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Be Antiracist: A Journal for Awareness, Reflection and Action
The heart of racism is denial. It is refusing to self-reflect.
In his global, game-changing bestseller How To Be An Antiracist Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Centre for Antiracist Research at Boston University, showed that when it comes to racism, neutrality is not an until we become part of the solution, we can only be part of the problem. Crucially, it requires 'persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism and regular self-examination'.
In this workbook he uses his extraordinary gifts as a teacher to provide the reader with a series of activities, exercises and reflections to help them do this vital work, to cultivate an instinctive awareness of racism in all its forms and to take the action necessary to promote racial equity in the world around them. He asks us to reflect on our thinking around race through prompts including 'Describe the most racist moment of your life,', 'Have you ever been hesitant to use the R-word? Why?' and 'What does resistance mean to you?' helping us understand that the heartbeat of anti-racism is confession. It is self-reflection.
Being antiracist is not something you are. It's something we do.
'Transformative and revolutionary' Robin DiAngelo, bestselling author of White Fragility
'Gives us the tools to make changes in our own life and society' June Sarpong
In his global, game-changing bestseller How To Be An Antiracist Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Centre for Antiracist Research at Boston University, showed that when it comes to racism, neutrality is not an until we become part of the solution, we can only be part of the problem. Crucially, it requires 'persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism and regular self-examination'.
In this workbook he uses his extraordinary gifts as a teacher to provide the reader with a series of activities, exercises and reflections to help them do this vital work, to cultivate an instinctive awareness of racism in all its forms and to take the action necessary to promote racial equity in the world around them. He asks us to reflect on our thinking around race through prompts including 'Describe the most racist moment of your life,', 'Have you ever been hesitant to use the R-word? Why?' and 'What does resistance mean to you?' helping us understand that the heartbeat of anti-racism is confession. It is self-reflection.
Being antiracist is not something you are. It's something we do.
'Transformative and revolutionary' Robin DiAngelo, bestselling author of White Fragility
'Gives us the tools to make changes in our own life and society' June Sarpong
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2020
34 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
Ibram X. Kendi
38 books7,326 followersDr. Ibram X. Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, and the founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a CBS News racial justice contributor. He is the host of the new action podcast, Be Antiracist.
Dr. Kendi is the author of many highly acclaimed books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, making him the youngest ever winner of that award. He had also produced five straight #1 New York Times bestsellers, including How to Be an Antiracist, Antiracist Baby, and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored by Jason Reynolds. In 2020, Time magazine named Dr. Kendi one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship, popularly known as the Genius Grant.
Dr. Kendi is the author of many highly acclaimed books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, making him the youngest ever winner of that award. He had also produced five straight #1 New York Times bestsellers, including How to Be an Antiracist, Antiracist Baby, and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored by Jason Reynolds. In 2020, Time magazine named Dr. Kendi one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship, popularly known as the Genius Grant.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 2, 2021
This summer, I was working on the questions in Me and White Supremacy. White Supremacy was comprised of a series of short essays and a series of questions for each day of the month. Now I'm working on Be Antiracist, the companion to How to Be an Antiracist. The two books have different formats and strengths and weaknesses.
Be Antiracist has about 200 questions. Despite – or because – there are so many questions, I did not write proportionally more (15 single-spaced pages for White Supremacy and 25 for Be Antiracist). Be Antiracist tends to ask more factual questions (e.g., List three examples of..."), while White Supremacy asked more reflection sorts of questions.
I initially skipped a number of questions, as they did not seem as relevant to me. As I went on, however, I returned to most and felt that I profited. For example, he asked, "What policies, historically or currently, could be behind the struggles of the most impoverished immigrant group in New York City – Asians?" This was a question that I knew nothing about, although Dr. Google was helpful (see Working but Poor: Asian American Poverty in New York City).
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Saad (White Supremacy) seemed to assume bad intentions on my part, while Kendi (Be Antiracist) was more palatable for this White woman, as he assumed that we are all racists, including himself, and that we should engage in a continual path of questioning, including himself.
