In 'How to Be an Antiracist', Ibram X. Kendi challenges readers to rethink their perceptions of racism and embrace a transformative journey toward anti-racism. Through personal anecdotes and rigorous analysis, Kendi lays bare the systemic roots of racism and how they permeate our societies. He argues that being 'not racist' is insufficient; one must actively engage in anti-racist practices to foster real change. The book is both a memoir and a manifesto, inviting thought-provoking discussions about identity, power, and justice. Join Kendi as he inspires readers to confront uncomfortable truths and redefine what it means to be an ally in the fight for equality.
By Ibram X. Kendi
Published: 2019
"To be antiracist is to think nothing is behaviorally right or wrong; nothing is racially superior or inferior. To be antiracist is to be active in the struggle for justice and equality."
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a “groundbreaking” (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society—and in ourselves. “The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.”—The New York Times ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—The New York Times Book Review, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Shelf Awareness, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves. Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.
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“To be antiracist is to think nothing is behaviorally right or wrong; nothing is racially superior or inferior. To be antiracist is to be active in the struggle for justice and equality.”
How to Be an Antiracist
By Ibram X. Kendi
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Ibram X. Kendi is a leading scholar of race and discrimination, as well as a New York Times bestselling author. He is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the founding director of the Boston University Boston University’s Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. Kendi is renowned for his compelling and accessible writing style, which combines rigorous academic analysis with personal narrative and historical context. His notable works include 'How to Be an Antiracist,' 'Stamped from the Beginning,' which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2016, and 'Antiracist Baby,' a picture book aimed at children. Kendi's work challenges readers to confront and dismantle systemic racism in all its forms, making him a pivotal voice in contemporary discussions of race, equity, and social justice.
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