Author of “White Fragility” Accused of Plagiarism by Minority Writers

Robin DiAngelo, the controversial author renowned for her book White Fragility, is currently under scrutiny for allegations of plagiarism. Multiple writers from minority backgrounds have accused DiAngelo of appropriating significant portions of their work without giving proper credit, sparking outrage among those who have criticized her approach to discussions on race and “white privilege.”

These accusations surfaced when authors of color noticed striking resemblances between their published works and sections in DiAngelo’s recent writings, notably her book Nice Racism, published in 2021. The individuals making the claims, who have chosen to remain unidentified, provided evidence supporting their allegations, demonstrating that DiAngelo not only adopted their ideas but also replicated specific language and structures without acknowledging 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 exacerbates the ongoing debate surrounding DiAngelo’s method of addressing race relations. Critics argue that her work promotes a simplistic, binary perspective on race, which not only oversimplifies intricate racial identities but also centralizes whiteness in conversations about racism. These charges of plagiarism further complicate her reputation, implying that her work exploits the very communities it intends to support.

The allegations have prompted an in-depth examination of DiAngelo’s work, with scholars and journalists uncovering what they describe as clear instances of plagiarism. One Black academic focusing on racial justice highlighted that a passage from DiAngelo’s Nice Racism closely resembled an article they had published years earlier. The resemblances are so striking, they contend, that it is difficult to attribute them to mere coincidence.

‘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, an author from the “Latinx” community, has accused DiAngelo of directly lifting entire sections from their essays, which explore the complexities of racial identity in America. They claim that DiAngelo rephrased their concepts without acknowledgment, effectively muting the voices of people of color while benefiting from their intellectual contributions.

These revelations have spurred demands for DiAngelo to publicly acknowledge her sources and compensate the impacted authors. Some are even proposing that her publishers withdraw her books from circulation until the matter is resolved.

DiAngelo gained prominence in 2018 with the publication of White Fragility, a book that swiftly became a bestseller and a core resource in corporate diversity training. The book posits that white individuals react defensively when confronted with their racism, a response she terms “white fragility.” While White Fragility received acclaim as a trailblazing work forcing uncomfortable dialogues on race, it also faced criticism for oversimplifying intricate matters and reinforcing a victim mentality among individuals of color.

The backlash intensified as DiAngelo, a white woman, emerged as a leading figure in conversations about race in America. Critics argued that her approach commercialized “anti-racism” efforts, transforming it into a lucrative industry for white liberals while sidelining the perspectives of minority writers and activists.