Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

16 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

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.

katmitch1316's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Police brutality

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Chronic illness, Transphobia

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

amy_q13's review against another edition

5.0

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racial slurs, Racism

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Infertility, Murder, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic

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

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

4.0

challenging informative reflective

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, Murder, Colonisation, Classism

tiernanhunter's review against another edition

5.0

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Murder, Colonisation, Classism

jesselopod's review against another edition

4.25

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

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I found this book really hard to read to start with, but switching to the audiobook made it much easier to consume. A really nuanced look at racism in its many facets. I was frustrated that all the definitions included racism and anti racism in both the description and their titles, which made me mark it down a touch. I was also frustrated at the slights at people’s weights which very occasionally happened, it seemed really at odds at the inclusion messaging. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery

Moderate: Racial slurs, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Colonisation

Minor: Cancer

anniereads221's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative sad

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail