stay up: racism, resistance, and reclaiming Black freedom

by Khodi Dill, Stylo Starr (Illustrator)

An incisive, innovative, and inviting take on fighting oppression and fighting for racial justice.

Racism is a real and present danger. But how can you fight it if you don’t know how it works or where it comes from? Using a compelling mix of memoir, cultural criticism, and anti-oppressive theory, Khodi Dill breaks down how white supremacy functions in North America and gives readers tools to understand how racism impacts their lives. From dismantling internalized racism, decolonizing schools, joining social justice movements and more, Dill lays out paths to personal liberation and social transformation.

Vibrant, dramatic collages by stylo starr complement Dill’s propulsive voice. Fueled by joy and hope as much as by rage and sorrow, this groundbreaking book empowers racialized young people to be confident in their identities and embrace the fullness of their futures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Sharissa Neault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterpiece. I picked this up because the cover is pretty, but the inside is beautiful too. I did not expect to feel validated or empowered as an Indigenous woman while reading a book about a black man’s experience with racism on the Canadian prairies. Like, damn.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly well-written and heartfelt memoir about growing up as a biracial Black man in the Canadian prairies. Khodi Dill also touches on racism in Canada, pop culture, mental health and ways we can to do better. Excellent on audio and recommended for fans of books like Angry Queer Somali Boy or Saga boy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Christine Einsel Haba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the best anti-racism book I’ve read. It comes from a perspective of human connection and is deeply rooted in the whole struggle many BIPOC face by just existing. I think this is a great book for people to start their unlearning or allyship

[Marijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike so many books about anti-racism that seem to lack a focus or get bogged down in presumed jargon, Stay Up introduces anti-racism with accessible language and uses textboxes to highlight terminology. His division of the book into three sections (The Know-up, Personal Liberation, and Social Transformation) moves the reader through identifying anti-Blackness through a journey of empowerment. He links prejudices such as misogyny, anti-indigenous racism, and homophobic racism to the Black experience. His use of personal experiences, sometimes painful and sometimes humorous, illustrates his points and drives them home. (His account about the hip-hop song done by a white friend in a local redneck bar was both frightening and yet, somehow, funny.)

His background in hip-hop shines through and invites the reader into the material as if he were speaking with family. As an African-Canadian, his experience does differ from the US experience of racism. Still, the overlap is substantial, and the book fills a gap in anti-racism literature by centering on the Canadian experience.

The author also addresses his own ideas about culture and race as he describes his experience with his Afro-Caribbean family and his assumptions about them. I appreciated his openness on this topic; his ability to work through his issues is uplifting.

For teachers and students, the book includes a lot of educational depth, including a glossary, land acknowledgements, and a list of other educational resources. The book contains a rich blend of memoir, theory, and social criticism. Although aimed at young adults, I believe it would be appreciated more as an independent read by people in their 20s and beyond. Stay Up stands as a culturally grounded exploration of anti-Blackness and resistance. It speaks with a personal tone and with a call to become aware of and stand against prejudices, including racism.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a moving memoir combined with an insightful and practical anti-racist handbook. The personal stories brought the anti-racism theory to life and made this an accessible read. Though this is targeted to young adults, and the author is a high school teacher who is good at speaking directly to the experiences of young people, I also found it to be a thought-provoking and compelling read for adults. I appreciated his real talk about everything from racism to mental health to spirituality. My experience of this book was made that much more impactful by the fact that I went to high school with Khodi, the author (he was two years younger), and so his descriptions of people and places were all very familiar and close to home for me. That makes his call to action on racism and social justice even more impossible to ignore (not that I would want to). This stirred up the jaded and burnt out part of me to want to get back out there and served as a reminder that activism IS self care.

[Tarmia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book at the Adelaide city library while I was browsing. I found Khodi Dill to be a great writer, he wrote in a way that was both approachable and poetic. As I came to realise through the book, Dill is a slam poet (makes sense). Even though it was composed with teens and youths in mind, deal was excellent in communicating (beautifully) the intricacies of Blackness and however, everyone can be an active participant in resistance. Khodi emphasizes how things compound to create racism, but also how minute acts of oppression lead to exhaustion and trauma. Dill did an excellent job of acknowledging how Blackness becomes entangled with so much more - and I was grateful for his acknowledgement of indigenous struggles for resistance and reclamation. There was an additional current of understanding in this work that’s not always mirrored in books written from a US perspective.

I truly hope to see this book become more widely read, both by teenagers and by adults.

[Carla Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an outstanding book, I couldn’t pause the audiobook & went and placed the order for the library copy so I can see more of the resources listed in the back.

What struck me as so outstanding was the voice it was shaped in, giving such personalized experience is underrated in the academic world, but when we reached a section where Khodi spoke about how traumatic experiences were rising for him in the process of writing, I felt like the reader could see a new level of the author refusing to place his lived experience in the colonial framework. His discussion on physical manifestations of trauma, on his family history with ghosts & his long journey of recognizing internalized racism are incredibly insightful. The whole world needs teachers like this human.

[Nadia L. Hohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful memoir, raw, honest, informed,… everything I want a memoir to be. As a Black Canadian with AfroCaribbean ancestor, antiracist educator, and teacher, I really tuned in and saw myself in some of the author’s experiences. I appreciate the theory… there was a lot of it that I had the benefit of learning through my graduate studies and my own readings. I like the idea of this book for young activists and for study in classrooms (guided by teachers in sections). I also like this to be used in pre-service and professional development for teachers. The art was powerful and intriguing.

[Cat Abenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible anti-racist resource full of inspiring encouragement directed to YA readers but applicable to everyone. I appreciated his encouragement to take power back and to be courageous through practicing anti-racism with practical steps. Including on how to practice allyship (context: I'm a white person) and the phenomenal quotes from inspiring Black and Indigenous leaders. As a prairie settler to Treaty 4, this book's accounts of racism on the prairies especially hit home. Khodi's voicing of this audiobook was impeccable--his personality and presence was strong, especially as he bravely shared personal reflections and stories. I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dill was a Black educator in Canada. He struggled with the dichotomy of the racist systems and being true to himself and the needs of his BIPOC students. This book details how he fought to reclaim his identity and and believes that others can (and should!) do it as well. Helpful definitions throughout for confusing terminology for those just getting into this work. Geared towards high school and up.

[Fatma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lived experience mixed with historical facts that inspires the reader to activate their role in the call for making a difference. Lots of recommended reading and inspiring ideas. Thank you to Annick Press for an advanced copy of this book.

[Danielle Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for educators!