Antoinette Lattouf is a media personality, diversity advocate, author, mum of two girls and terrible at reverse parking. The multi-award-winning journalist is the co-founder of Media Diversity Australia — a not for profit organisation working towards increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in the media. In 2019, Antoinette was named among AFR’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2021 she was awarded a Women’s Agenda Leadership Award and B&T’s Women in Media Champion of Change. In peer-selected awards at her year 10 high school formal, Antoinette was awarded Most Likely To Die A Virgin. Antoinette’s first book, How to Lose Friends and Influence White People, is out now.
Today, Antoinette Lattouf is on the blog to answer a few of our questions about her new book. Read on!
Antoinette Lattouf (Photo by Penguin Random House).
Please tell us about your book, How to Lose Friends and Influence White People!
AL: My first book is a cheeky play on the title of Dale Carnegie’s bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People.
When it comes to race relations in Australia, conversations are so laced in shame, denial and sometimes outright hostility. It seems we can’t even call it for what it is, let alone actively address the ongoing impact of our brutal colonisation and the systemic barriers people of colour face.
I went into this knowing this book will make people uncomfortable, because change is rarely easy and without opposition. Knowing this, I wanted to devise a toolkit for navigating some of the barriers and hostility people who push for a fairer and more equitable society will no doubt face.
Why was it important to you to write this book?
AL: As individuals, it’s really easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. Over the past few years, the pandemic, the obviously growing impacts of climate change and now the war in Ukraine has really impacted people’s mental health and a lot of people feel powerless.
I started writing this book after the Black Lives Matter movement really gained momentum in Australia. I wanted to ensure that my allyship and advocacy was long term and beyond just sharing posts on social media when it’s trending.
I wanted to provide solutions, some hope and a few chuckles along the way because Aussies have mastered really two things: denying racism permeates every aspect of our society, and a unique, self-deprecating humour.
What does influential and meaningful allyship look like to you?
AL: In terms of influence, it really depends on your audience and your scope and this is something I explore in detail in my book. An ally or advocate doesn’t have to try and singlehandedly put an end to the worrying over incarceration of Indigenous women. We all have a role to play — no matter how big or small, and this is the crucial first step. I encourage people to be really clear and honest about their intention and who they set out to influence. It can be as micro as your racist uncle or local sporting club or as macro as starting a charity or changing federal policy and legislation.
Irrespective of the scope, a meaningful ally doesn’t quit when the going gets tough or when being a changemaker makes them unpopular among some.
What is the number one piece of advice you’d give to anyone looking to be more effective about being an ally and calling out racist behaviour?
AL: I think it’s important to go into this knowing that Australians — ranging from our politicians to mainstream media to your next door neighbour — really struggle to have open and honest conversations about racism, diversity and inclusion. Our inability to talk about these issues with nuance and maturity gives us an indication of the start line. Because of this, it’s essential to play a long game and know that while change is possible — and happening in some arenas — it can be frustratingly slow. Self care is important to ensure you don’t burn out or just give up.
‘Australians — ranging from our politicians to mainstream media to your next door neighbour — really struggle to have open and honest conversations about racism, diversity and inclusion.’
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey towards becoming a writer?
AL: I’ve been a journalist for 15 years across television, audio and online so communication is what I do. Having said that, writing a book is so different to writing a 90 second television news story, especially because I share a lot of my own experiences, personality and even racial trauma in this book.
Who did you write this book for? Who do you wish would read it?
AL: The book isn’t for neo-Nazis and white supremacists, I’m not bothering to engage those in staunch opposition of racial harmony. Thankfully these people are a minority and most people are in the moveable middle. This middle cohort’s attitudes range from skeptical to bored to curious. My book is also for a range of people — from a white person who wants to challenge attitudes and behaviour in their family to people of colour who want to manage the career and relationship fallouts for fighting for respect and inclusion.
What is the last book you read and loved?
AL: Jason Om’s All Mixed Up, he’s an Asian-Australian journalist. His memoir is harrowing yet hopeful and just beautifully written. It’s probably not surprising that I love hearing from and supporting diverse content makers.
What do you hope readers will discover in How to Lose Friends and Influence White People?
AL: I hope they realise that there is something everyone can do. Each and every one of us has a role to play. The purpose of my book is to provide practical and pragmatic tools to empower readers while also entertaining them!
And finally, what’s up next for you?
AL: World domination and getting to space before the billionaires do are next on my to-do list. Ok on a serious note, in terms of career, I’m working on a few exciting audio projects and television series at the moment. Provided I don’t get canceled and driven out of the country for daring to talk about racism, hopefully I get these projects up.
Thanks Antoinette!
—How to Lose Friends and Influence White People by Antoinette Lattouf (Penguin Books Australia) is out now.
How to Lose Friends and Influence White People.
Poignant, inspiring, funny and most importantly authentic, How to Lose Friends and Influence White People explores how to make a difference when championing change and racial equality.
A powerful and personal guide on how to be effective, no matter who you’re trying to influence. Whether it's the racist relative sitting across the table at a family function, or the CEO blind to the institutional barriers to people of colour in the workplace, award-winning journalist and vivacious leader Antoinette Lattouf has some tips and advice on what to do...
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