compensate the affected authors. Some are even suggesting that her publishers should pull her books from the shelves until the matter is resolved.
DiAngelo’s rise to fame came in 2018 with the release of White Fragility, a book that quickly became a bestseller and a staple in corporate diversity training. The book argues that white people react defensively when confronted with their own racism, a reaction she labels "white fragility." While White Fragility was praised by some as a groundbreaking work that forces uncomfortable conversations about race, others criticized it for oversimplifying complex issues and promoting a victim mentality among people of color.
The backlash intensified as DiAngelo, a white woman, became one of the most prominent voices in the conversation about race in America. Critics argued that her approach commodified “anti-racism” work, turning it into a profitable industry for white liberals while sidelining the perspectives of minority writers and activists.
