How to Be an Antiracist

Whew. This is one of those books that, if you come to it with an open mind, can change your entire outlook. If you let it, it can deeply impact how you see yourself, our culture and society, and what the former should do for the latter. It is expansive yet accessible. It addresses blind spots and inconsistencies you didn't realize were nagging at you. It shows how regardless of skin color, all of us have skin in the game. It's stirring.

One of the most interesting aspects of How to Be An Antiracist is its tone. Somehow while making a case for how pernicious, deep-rooted, and widespread oppression truly is, Kendi remains not just determined, but optimistic. He acknowledges the mammoth effort and time it will take to undo racism, even likening it to metastatic cancer. But he also acknowledges that humanity has existed far longer than racism. It was created, and it can be uncreated. The moment we decide there's no reason to hope is the moment we guarantee our defeat.

How to Be An Antiracist upends many things I've believed for years. That ignorance and hatred lead to racist policies, whereas Kendi argues the reverse. That black people can never be perpetrators of racism, and white people can never be victims of racism; he pushes back against both of these notions.

By including different phases of his life in every chapter, Kendi shows how critical ongoing self-reflection is to antiracism. We can't hold policymakers accountable if we don't hold ourselves accountable. Antiracism is not a box you check, but a decision you make once, then again, over and over throughout your life. It's a continual commitment, riddled with mistakes and setbacks, as any fight for the betterment of humanity is.

How to Be An Antiracist is timely and inclusive. Ibram Kendi adds nuance and clarity to a vital topic. It's challenging without being alienating. It's an invitation to take responsibility, and then action.