Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
2 reviews
decklededgess's review
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Most non fiction books give me the vocabulary to communicate ideas I was already familiar with this is an invaluable asset. This one though... I have come across a LOT of new information and innumerable ways of seeing through the societal structures we protect that continue to uphold racism and white supremacy.
Perhaps the most depressing yet enlightening tidbit was in the epilogue where the author says something along the lines of: you can't expect people to be altruistic but they certainly can function with "intelligent self interest" to see that the systems they protect actually do not help them at all.
Which....yeah dude that's exactly it.
Perhaps the most depressing yet enlightening tidbit was in the epilogue where the author says something along the lines of: you can't expect people to be altruistic but they certainly can function with "intelligent self interest" to see that the systems they protect actually do not help them at all.
Which....yeah dude that's exactly it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
mezzano's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Ever since I read Ibram X. Kendi's book How to be an Antiracist, I've been meaning to read Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. While I am no means an expert in racial politics or antiracism, I was stunned by how much I didn't know even after making the conscious effort to be more aware of how race affects my everyday life. I really appreciated how Kendi focused this story over 5 key historical figures, and used that as a tether to the political climate of each figure's respective period in American History. It was also really eye opening to see how race affected the very standards we learn in school, such as Shakespeare and the Salem Witch trials, even though race was never a part of any academic conversation at the very white schools I attended.
The humble nature of Kendi's work, where the author himself recognizes that everyone has an incomplete understanding of history and can improve on themselves to become more anti-racist, is very refreshing. It reminds readers that this is important, consistent, and constant work. Antiracism doesn't end with saying people are equal, just as it doesn't end with education (or reading a book). Even so, I was really pleased with how comprehensive this historical analysis really was. After reading, I felt like I walked away with a missing volume of history. As we continue to become more inclusive and accepting as a nation, I hope that this book replaces others in educational curricula. This is a book everyone should be exposed to at least once.
The humble nature of Kendi's work, where the author himself recognizes that everyone has an incomplete understanding of history and can improve on themselves to become more anti-racist, is very refreshing. It reminds readers that this is important, consistent, and constant work. Antiracism doesn't end with saying people are equal, just as it doesn't end with education (or reading a book). Even so, I was really pleased with how comprehensive this historical analysis really was. After reading, I felt like I walked away with a missing volume of history. As we continue to become more inclusive and accepting as a nation, I hope that this book replaces others in educational curricula. This is a book everyone should be exposed to at least once.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
More...