Group Read: Stamped From The Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

[Meli]

I am thrilled there is so much interest in reading Stamped From The Beginning and also Stamped, the YA version, and I am humbled to kick off the buddy read for these books.

Stamped From The Beginning was written by Professor Ibram X. Kendi, “one of America’s foremost historians and leading antiracist voices.” You can find out more about the great work Kendi is doing to support the antiracist cause here.
He is also a writer for The Atlantic and there are several insightful articles available here.

Stamped is a remixed version of the original Stamped, written by Jason Reynolds for the Young Adult crowd, but I read the YA version first and feel like it is also great for adults. Jason Reynolds is a prolific YA author focusing on stories that represent Black voices and was most recently named the Library of Congress’ National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. There could not have been a better fit to rewrite Stamped for young people.

Please join us to discuss this critically important piece of American history, whether you choose the original or the YA remixed version.
I will pop in here periodically to post some reading guide questions I’ve found on the internet, but feel free to share your own!

I also want to share a read along happening throughout the month for these books. It started on Juneteenth (June + 19 = “a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States”) so you’ll be a little behind, but it is worth following the hosts of the read along on Instagram - @melanatedreader, @booksteanhenny, @_pagesgaloree.
Check out the website here for a handy reading schedule and sign up for the zoom discussion if you are so inclined. You can also just follow the hashtag on Instagram at #letsgetstamped.

And finally, there is also a buddy read for Kendi's 3rd (?) book that expands from the historical lesson to practical application in our everyday lives, How to Be an Antiracist. The buddy read is here --> https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I would like to borrow from Nileema's starter questions, because I think they are a great place to kick off the reading:

Why are you reading ‘Stamped From The Beginning’?
What do you know about Ibram X. Kendi?
Where did you buy/borrow the book from?

[Meli]

Why are you reading ‘Stamped From The Beginning’?
I am reading this book because I would like to learn the history of racist ideas. Already a hundred pages in and there are shocking parallels to rhetoric used in the late 1600s of prominent figures and that which is used today.
We watched Roots in school when I was very young, read slave-narrative texts, and learned quite a bit about the Civil Rights Movement when I was in school, but nothing that goes back as far or as in depth as this book.

What do you know about Ibram X. Kendi?
I found out about Ibram X. Kendi when his book 'How To Be An Antiracist' came out and I probably know about as much as anyone else at this point. He has essentially dedicated his life to spreading the gospel of antiracism. Interestingly, his wife is a pediatric emergency medical doctor during a pandemic, so they're both fighting on the frontlines of two different viruses plaguing the US.

Where did you buy/borrow the book from?
I bought my copy from Source Booksellers in Detroit.
I was traveling there for business last May and whenever I am traveling I look up local bookstores. Coincidentally this is a Black owned bookstore so fitting that I bought it there!
FYI - you can order from Source Booksellers online, they ship very quickly for in-stock books and when I ordered recently the shipping was free. (although be aware that could be while their closed to the public, so may not be free when you order)

[Joanne]

My library has it on order for me-hopefully I will get it in time!

[Meli]

Nice! If not soon, you can hop in whenever.

[Nileema]

Thanks for highlighting Source Booksellers, Meli! Also, I didn't know Kendi's wife is a doctor, how interesting.

[Charlotte]

I got this book for myself for my birthday and it finally came in on Monday!! Just in time! I might slow read it since it's so big, but we'll see.

Why are you reading ‘Stamped From The Beginning’?
I want to learn. Books and research are always the first step for me. I'll be spending the next indefinite amount of time absorbing, challenging myself, and changing. This book is one of many that I want to read towards that goal.

What do you know about Ibram X. Kendi?
Nothing beyond what you have provided. I plan to learn more as I read. I always google and look things up while I'm reading a book.

Where did you buy/borrow the book from?
I got it from Amazon. I received gift certificates from my in-laws for my birthday and spent almost all of it on black authors. Since I wasn't purchasing from a Black owned bookstore, I wanted to do my part in getting black authors on the tops of Amazon charts.

Yay Meli!! I'm looking forward to participating and will be checking out the read along that you provided too. Although I might do this as more of a slow read so I may be behind. I'm also doing a Kindred slow read and a feminine divine one, so a LOT of book reading on my plate!!

[Meli]

I just heard on a recent interview and I thought it was pretty remarkable both being doctors, but of a different sort.

[Meli]

Yay, Charlotte! This is definitely good for a slow read. The #letsgetstamped buddy read is like 10 pgs a day which I'm basically using as my guide. I think that's a very manageable reading schedule and makes it easy to catch up when you're behind.

[Robin P]

Another item on the legacy of slavery - Last year, the NY Times magazine devoted a whole issue to "The 1619 Project", that being the year the first black slaves were brought to North America. Essays, all by black writers, look at many aspects of modern life, including health care, capitalism, the arts, city traffic, etc. and find influences from the time of slavery and its aftermath. There have been some critiques of certain essays, but overall it's an impressive work. I think you can find the whole thing online as well as some podcasts and other materials.

[Meli]

I have a NY Times Sunday subscription, so I remember when that came out. Thanks for the reminder, and I found the link for those interested.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...

[Joy D]

Why are you reading ‘Stamped From The Beginning’?
I am interested in the ongoing dialogue about race in the US.

What do you know about Ibram X. Kendi?
I was not previously aware of him.

Where did you buy/borrow the book from?
I am on a waiting list to get this ebook from my online library and hope to get it this month. If not I will read it when it is available. I may buy it once I read it.

[Meli]

Welcome, Joy D! I hope you are able to secure a copy. It's freakin' amazing that this book won't stay in stock, love to see it, but at the same time I wish everyone could secure a copy :(

I thought I would pop in with some questions since it has almost been a week.
I found this great pdf online for educators to generate in-class discussions for the Stamped remix version.

The first question is directly in reference to the opening letter by Kendi in the remix version, but I feel it is an apt place to start as the question forces us to consider why these historical texts about our racist history are important.

First, "Understanding the legacy of racism in America is essential to building an antiracist America."

- What are the consequences of continued omissions about the history of racism and antiracism in the US?

[Joanne]

Joy D wrote: "Why are you reading ‘Stamped From The Beginning’?
I am interested in the ongoing dialogue about race in the US.

"

I am waiting on my library to get their copy-I am #1 in line, but my library is not issuing new books just yet-why? I have no idea! anyway, if we miss this read, perhaps we can buddy read together!

[Meli]

I have been thinking a lot about the question posed in the YA book -
"What are the consequences of continued omissions about the history of racism and antiracism in the US?"

In particular, why are so many school curriculums omitting this, what is the perceived benefit, etc.
I grew up in a diverse city, so there were a lot of Black students and faculty in my schools growing up. High school was close to 40% I think, so we covered history of slavery & the Civil Rights Movement, sang the Black national anthem, etc. But it seems this is not the case for most people. It never occurred to my until recently that this was uncommon.

I think the powers that be want to suppress that history thinking that the omission allows us to move forward, but if the last 40 or so years is any indication it does the opposite.

With this gaping hole in our American history lessons, white people are able to believe racism doesn't exist at all. Omitting these lessons stunts the movement toward an antiracist society.

I am nearing the 200 page mark, but throughout I find myself hoping this is a text that can be introduced into schools. The fear that this would incite anger and hinder societal growth is unfounded. I certainly think people would feel anger at past transgressions, I did, but I don't believe this would prevent us from coming together as a society to correct policies that are geared toward continued oppression.

[Meli]

Update: I am on the W.E.B Du Bois section, so about page 260.

It is kinda crazy how the political rhetoric used back as far as the 1800s is strikingly similar to that we hear today. I'll share examples later.

[Joy D]

I just got my copy from my online library and have started it. I'll pop back in to participate in the discussion once I get further along.

[Meli]

Excellent, look forward to it.

[Meli]

We are coming into the home stretch... based on the Instagram read-a-long (#letsgetstamped), I will finish up this week.

One thing that struck me the most reading this book is that I think many people consider racist ideas as more harmful in the past, especially when the rhetoric was used to encourage continued slavery and segregation. But there are examples throughout the book that show the same rhetoric was used as early as the 1600s, or rhetoric used against the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, is the same as the rhetoric we hear today. So the outcome may not be as severe, but the language is just as dangerous and racist.

Here is an example from a passage I read last night:
"By 1968, both Democrats and Republicans had popularized the call for 'law and order.' It became a motto for defending the Planet of the Whites. 'Law and order' rhetoric was used as a defense for police brutality ... "

Sound familiar?

Is there anything that surprised you reading this book?
Something you didn't know before that you learned?

[Joy D]

I am not as far along as you in this book, Meli, but I hope to finish before the end of the month.

So far, I have learned quite a bit of history and this was not taught at all in school when I grew up. Specifically, Thomas Jefferson is quite interesting in being the author of a document that states "all men are created equal" (he is lauded in history classes) but equivocating all over the place in statements that sometimes seem to support equality but more often expressing racist views.

I liked the distinction between assimilationists and segregationists. It seems the root of racism is believing those that area "very different" were not quite human. I don't think it helped that scientific thought was so primitive in those days.

I do think it should be taught in schools, but I think it is considered "too controversial" and I doubt it would ever fly in the American South (even now). I lived in the south for years after coming from the west coast and it was quite a culture shock for me in the racist views I encountered (and most of the people I challenged would not own it - in fact, they would say they are "not racist" while expressing clearly racist views!)

I will say I have hope for the future. My son (in his early twenties) and his friends are becoming activists for Black Lives Matter. I have seen a much more open view of everyone being accepted for who they are than what I experienced as a youth. I know this is anecdotal and just one example, but it at least gives me a bit of optimism.

[Joy D]

Finished just in time for the monthly tag:

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi - 4 stars - My Review

Non-fiction that chronicles the history of racism in the United States. It is structured around the lifetimes of five individuals: Cotton Mather (1663–1728), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879), W.E.B. DuBois (1868–1963), and Angela Davis (1943–present). In this ambitious undertaking, the author also examines the interconnections among racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism that have occurred over hundreds of years.

Kendi offers definitions for segregationists, assimilationists, and antiracists, which he uses throughout the book. He includes racial policies and practices evident in science, politics, court cases, industry, socioeconomics, education, literature, and performing arts in each generation, noting progress and regress. It is scholarly in tone and takes focused concentration to keep track of the many concepts covered. It is written for people who are or desire to be antiracists. It is not a quick read but definitely worthwhile if you want to understand and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about race in the US.

[Charlotte]

You guys are awesome!

I went so far as to move the book from my hearth in the living room to in front of me on my desk in my home office.

I have yet to crack the spine although I keep meaning to.

[Meli]

To be fair, this was the only non-fiction I was reading this month and it was supplemented by a lot of fun reads so that helped! If you already had a lot of history heavy nonfiction you were reading this might be a bit much to add onto.