Welcome to Litsy!

“Which is why we must actively antiracist” (last line that got cut off). Ibram X. Kendi posted this the other day & it definitely needs to be repeating. What they are pushing so hard against is why we need to push back harder.

I‘m finding strength in people that are prepared to fight (civil rights organizations, the ACLU, women‘s rights groups, etc). I‘m hoping that as a family we‘ll fair the storm but it‘s also scary. My husband is now a government contractor & he has funding for the next 4 years but no one in the government really knows what to prepare for right now. My oldest is a wildlife biologist major & he is fearful for his future, the environment. He said all

5/5 ⭐
It had more autobiographical content than I expected, but it was useful to understand and contextualize the concepts that were explained.
I learned a lot and I need to keep on learning. I think this is one of those books everyone should read.

That‘s where the important stuff is.

#AboutABook #Controversial

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

From left to right # 7, # 24, and # 66 for June‘s #roll100

Finished the last 25% of this yesterday so the first book of #WinterGames completed! Even though I read most of it in November #SantasBookshELVES
This was a truly informative read that really helps you reevaluate your thoughts about race and breaks down racist ideas into their component parts. Kendi weaves his own story throughout and details how he is continually working to overcome his own racist ideas
#Nonfiction2023 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Illuminating and hopeful. Skillfully weaves together a personal life journey with clear introductions to a wealth of concepts underpinning anti-racist policies which lead to anti-racist ideas, while deconstructing racist ones motivated by self-interest. 1/?

HUMAN behaviour.

OPPORTUNITIES please!
Without trivializing the very real statistics that clearly show the U.S. underfunding Black schools, I will anecdotally throw my weight behind the frustration of attending a [rural Canadian] high school with limited resources.
How much do students miss out on because their school district can't afford to offer it?

Now I'm not a scientist, but I'm pretty sure there's a big difference between presenting an (incredibly racist) hypothesis, and proclaiming what conclusions your tests will have before you've done them! 🙄
What's that old Sherlock quote about twisting facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts? 🤨
Not just prejudiced people, also bad methodologies!😒

Who looks at the etymology behind any random English word and thinks the language is anything BUT broken?! 🤦🏼‍♂️ Or rather, ever evolving. Bring on the continual growth and change if language!

First racist power creates racist policies out of self-interest, THEN racist ideas are created to JUSTIFY racist policies.

Everything is so clearly laid out, definitions, history, explanations, impact. Chunks of this could be a junior high textbook; how I WISH it was around when I was in junior high.

😤 Frustrated! But I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be.

"...our societies, our policies, our ideas, our histories, and our cultures have rendered race and made it matter...The gift of seeing myself as Black instead of color-blind is that it allows me to clearly see myself...as a member of the interracial body striving to accept and equate and empower racial difference of all kinds."

Considering the historical 'scientific' justification of racist & eugenic policies: crucial distinction.

The importance of non-vague word/phrase usage, and why a particular word/phrase is better. Beautifully clear explanation.

And that's just in the introduction!
I feel there will be much highlighting in my future.
Something about an optimistic, compassionate, but also uncompromising and propulsive framing of the need for antiracist action that just loosens the knot in my chest when considering the scope of addressing one of society's largest problems.

I‘ve decided to no longer celebrate Black History Month, because black voices should be celebrated year-round. I‘ve also decided that while my ego likes to bathe in my self-righteous indignation of racism, I must also confront my own racism. I must admit that as a white male my journey toward antiracism will be marred with racist ideas that I must confront and overcome. So I‘m going back to Kendi‘s Antiracist guide.

I got a cactus today! I‘ve named him Norman. He looks very good next to my library TBR pile. #cactus #owl #library #tbrpile

@Gissy thank you so much for the thoughtful gifts and books. I love them all! I just made some tea for my new mug! Thanks @Chelleo for inviting me to be a part of my first #blitsyswap!

“What‘s the problem with being “not racist”? It is a claim that signifies neutrality: “I am not a racist, but neither am I aggressively against racism.” But there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of “racist” isn‘t “not racist.” It is “antiracist.”

#20in4 #WeekendReading #BookNookBuddies2022 #BookSpinBingo

Another thoughtful one🧐

Wonderful find at the #littlefreelibrary!

I have not been able to finish the second half. It‘s just not that engaging even though I like the idea.

4.5/5 ⭐️ Such an important book about racism in our society! This was informationally dense and I think I may have absorbed more if I had read the physical version vs listening to the audiobook, but then it would have taken me forever. I really liked Kendi's cadence and found him to be a powerful speaker.

✨Read at least 60 books. Keep up with all challenges

✨I usually pick a quote for the year, rather than a word. My quote this year is "You can do anything, but not everything" Reminding myself to not take on so much that I get overwhelmed and focus on what I truly love.

✨Tagged. Yes, though it's heavy, topic-wise, it's very important!

#thoughtfulthursday

I'm joining @Andrew65 in #12Booksof2021, sharing one book every day that was our favorite read from a select month. February's face was a tough decision, but I really enjoyed reading this book. It had a lot of insights and information that was really valuable to me, and that I've been thinking about since I read it. #Nonfiction #Antiracist

I‘m glad I finally got to listen to this as it‘s been in my audible library for ages. It‘s well read and thought provoking. Clearly intended to appeal both to white readers, and to readers of color equally. Even though most chapters covered material I expected, it‘s still invaluable to hear someone‘s personal thoughts and experiences. He‘s good at laying out the history behind the political terms he uses which I appreciated.

Very thought provoking and quite hopeful in outlook by the end. ⭐⭐⭐

#pop21 A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list.
#nonfictionnovember
#33by33 Another book finished this readathon!

Next up: Black and British by David Olusoga.

A really fantastic book. I loved the personal memoir interspersed with all of the other content. It made for a very engaging read.

I‘m in a bit of a reading slow-down. I had been reading 1-2 books per week, which is really good for me, but it took me about two weeks to listen to this book because I‘ve had a lot going on that‘s taken away from reading time. But I think it‘s good I spent more time with this book! Each chapter was so rich with ideas, wisdom, questions, and challenges. I have so much respect for the author, and now I want to read Stamped from the Beginning.

True. That‘s the heart of it all.

One person‘s actions do not define a group.

...and the change does not happen until long afterward.

I've wanted to read this book for a while, and I'm so happy that I finally did. It was interesting to realize that I am the same age as the author and to think about how different our lives have been. I will definitely be reading more from him in the future.

My first Libby audiobook. Very excited to make this a part of my commute.

Digestible, illustrative examples coupled with a fun storyline. Readable and on-point in today‘s climate.

This was the 2000 U.S. presidential election. So what does this portend for the future?

Can you see how biases are actually built into standardized testing?

It is not to make judgements about other cultures as compared to your own.

Food for thought.

I always used to ask others this question as I was deeply interested in learning about other cultures. I‘ve learned not to do this any more as, not only is it politically incorrect, but it seems like a way to either categorize, stereotype, or rate individuals. I now try to just learn about each person as an individual and hope that person will later share cultural details in which I am interested but without malice on my part.

I‘ve always been annoyed by the need to fill in forms with racial identities. However, Kendi made me see why this is important. He is beginning to have an effect on the way I think. To me, this is good.

There is so much to think about in reading this book.

It‘s taking a lot of concentration on my part to fully understand the information this author is presenting. It‘s also time I do this.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks 1 book away from a bingo and i think this is the most books ive read in one month all year.
#booked2021 @Cinfhen #anti-rascism book @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliobarbar
Very thought provoking. It did help to explain how we can and should do better.

This was more academic than the other books on race I've read recently, which made it a more challenging read but the flow was so clear & logical. Kendi's personal stories & honesty made difficult topics easier to understand and this really helped me clarify my thinking on a number of things.

A local church hosted this event featuring Dr. Ibram X. Kendi (& hosted by Amanda Ripley). Thrilled to have this viewing opportunity.

I am so excited to be able to read this book! I just received it from fellow #BookCrossing member hobbit from the #BookBuffet of our recent BookCrossing Zoom Unconvention. I‘ve heard so much about this book that I‘m eager to begin it. My husband has listened to the author while watching the news on CNN.