by Andrew Ellingsen (Instructional Coach) and Denise Lee (DMS Collaborative Teacher) “The only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it-and then dismantle it.” ~ Ibram X. Kendi I am not a racist. Am I? We certainly don’t think of ourselves as a racist, but participating in the book study this fall helped us to reframe the idea of racism. In Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist, he sets forth the premise that being “not racist” isn’t enough – we must choose in our daily life between racism and active antiracism. In Kendi’s words, “the only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it – and then dismantle it.” Kendi delves into topics including history, politics, physical features, socioeconomic class, sexuality, and survival. In each chapter, he describes scenes from his own life, sharing stories of when he (a black author) behaved in racist ways. The vulnerability of the author and those participating in the book study allowed us to analyze ourselves and the world we lived in. Below are several quotes shared by book study participants:
If you’re interested in reading How to Be an Antiracist, reach out to one of us or to anyone who participated in the book study – we would happily lend you our copies! Or if you’re interested in participating in next fall's book study, look for an email early next year from Andrew Ellingsen. The book we will be reading is Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender and Identity, edited by Micah Rajunov and Scott Duane -- feel free to order it and get a head start on reading over the summer!
1 Comment
Stephanie Radloff
3/27/2020 10:46:50 am
This sounds like a very interesting read and good learning tool for self evaluation. I'm going to put it on my summer read list! Thanks for sharing!
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