How to Be an Antiracist

How To Be An Antiracist is a confusing, frustrating book that fails to make a convincing case that "antiracism" is the best, or even a good way to fight back against racism. It's as if Kendi was given free reign to write whatever he wanted, and no editor ever pushed back to ask questions like "does the definition you're proposing make sense" or "do you have any evidence to support your claim?"For example, Kendi starts out each chapter by defining a word like "racist" or "success," supposedly in an effort to clarify things. But these definitions end up being more confusing than clarifying. Kendi's definition of racist is, "One who is supporting a racist policy through their actions or inaction or expressing a racist idea." He uses the word "racist" twice to define the word "racist."Similarly, the central idea of antiracism seems to be that all racial groups are equal, and therefore, any inequality is proof of racism, and any policy that arguably contributed to that inequality is also racist. This too, does not make sense. If inequality is due to racism, how can we explain inequality within racial groups? Why do white people in one state make more money than in another state? Why do chlidren from two parent households generally do better academically than children from single parent households of the same race? Racism can't be the answer. And Kendi rarely offers any proof that racism is the primary source of inequality between groups, let alone the only source. The book also feels overly long and highly repetitive, with Kendi driving home the same handful of points/ideas over and over again.Racism is a real problem that requires legitimate, evidence-based solutions. How To Be An Antiracist is not that. It is a half-baked philosophy that many other black academics like John McWhorter have effectively picked apart. This book will undoubtedly earn plenty of praise from other self-described "antiracists" and white people who wouldn't dare say a critical word about a book about racism written by a black man, but the book is not convincing, nor intellectually rigorous. If you're looking for a guide to fighting against racism, look elsewhere.

Enlightening even for the supposedly enlightened...I am White. I am an immigrant. My family came to this country when I was 6 years old, by far the youngest. I learned English fluently; while you would hear the accent of my older relatives to this day, you would not know that I was not born here, that English was not my first language.I grew up on the idea of the Great American Melting Pot. Throughout my childhood and teen years, I was always seen as the person from the country of my origin. It wasn't until my college years that I was relieved to finally be seen as simply American, from California rather than from my country of origin.The Great American Melting Pot with its goal of assimilation made a lot of sense to me. We kept our family traditions, brought with us from the Old Country, at home. But outwardly, I wanted to fit in, to be simply American. It also made sense from an historical perspective. There was a time when Italians, Irish, Germans, and others fresh off the (literal) boat were seen as unwelcome newcomers, much as many from south of our border are sadly seen today. These European groups needed to assimilate. Imagine if Italian-Americans and German-Americans in this country had been seen as the enemy come World War II. Americans never could have come together to fight Hitler's armies or Japanese forces in the Pacific.But you may note that I've only mentioned the assimilation of white people from Western Europe. People from China and Japan also faced persecution when they first arrived here (as no doubt did many others). The internment camps created during World War II for those of Japanese descent living in this country were a disgrace. (Please read They Called Us Enemy by George Takei.) To mention nothing of the Black or Hispanic experience of being American in this country.What hit me hardest about this incredible book is largely summed by by the following paragraph:“Assimilationist ideas and segregationist ideas are the two types of racist ideas, the duel within racist thought. White assimilationist ideas challenge segregationist ideas that claim people of color are incapable of development, incapable of reaching the superior standard, incapable of becoming White and therefore fully human. Assimilationists believe that people of color can, in fact, be developed, become fully human, just like White people. Assimilationist ideas reduce people of color to the level of children needing instruction on how to act. Segregationist ideas cast people of color as “animals,” to use Trump's descriptor for Latinx immigrants—unteachable after a point. The history of the racialized world is a three-way fight between assimilationists, segregationists, and antiracists. Antiracist ideas are based in the truth that racial groups are equals in all the ways they are different, assimilationist ideas are rooted in the notion that certain racial groups are culturally or behaviorally inferior, and segregationist ideas spring from a belief in genetic racial distinction and fixed hierarchy.”I have always fancied myself to be not racist. But I can see that I have a long way to go: from assimilationist to antiracist. Even my assimilationist ideas were clearly not well thought out.Read this book. It's eyeopening, even for those of us who consider ourselves to be enlightened.Well written. Extensively researched, with a good deal of history, including personal and family history. Extensively footnoted. Highly readable.

Not sure who this was written for. Definitely not intended for an audience that knows much about history or how to construct an argument. Feels like it was intended to be a sermon. Unfortunately the argumentation and style dilutes the message, which is something a great deal of the U.S. needs to hear. Kendi has the right goal, but not a very compelling way to get there.

I am surprised at the positive reviews of this book.I did not find it well written. For example, the author uses the word "racist" in defining "racist" and the word "antiracist" in defining "antiracist" (see p. 13 and throughout). I learned in fifth-grade English class that I could not use the word "equal" in a definition of "equality." The author also uses a lot of words to describe something--often in incomplete sentences--to the point of tedium. He tells us that the doctor who did his colonoscopy was a Black woman. Should he describe her that way? Isn't that racist and sexist?The book did not answer the question of how to be an antiracist, for me anyway. I will stick with trying to treat each person as a unique and beloved child of God.

I am a white man from an affluent family. This is quite honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. Kendi’s writing is piercingly clear, thought provoking, and illuminating. Every white American should read this book, especially those who are troubled by racial inequality but aren’t sure what to do about it. Those with an interest in politics, philanthropy, social justice, and other topics related to building a better and more just world will benefit immensely from this book.