Saad encouraged a lot of reflection, which I enjoy, while Kendi asked us to consider not only what we think and feel but also what we do. I appreciate both and wished that Kendi had included specific opportunities for reflection at various points, especially during those parts of the workbook when I did not feel that his questions clearly fit me.
I wish that Kendi cited his quotations and clearly divided Be Antiracist into chapters in the same way as How to Be an Antiracist. That would have made toggling between the two easier. As it was, although I own copies of both, it was easier to refer to Dr. Google when I had questions. Could you only buy Be Antiracist and not one of his other books? I don't think so, but you know yourself better than I do.
Bottom line, I'm glad that I worked my way through both books. They have different purposes – White Supremacy) was more of a workbook for a cultural diversity group, while Be Antiracist could be used with few changes in a college course.
Be Antiracist has about 200 questions. Despite – or because – there are so many questions, I did not write proportionally more (15 single-spaced pages for White Supremacy and 25 for Be Antiracist). Be Antiracist tends to ask more factual questions (e.g., List three examples of..."), while White Supremacy asked more reflection sorts of questions.
I initially skipped a number of questions, as they did not seem as relevant to me. As I went on, however, I returned to most and felt that I profited. For example, he asked, "What policies, historically or currently, could be behind the struggles of the most impoverished immigrant group in New York City – Asians?" This was a question that I knew nothing about, although Dr. Google was helpful (see Working but Poor: Asian American Poverty in New York City).
.
Saad (White Supremacy) seemed to assume bad intentions on my part, while Kendi (Be Antiracist) was more palatable for this White woman, as he assumed that we are all racists, including himself, and that we should engage in a continual path of questioning, including himself.
Saad encouraged a lot of reflection, which I enjoy, while Kendi asked us to consider not only what we think and feel but also what we do. I appreciate both and wished that Kendi had included specific opportunities for reflection at various points, especially during those parts of the workbook when I did not feel that his questions clearly fit me.
I wish that Kendi cited his quotations and clearly divided Be Antiracist into chapters in the same way as How to Be an Antiracist. That would have made toggling between the two easier. As it was, although I own copies of both, it was easier to refer to Dr. Google when I had questions. Could you only buy Be Antiracist and not one of his other books? I don't think so, but you know yourself better than I do.
Bottom line, I'm glad that I worked my way through both books. They have different purposes – White Supremacy) was more of a workbook for a cultural diversity group, while Be Antiracist could be used with few changes in a college course.
October 22, 2020
From the #1 Bestselling Author of Stamped and How To Be An Antiracist comes this much needed tool in helping us reflect and identify what is our relationship to our racial identity. This book gives you insight by asking yourself questions and challenging you on your perceptions of racism. So many people say, “Well, I’m not racist!” But what does “not racist” actually mean? This journal enlightens and teaches things about yourself that you may not even be aware of. It also helps you be more aware of racism and understand it wholeheartedly in depth. It may make you want to be a better person even if you think you are already at your best. I look forward to continuing my education and learning, as it will be a process that is ongoing as long as I live or until the day I see 100% equality for my Black Brothers and Sisters.
February 25, 2021
This book is hard. This book causes you to think. There are a lot of hard questions in the book, some words I had to look up to make sure I was using a word correctly, even doing a few questions per day it took me almost a month to work through. If you desire to be anti racist this book is definitely worth your time. It helps you look at anti racism through a myriad of lens and angles.
August 16, 2021
Suitable for toilet paper or kindling. You got played
October 16, 2020
This little journal, designed to accompany the author’s book “How to Be an Antiracist,” directs readers through a series of prompts designed to uncover and correct hidden biases. I like the inclusion of quotes from the companion text and appreciate Kend’s inclusion of examining attitudes about class and neighborhoods. The journal is similar to other antiracist journals but worth the time for both whites and POC. I do see wats to incorporate these prompts into teaching literature such as “A Raisin in the Sun.”
August 22, 2021
The workbook that goes along with the book forces you to think and challenge your beliefs and where they came from and where you can go in the future.
August 5, 2022
I’m looking forward to doing this workbook again and again. It brings forth the reflection and understanding of the humanity in people.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews