FwF Book Review: The Whiteness of Wealth

As we stay in this fight together, one way that we found that we can fortify ourselves is by continued listening and learning. We’ve started reading a series of books that help us stay tuned into finance history, and today we’re sharing one of those with you all.

Book Review: The Whiteness of Wealth by Dorothy A. Brown

In The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans—and How We Can Fix It, legal scholar and tax expert Dorothy A. Brown shares a groundbreaking examination of how U.S. tax policy—often assumed to be neutral and “colorblind”—in fact reinforces and deepens racial economic disparities. She dismantles the myth of meritocracy by showing how the very structure of the tax code benefits white Americans at the expense of Black families.

Brown’s central theme is clearly laid out: the U.S. tax system, far from being a neutral financial tool, was designed in ways that favor white wealth accumulation. Through historical context, detailed analysis and accessible storytelling, she illustrates how tax benefits, such as those tied to marriage, homeownership, education, and intergenerational wealth transfers, consistently advantage white households while disadvantaging Black Americans, even when income levels are similar.

One of the book’s strengths lies in how Brown intertwines policy critique with real-life examples, including her own experiences as a tax attorney and professor. She lifts up case studies from Black families to show how systemic issues play out in everyday financial decisions, such as whether to marry, buy a home, or save for retirement. The book is really an easy read, no small feat given the topic.

This book was written in 2021, clearly before the most recent tax bill was passed. It provides such a clear analysis and helps set the context for the multitude of reasons that this bill is bad for most folks other than the ultra-wealthy. We’d definitely recommend reading this book and get some friends to join you. Our collective knowledge is power and can help us stay focused in our fight for justice.

We also want to shout out Source Booksellers in Detroit – an absolute nonfiction knowledge gem in the city. Be sure to grab a coffee or snack next door at Simply Roasted too.

Feel free to share your favorite social justice finance books + fantastic local bookstores with us on LinkedIn!