How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Ibram is the Director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University. He is among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. He has previously written STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You in 2016.
Ibram asks readers to consider what an antiracist society could be in America today. This book certainly allows one to become a change agent. Yet the mountain to climb continues to be very high in America. Admittedly racism remains at the forefront of our society.
There are deep insights for many to learn from Ibram’s view that you either are racist or antiracist: there is no in-between. For the most part this is the key lesson of his book.
Ibram unquestionably illustrates, by hearing one state they are “non racist” actually means one still allows racist policies to continue. In addition Ibram points out, one’s ideology supports (knowingly or unknowingly) a continued racist policy or belief. That alone is a seemingly massive change for some readers. On the other hand, awareness is just as necessary for change to occur. Ibram certainly moves this learning forward to educate readers to the ingrained racism of our past and present.
The impact of Caste
Ibram clearly understands dynamic changes in society, along with our country’s history. However as a result of reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson I now understand racism differently.
Indeed Ibram addresses how racism is embedded in policymaking. Policies foster individual racism, not the other way around. This is very true. Generally speaking, acknowledging Wilkerson’s Caste, the 2008 financial crisis ended without any banking executive being tried for the global recession and billions in losses they created. Yet many banking laws were written prior to the US Civil War with the US Senate composed of Senators from banking families. Generally speaking, policymaking is created by those in power, in order to retain their power.
“U.S. senator Benjamin Tillman told his colleagues in 1903, ‘The poor African has become a fiend, a wild beast, seeking whom he may devour.”
p. 112
Admittedly, this is an absolutely horrific statement. Yet I am trying to understand how Ibram is addressing this within historical context. As Wilkerson documents Tillman’s position must be within an understanding of the caste system in 1903 across America in which he delivered this statement.
Understanding racism everyday in America
This is why readers will see examples of racism in local or national news while reading this book. We see this news almost daily yet many have not yet made the connections Ibram establishes:
This is yet another recent example of Matt Rowan making the ugly racist statement only to be followed by a somewhat fake, scattered apology posted to Twitter. This book is certainly mandatory reading for Matt. As you can see there is need for Ibram’s work everyday across our country.
Understanding racism from a fading colonial empire
As an example, applying Ibram’s antiracism to a foreign country is a very engaging learning process. As usual it reveals deep racism. Observing the horrific racism by France across Indochina (1887 to 1953) and Algiers (1830 to 1962) results in new thinking about America’s racism during slavery. Therefore Ibram’s work can be viewed to a much wider view of history.
Throughout the book, Ibram brings together a series of events from his own life. From riding a school bus in Queens New York to his freshman year at Florida A&M. He also intertwines historical events from slavery, the Civil War era through reconstruction to the Trump Presidency. Kendi also acknowledges his own awareness of his racism. Powerful reading indeed.
In conclusion, Ibram is a leading voice for antiracism, social justice, and equity. In addition to Caste, this book provides a solid understanding to address racism. I look forward to meeting Ibram when he visits our campus this spring.
UPDATE: Ibram addressed our MATC community on 03/31/21 on his book, the state of racism today along with addressing impacts for both K12 and Higher Education.
The Aspen Institute | How to be an Antiracist
TEDTalk | The difference between being “not racist” and antiracist
CBS News | Ibram X. Kendi, Robin DiAngelo discuss race in America
Commonwealth Club of California | Be Antiracist: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi