How to Be an Antiracist (One World Essentials)

by Ibram X. Kendi

NOTE ON “RACISM” AND “RACIST” Here, I corrected one of my biggest errors in the hardcover edition: my use, at times, of the terms “racism” and “racist” interchangeably. Many people use “racism” and “racist” interchangeably. But we must stop. I am trying to stop. Because they mean different things. “Racism” connotes power, policies, and ideas. “Racist” connotes a power, a policy, or an idea. “Racism” connotes what is structural, systemic, institutional, connected, or plural: a powerful collection of unjust or inequitable policies justified by ideas of racial hierarchy. “Racist” connotes what is individual or singular, such as a single (racist) policy or idea, or a single person who is being racist. I changed “internalized racism” to “internalized racist ideas” because an individual cannot have or internalize racism. A group of people can engage in racism, while an individual can be racist. The common definition of racism can no longer hold. When we define racism as only a belief, philosophy, or ideology that can be internalized by an individual, it undermines two things: (1) the recognition of racism as structural, institutional, and systemic; and (2) the powerful role of policymakers, policies, and practices in the operation of racism. Power and policy are more foundational to racism than ideas (with ideas justifying the policies and practices). When we think racism, what comes to mind should be structures. When we think racist, what comes to mind should be an individual, ...