Book Review: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

 By Christine Sheller

 

Kendi melded his memoir with research on racism in a very thoughtful, provoking, and intellectually stimulating manner which touches the heart and mind.  The book is built around the word in the title, antiracism, and how he defines antiracism.

It was interesting to read of Kendi’s journey with racism himself.  He admitted that racism could be found within the populations that experience racism from other ethnic groups.  He confesses his racist thoughts growing up towards people of his own race.  He moved several times with his parents and went to several different schools growing up. 

He starts out in his first chapter with defining several words.  His definition of “anti-racist” is compared to the terms “racist,” “not racist,” and “color blind.”  “Antiracist” is opposite of “racist.”  It works to confront racial inequities, and “works to right the wrongs of racism and racist policy.” (p. 9)  “Not racist” is something Kendi felt he needed to define as well, in his definition.  He says, being “not racist” says one is “not racist, neither am I against racism.”  He does not feel that being “not racist” is a strong enough stand on being against racism.  (p. 9)  “Racist” is not opposite of “not racist”.  It endorses either the idea of racial hierarchy or racial equality.  (p. 9)  “Color blind” is akin to “not racist.”  He doesn’t accept it as a desirable description of a person’s stance. 

He defines “racist” in more detail on page 13:  “Racist” is “one who is supporting a racist policy through their actions or inaction or expressing a racist idea.”  “Antiracist” is one “who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing an antiracist idea.”  They are active words.  People do “racist” or “antiracist” things, or think “racist” or “antiracist” thoughts.

In chapters three and four he speaks of “dueling consciousnesses” of white people, and of black people.  He defines “dueling consciousness” as a sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others.  He attributes this theory to W.E.B. Du Bois.  (p. 29)  For White people, dueling consciousness might include the dueling ideas of segregationalist and assimilationist, or the slave driver and missionary. (p. 31)

The history of slavery and racism was very interesting.  His research was very thorough.  Chapter 3 is where Kendi shared much of that.

Another pair of definitions that Kendi shares in Chapter 4 is thinking of the terms “micro” and “macro” aggression versus “racial abuse.” (p 47)

Chapters Five, Six, Seven and Eight contain more thoughts on racism between ethnicities, racism against the body, against culture, and racism in behavior.   It is interesting to hear his contemplation on these items.  He mentions the opportunity gap versus the achievement gap when studying differences in aptitude tests, for example.  (p 103) 

Chapter Nine focuses on differences of shades of brown and racism.  He discusses “colorism.”  He says colorism “rationalizes inequities with racist ideas, claiming the inequities between Dark people and Light people are not due to racist policy but are based on what is wrong or right with each group of people.”

Chapter Ten is entitled “White.”  He says there is anti-white racism as well.  Chapter Eleven is entitled “Black.”  He talks about racism in the black community, including towards their fellow black community members.  Here it is interesting how he intertwines his own memories of growing up, and learning and growing through school, college, grad, and post-graduate school.

Chapters Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen are based on the words “Class,” “Space,” “Gender,” and “Sexuality.”  Chapter Sixteen, on “Failure,” he says “self-critique allows change.” (p. 214)

Chapter Seventeen and Eighteen, the last two chapters, are entitled “Success” and “Survival.”  He talks about experiences of success in anti-racism work.  His experiences are very interesting to read.  He also shares more about his personal life. 

 This book comes with great reviews by many, and it is a #1 New York Times Bestseller.  It was published in 2019, but of course is still very relevant. 

 

Christine Sheller is coordinator and editor at Iowa Peace Network.  She is an M. Div. graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, and is based both in Des Moines, and remotely in Eldora, Iowa.