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A review by jessielinden1
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
5.0
This part memoir part textbook book is a landmark read for me, a well intentioned white American coming to terms with her deep ignorance of what it means to be antiracist, how it is different from “not racist,” and tons of related facets he covers.
Assuming his intended audience is largely white people, for me Kendi succeeds in communicating facts, humility through his own experiences, and his opinions, while also giving us something a bit more tangible to act on now, in this national movement. He succinctly explains the difference between demonstrating and protesting, critique/self education and activism to people who really really really need to understand the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.
What a gift he’s given to anyone willing to accept that they’ve had moments of being racist and, hopefully, antiracist. That they can be redefined in the next moment, and that to be racist in one moment is not to strip every redeeming quality from oneself that they are a bad person. This concept has the potential to increase the emotional maturity of anyone with enough humility to embrace it, and I hope clear the path for meaningful, honest changes moving forward. I will personally be reading other people’s ideas about antiracism as well, and surely continuing to reflect on Kendi’s book.
Assuming his intended audience is largely white people, for me Kendi succeeds in communicating facts, humility through his own experiences, and his opinions, while also giving us something a bit more tangible to act on now, in this national movement. He succinctly explains the difference between demonstrating and protesting, critique/self education and activism to people who really really really need to understand the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.
What a gift he’s given to anyone willing to accept that they’ve had moments of being racist and, hopefully, antiracist. That they can be redefined in the next moment, and that to be racist in one moment is not to strip every redeeming quality from oneself that they are a bad person. This concept has the potential to increase the emotional maturity of anyone with enough humility to embrace it, and I hope clear the path for meaningful, honest changes moving forward. I will personally be reading other people’s ideas about antiracism as well, and surely continuing to reflect on Kendi’s book.