Twelve Steps for White America: for a United States of America

Clear, compelling, and hopeful … 12SWA maps a release from the hold white supremacy has on our country's institutions and culture. I cannot think of a more important and useful book for our time.

Heather Bettini, Director, 

Economic Justice, Community Action Marin

“Amazing! What an inspired work and great accomplishment. May it serve many souls, help us heal our past and press onward with the great vision of democracy and justice. Watson’s bold, bright heart and clear mind shine through with an essential message for our time.” 

Ellen Grace O’Brian, Author, Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment

"The United States of America has always been an experiment in democracy.  To reach its aspirations, America needs the treatment plan presented in Watson's memoir-manifesto."  

Eric Narveson, Professor of History, 

Evergreen Valley College & 

Lecturer of History, San Jose State University.

“If the recovery community can thrive sober, imagine how their transferable and scalable practices and principles could heal America’s most pronounced and traumatic dysfunction: racism. In Twelve Steps For White America, a southern born white man with a laser-focused aptitude for social justice delivers a treatment plan for national redemption and renewal. This book needs to be in every hotel room nightstand in the USA.”   

Anne E. Palmer, Ed.D., Stanford University Graduate School of Education.

“You will never look at the word “bamboozled” the same way after reading this book! Watson's 12 Steps for White America is a manifesto guide to regain our soul and reclaim our democratic principles. It is also a deeply personal account of his family's activism in the Mississippi Civil Rights movement and his hard-fought struggle to recover from alcoholism as a young adult. Here,  Watson presents a 12-step program of fundamental problem-solving principles to turn away from “rigged white advantage” so that true liberty can be consecrated for all. A “must” companion workbook invites readers to reflect on a series questions for each of the 12 steps to embark on an inner journey toward healing and liberation. “  

Pat Krakov, Lighthouse Philanthropy Advisors

Watson presents a timely and relevant treatment plan that addresses structural racism using a critical lens. Leading  White Americans to dismantle white supremacy as inside agents of change, this is a powerful, engaging, and personal journey of authentic self-reflection. Dr. Watson shares his incredible life stories, from growing up as a child in the Great State of Mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement to his present-day experiences in the Golden State of California. At scale, these simple steps, if applied would strengthen our democracy and collective understanding of living UNITED in our STATES as an inclusive AMERICA.  

Lauren Sneed, M.S. MFCC., PPS. 

Department of Counseling, Faculty Lecturer, 

San Francisco State University

I am 100 pages in and this is a very powerful book! Hard to stop reading it! 

Jean Petty, Higher Education Strategist

Watson delivers a twelve-step redemptive literary arpeggio to help detox the soul of America's historically privileged.

Keith Aytch, Higher Ed CEO, Consultant