Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice

“In Deep Diversity, Shakil reminds us that compassion and love allow us to sidestep the need for shaming and blaming—approaches that so often undermine our message. Urgently insightful.”
—Drs. Bryan Nichols and Medria Connolly, Clinical Psychologists and Advocates for Reparations To Descendants of American Slavery

“Racism continues to be a defining issue in our lives. Deep Diversity is a call to action that encourages us to look deeply at our patterns. If we uncover what we half-consciously feel and what influences our feelings, can we change our bias? Shakil Choudhury says we can and shows us how through this thoughtful, relevant offering.”
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change

“This new edition of Deep Diversity illuminates with striking clarity the roots and expressions of racism and cultural divides. It provides a panoramic view of our social landscape and a deep dive into issues of implicit bias, personal and systemic power dynamics, and the potential for healing and racial justice. Shakil Choudhury's insight and compassion provide a welcoming framework for engaging with one of the most important challenges of our times.”
—Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening

“A breakthrough book about how to achieve the kind of racial equity that goes far beyond traditional notions of ‘diversity’… Everyone working on race issues should read this book.”
—Rinku Sen, Former Executive Director, Race Forward and Publisher, Colorlines (New York, NY)

“Hands-down the most useful, accessible book I have read on strategies for achieving deep, enduring racial equity… should be required reading for every 21st Century leader.”
—Suzanne Hawkes, Convergence Strategies

“Gripping, fast-paced, and immediately practical. Drawing on heart-touching stories, research on the brain, and hard-won lessons from real-world interventions … Shakil Choudhury helps us know ourselves better by knowing others better––for our own sake, and for the sake of our fragile shared world.”
—Rick Hanson, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling author of Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom

“An important analysis to help us achieve the genuine reconciliation that we must achieve between Canadians and Indigenous peoples in order to move forward.”
—Arthur Manuel, Neskonlith, Secwepemc Nation, co-author of Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-up Call

“We’ve been caught in an anti-oppression Ground Hog Day where we keep repeating Racism, Oppression and Privilege 101. In Deep Diversity, Shakil Choudhury helps us peel back the layers of systemic discrimination to have a more nuanced discussion and rethink strategies to eliminate racism.”
—Septembre Anderson

“In these wrenching and heartbreaking times, Deep Diversity generously provides tools, reflections, and a path forward. The historical Buddha taught 'hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is the world healed.' Shakil is a rare jewel in the work of what it means to heal, repair, and take responsibility. I am so grateful to Shakil for sharing his wisdom, tenderness, and compassion. This book is required reading for anyone interested in building a loving, just and diverse world.”
—Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, Zen teacher & author of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up

“As a pastor in one of the most diverse cities in the world, I am deeply committed to learning how to better love those around me. Deep Diversity is a valuable secular resource for those of us in the faith-based community as we strive to love and relate to those around us.”
—Darnell Wilson, Equipping Pastor at Discovery Pointe Church

“A valuable read for leaders looking to better understand how to successfully lead today’s increasingly diverse workplace environments. Choudhury helps us to understand what’s behind our inherent biases and beliefs about those different from us, and what we can do to overcome them in order to create a more inclusive workplace environment and worldview.”
—Tanveer Naseer, MSc., author of Leadership Vertigo

“Deep Diversity is demystifying, moving and resourceful for the seasoned social justice educator as well as for any person interested in moving beyond a tolerance based approach towards racial justice.”
—Geraldine Paredes Vasquez, Co-Founder of WHY Bolivia and Co-Chair International Affiliation Group, Latin America – Association for Experiential Education

“It was a pleasure to read Deep Diversity! Shakil’s book is thoughtful, insightful and informative. It does a beautiful job of weaving critical frameworks, theories, neuroscience, and mindfulness together to teach readers about inclusion.”
—Ritu Bhasin (LL.B. MBA), People Strategist & Diversity Specialist

“Deep Diversity is a breakthrough book taking a giant step towards overcoming pervasive racism in our society. Combining in-depth research and analysis with moving personal stories, Choudhury gives us a simple step-by-step approach to overcome centuries of racial hierarchy by understanding each of us is part of the problem and part of the solution.”
—Judy Rebick, writer, journalist, activist, author of Occupy This! and Ten Thousand Roses: The Making of a Feminist Revolution

“Shakil Choudhury offers a genuinely new and fresh understanding of how we see and so often do not see each other. He offers practical tools for insight and learning in transforming from an “Us versus Them” mentality to a mindset that honours and grows our deep diversity. Meticulously researched and beautifully written in an inviting narrative style, this is a must-read for anyone concerned with race, difference, and diversity.”
—James Orbinski, Head of Mission for Doctors Without Borders during Rwandan genocide, author of An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the Twenty-First Century

“While reading this wonderful book, I felt alternately humbled, deeply moved, in admiration, grateful, impatient, and profoundly hopeful – sometimes all at once… Shakil’s willingness to hold his mistakes up for scrutiny and insight invited me to do the same. He matter-of-factly insists that each of us, no matter what body we’re in, has a responsibility to heal the racism in ourselves and in the world around us. It’s infectious because the book doesn’t stop there. Written into every chapter are specific skills we can practice as citizens of the world wanting to live in connection with our neighbours.”
—Barb Thomas, social justice facilitator, writer, and activist, co-author of Dancing on Live Embers: Challenging Racism in Organizations