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Staff Pick
Kendi's book is everything I hoped it would be: instructive, taking the time to define its terms thoroughly and consistently. If you, like me, have questions about how to move from passive "not-racism" to active "anti-racism," this book is a great place to start; how can we hope to dismantle systems we don't fully understand? And even if you think you understand what racism is and how it works, I urge you to read this book anyway — so much of my adult education (particularly in regard to racism) has been unlearning my formal education, something this book is quick to address. I plan on recommending How to Be an Antiracist to everyone I know. I hope you'll read it and do the same. Recommended By Darla M., Powells.com
In this fascinating and meticulous follow-up to his award-winning Stamped From the Beginning, Kendi identifies the many areas of American life informed by racism and explores what institutions and individuals can do to create antiracist solutions. This challenging book is buoyed by frequent autobiographical anecdotes, which illustrate key points and highlight Kendi’s candor and passion. Recommended By Moses M., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a refreshing approach that will radically reorient America on the urgent issues of race, justice, and equality.
Ibram X. Kendi's concept of anti-racism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America — but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.
In his memoir, Kendi weaves together an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science — including the story of his own awakening to anti-racism — bringing it all together in a cogent, accessible form. He begins by helping us rethink our most deeply held, if implicit, beliefs and our most intimate personal relationships (including beliefs about race and IQ and interracial social relations) and reexamines the policies and larger social arrangements we support. How to Be an Antiracist promises to become an essential book for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step of contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society.
Review
"Ibram Kendi is today's visionary in the enduring struggle for racial justice. In this personal and revelatory new work, he yet again holds up a transformative lens, challenging both mainstream and antiracist orthodoxy. He illuminates the foundations of racism in revolutionary new ways, and I am consistently challenged and inspired by his analysis." Robin DiAngelo, New York Times bestselling author of White Fragility
Review
"In this sharp blend of social commentary and memoir...Kendi is ready to spread his message, his stories serving as a springboard for potent explorations of race, gender, colorism, and more....With Stamped From the Beginning, Kendi proved himself a first-rate historian. Here, his willingness to turn the lens on himself marks him as a courageous activist, leading the way to a more equitable society." Library Journal (Starred review)
Review
"A boldly articulated, historically informed explanation of what exactly racist ideas and thinking are...[Kendi's] prose is thoughtful, sincere, and polished. This powerful book will spark many conversations." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
About the Author
Ibram X. Kendi is a New York Times bestselling author and the founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. A professor of history and international relations and a frequent public speaker, Kendi is a columnist at The Atlantic. He is the author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and The Black Campus Movement, which won the W.E.B. Du Bois Book Prize. Kendi lives in Washington, D.C.
Ibram X. Kendi on PowellsBooks.Blog
Following up my National Book Award–winning
Stamped From the Beginning, I sought to create an original approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society — and in ourselves...
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