Ibram X. Kendi’s book titles How to be an Antiracist is part memoire part political guide to racist policy and racist thinking. I can not recommend this book enough. Kendi’s ability to combine storytelling with clear and concrete definitions help the reader identify and relate to the work of becoming an anti-racist. His honesty within his own struggles with internalized racist ideals levels the playing ground. This vulnerability takes shame off the table which allows the reader to connect certain parallels in our own thinking and programing. This piece of literature goes beyond being an informative tool, and is truly a work of transforming and reflecting on the self as well as transforming and reflecting on society as a whole and the need for policy change.
As a book club collective we have only met once to have a conversation around our process of understanding, defining and ultimately changing the way we show up to the world as an Antiracist. Part 2 of our discussion is coming up July 26th. Let me know if you want to join in on this important discussion!