Summary
Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist is a groundbreaking work that redefines the conversation around racism in America. Published in 2019, this #1 New York Times bestseller combines personal narrative with incisive analysis to present a new framework for understanding and combating racial injustice. Kendi, a National Book Award-winning author and founder of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center, challenges readers to move beyond awareness and actively contribute to creating a just and equitable society.
The book's structure is unique, with each chapter examining a different aspect of racism through both historical context and Kendi's personal experiences. From biology to culture, from class to gender, Kendi explores how racism intersects with various facets of society. He argues that there is no neutral ground in the fight against racism – one is either actively antiracist or complicit in perpetuating racist systems.
How to Be an Antiracist has been widely acclaimed for its courage and clarity. It has sparked numerous discussions and has been adopted in educational curricula across the country. While some critics have questioned certain aspects of Kendi's arguments, the book's impact on public discourse about race is undeniable. Its surge in popularity following the 2020 protests against racial injustice further cemented its place as a crucial text for understanding and addressing systemic racism in contemporary society.
Plot
In How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi weaves together personal narrative and social commentary to explore the concept of antiracism. The book is structured into chapters that examine various themes through a racial lens, including power, biology, ethnicity, culture, and behavior. Kendi shares his own experiences and evolving understanding of racism over four decades, from childhood to his career as a professor.
Throughout the book, Kendi argues that there is no middle ground in the struggle against racism – one is either actively confronting racial inequality or allowing it to persist through action or inaction. He defines racism as any policy that creates inequitable outcomes between people of different skin colors, and proposes that the opposite of “racist” is not “non-racist,” but “antiracist."
Kendi challenges readers to examine their own beliefs and behaviors, drawing upon what he describes as his own lifelong racism to demonstrate that anyone, regardless of race, can hold racist ideas. He discusses how he once accepted certain stereotypes about Black people and even wore colored contact lenses to alter his appearance, referring to such internalized racism as “the real Black on Black crime."
The book concludes by suggesting models for antiracist individual actions and systemic changes. Kendi uses the metaphor of racism as cancer to argue for society-wide “treatments” such as ending racist policies, promoting antiracist ideas, and remaining vigilant against the recurrence of racism. Rather than presenting a step-by-step guide, Kendi emphasizes the importance of persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination in the journey to becoming antiracist.
Themes
Redefining racism and antiracism
Intersectionality of racism with other forms of oppression
Personal journey and self-reflection
Systemic nature of racism
Critical examination of racial policies and ideas
Active approach to combating racism
Importance of ongoing self-awareness and criticism
Setting
Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist is set primarily in the contemporary United States, spanning several decades from the late 20th century to the present day. The book weaves together historical analysis, personal anecdotes, and social commentary to examine racism in American society across this time period.
While much of the narrative focuses on Kendi's own experiences growing up as a Black man in America, the book's scope extends beyond any single geographical location. Kendi explores how racism manifests in various settings, from academic institutions and urban neighborhoods to broader societal structures and systems of power.
The book also touches on historical events and ideologies that have shaped race relations in America, reaching back to the era of scientific racism in 17th century Europe. By connecting past and present, Kendi illustrates how racist ideas have evolved and persisted over time, emphasizing the need for active antiracism in the modern era.
Key Figures
Ibram X. Kendi: The author and main character of this memoir/nonfiction book. Kendi recounts his personal journey from holding racist ideas to becoming an antiracist. He shares formative experiences from his childhood, college years, and career as a professor and researcher. Through self-reflection, Kendi examines how racist thinking shaped his worldview and actions in the past.
Kendi's parents: Minor characters who influenced Kendi's early understanding of race. They instilled Black pride in him but also some internalized racist ideas. Their experiences with racism and activism provide context for Kendi's development.
Sadiqa: Kendi's wife, who appears briefly. Her battle with cancer serves as a metaphor for Kendi's view of racism as a cancer that must be actively treated.
Quick facts
The book was published on August 13, 2019 by One World, an imprint of Random House.
It became a #1 New York Times bestseller.
The book combines social commentary with memoir, using events from Kendi's life to illustrate concepts.
Each chapter examines a different theme through a racial lens, such as power, biology, ethnicity, and gender.
Kendi argues that the opposite of “racist” is “antiracist” rather than simply “not racist".
The book expands on ideas from Kendi's previous work, Stamped from the Beginning, which won the National Book Award.
Sales of the book surged in June 2020 following protests over the murder of George Floyd.
It received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews.
The book spent 45 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Nonfiction.
Kendi uses the metaphor of racism as cancer to argue for society-wide “treatments” to combat it.
About the Author
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is a prominent American author, professor, and anti-racist activist. Born in 1982, he has become one of the most influential voices in contemporary discussions on race and racism in the United States. Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research.
Kendi's academic career has been marked by significant achievements. He earned his Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University in 2010 and has since held teaching positions at several institutions, including the University of Florida and American University. His scholarly work focuses on the history of racist ideas and the development of anti-racist strategies.
As an author, Kendi has produced several critically acclaimed and bestselling books. His 2016 work, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, making him the youngest-ever recipient of this prestigious honor. His subsequent books, including How to Be an Antiracist and Antiracist Baby, have topped bestseller lists and sparked widespread conversations about race in America.
Kendi's influence extends beyond academia and literature. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and has been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. In 2021, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the “Genius Grant,” in recognition of his groundbreaking work in the field of anti-racist research and activism. Despite facing some controversy, Kendi continues to be a leading voice in the ongoing national dialogue about racial equality and justice.
