Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

27 reviews

jerbarger's review against another edition

4.75

challenging hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

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This book is well put together in the way Dr. Kendi is able to concisely explain history, how it applies to today, and also interweave his own story and  how he learned these things  (this  humanizes him too, and shows he’s made mistakes, which helps readers be more open to it themselves. Def not preachy even though it could have been!). I would say the only thing that could have improved is more actionable steps on how to be antiracist. I understand we need to work to dismantle racist power, but how do we actually do that? It’s not working so far, and it feels like things have only gotten worse since this book was published. I definitely learned a lot, don’t get me wrong, I just wish I learned how to be antiracist and not just think like one. But maybe that’s the first step??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Hate crime, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Fatphobia, Genocide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic

b3ck3tt's review against another edition

5.0

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia

Minor: Cancer, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder

tetedump's review against another edition

2.0

slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Murder

fearlessfictionalfemme's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi is one of the most powerful and transformative books I’ve ever read. Though it started off slow for me, perhaps due to the time period or the opening chapter’s focus on Kendi’s high school speech in the ’90s, which I personally found hard to connect with. Once I got into the rhythm of the book, I couldn’t put it down. I found myself highlighting, underlining, and taking notes constantly.

Kendi is a brilliant writer. His ability to weave together personal stories, historical context, and sharp social commentary is unmatched. His vulnerability in sharing his own journey, from internalized racism to active antiracism, makes the book not only relatable but deeply human. He brings emotion, intelligence, and a striking clarity to subjects many people still struggle to talk about honestly. The emotional impact of the ending genuinely took me by surprise and left a lasting impression.

This is the kind of book that everyone should read, but the reality is that the people who most need it may never pick it up. It speaks directly to those who are already open, willing, and committed to unlearning, and it offers tools that can shift minds and systems, if people are ready to do the work.

If you care about justice, equity, and growth, not just for others but for yourself, this book is essential reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Colonisation

One note: there is some profanity throughout, which gives the book a raw, unfiltered honesty. While I believe this book should be required reading in high schools, I also worry that some students might not take it as seriously because of the language. Still, the message is too important to ignore.

2ndverse's review against another edition

4.75

challenging informative medium-paced

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What to say about this book? it is both a beautiful journey of unwinding of the author's thoughts and understandings of racism over his education and life, and a guide for individuals to think more deeply about racist vs. antiracist policies and ideals. This book challenges many of the author's (and many Gen X/millienial) beliefs and scholarship about racism. It dives into and past the individual, the institution, the policies. and focuses on racism as a construct of power and self-interest. Some of the most powerful chapters of this book fall near the end. where the author deconstructs failures and successes. and fights for survival. I would definitely recommend this book to others wanting to think more on how to live a more honest, introspective, and actively antiracist life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Xenophobia

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Transphobia

ballher's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism

Moderate: Violence, Police brutality

Minor: Cancer, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder

kapahl's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism

jillaay_h's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Colonisation

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

5.0

informative reflective medium-paced

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This is a book I have had on my radar for a while, and I’m glad I finally picked it up. I really enjoyed the side notes the author gives throughout the book of edits he’s made to the original text and why. I think it’s a reminder that we all have the ability to make a conscious effort to shift our focus and thoughts when we may not be totally correct. I am wanting to continue to learn, grown, change, adapt, and whatever else I need to do in order to be a better person with all of the people around me and around the world. Being conscious of how I could be and have been racially biased in my thoughts and decisions and understanding that I can continue to make an effort to be better!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racial slurs, Racism

Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Police brutality

lindsey_bear's review against another edition

3.5

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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I found this book challenging but informative. It is a genre I’m not usually engaging with, and it was nice reading about the experience of Black Americans through an informed and honest eye. The only reason I rate this lower is the emphasis on terminology..I understand the importance of getting these topics right, but I would have appreciated less picking apart of the language and more on his lived experience. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Classism