“The opposite of racist isn’t “not racist”. It is “anti-racist”.“
Rating: 4/5
Genres: Non-Fiction, Anti-Racist, Social Justice, Memoir, History
Warnings: Racism
Book Description (from Goodreads): Ibram X. Kendi’s concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America–but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. In How to be an Antiracist, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.
In this book, Kendi weaves together an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science, bringing it all together with an engaging personal narrative of his own awakening to antiracism. How to Be an Antiracist is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society.
Review: I really struggled to write this review because I had mixed feelings about the book. I did appreciate this book talking about the concept of being antiracist or racist, there is no non-racist. This book tried to do a lot at once; a history of racism, race and gender, law, how-to-guide and the authors of own mindful journey of learning about racism as a black man in America. If you are looking for more of a memoir/history in your antiracism journey, this may be your book!
If you are looking for more practical, application based books I would suggest; So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo or Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho. I also loved, I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, a memoir by Austin Channing Brown.
I do still think this is an important book to read, Kendi shares important information and I look forward to reading his other book.
Love,
A
All in with A 
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