03 November, 2020

[Review] Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

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Cover image from the goodreads website.

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Release Date: 10 March, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Genre: History/Antiracism/Racism
ISBN: 9781549184253
Edition: audiobook (available in eBook and hardcover)
Rating: ★★
Review Written: 9 July, 2020
Warnings: Deals with topics of racism
Summary:  
A timely, crucial, and empowering exploration of racism--and antiracism--in America

This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.


See more by Jason Reynolds and Imbram X Kendi at their websites.
A timely and crucial book indeed, this condensed history of racism and antiracism and Black Americans is a good addition to any collection.

The audiobook version is read by the authors, with Ibram X. Kendi reading the forward and Jason Reynolds reading the bulk of the book. This book gives a detailed look into where the first racist publications came from (Spain), and how the ideas transformed since their first appearance. Although parts of the book provided difficult to listen to as a white female, I understood that was the point of the book. It is a challenge to spot our own flaws at times, and the racist tendencies that we are raised into.

This book is meant to supplement the history books that young adults are used to, but it is also meant to surpass them. This book focuses on the history of Racism and what the difference is between being a racist, being an assimilate, and being anti-racist. Out of those terms, I was familiar with the first two, and it was fully educational to hear what an anti-racist should be and what to look into. This title challenged me a lot, making me take an introspective look in at myself.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a good info balance of heavy hitting points and easy to read/listen to ideas on racism and how to challenge it.

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