Contrary to popular conceptions, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. Instead, they were devised and honed by some of the most brilliant minds of each era. These intellectuals used their brilliance to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation’s racial disparities in everything from wealth to health. And while racist ideas are easily produced and easily consumed, they can also be discredited. In shedding much-needed light on the murky history of racist ideas, this book offers us the tools we need to expose them -- and in the process, gives us reason to hope. Ibram X. Kendi is The Thoreau Society's Dana S. Brigham Keynote Speaker for 2021.
Bold Type Books, 2017. Paperback, 608 pp.