Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America in Words Between Worlds

Jul 31, 2020 Simone rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, books-i-recommend, 2020

Wow, what an incredible book. I don't normally pick up big old history books with tons of writing and historical components to them. This was an exception and I 100% appreciate everyone who suggested this book. It took me two months to read and I read about a chapter or two a day. It is most definitely a big old book filled with tons of historical evidence and it'll be dense. However there was never a doubt that I would finish this book. It will take time to read, but it will be enlightening. Be Wow, what an incredible book. I don't normally pick up big old history books with tons of writing and historical components to them. This was an exception and I 100% appreciate everyone who suggested this book. It took me two months to read and I read about a chapter or two a day. It is most definitely a big old book filled with tons of historical evidence and it'll be dense. However there was never a doubt that I would finish this book. It will take time to read, but it will be enlightening. Bear with me as I try to get my overall thoughts down.

I feel like Kendi does an excellent job creating a clear thesis and backing it up with almost 600 years of historical facts. The thesis: that racist policies were not created by racist people. They were created by people who had certain self-interest and needed to back that up with racist ideas to create these racist policies.

What I found the most interesting was the reverberation of these racist ideas throughout history. Ibram X Kendi starts off in the 1400s and makes his way to Obama's second term and as we skip along through history, we're presented with the same arguments and theories that folks in power have used before. Theories like weather or even Biblical like curse theory were interesting to see when they were used back in the 1500s, but then seeing these same beliefs used as science progresses was very eye opening. I think a lot about the debates we're having currently about the use of face masks during the pandemic. And we're seeing right before our eyes how history is being used to persuade ourselves what we are doing is right. That's legit what Kendi argues throughout this book.

But then you see these racist ideas perpetuate not only through policies, but through American culture. You can't deny that one of the biggest parts of American culture is our love of entertainment. I felt like it made a lot of sense to include these components as well because we love entertainment and sometimes the portrayals of BIPOC on TV and movies, in books, and even in the news can be wrong. And it was interesting to see the counterbalance of Black Americans writing books, making movies and tv shows, and proving that post-racism ideas and uplifting suasion just don't work. Even the criticism about Obama was split. It was very fascinating to read and see.

This book put so much perspective into what we've been seeing. I'm so thankful that Dr. Kendi wrote this book and thankful to the bookstagrammers who suggested reading it. I noticed that there were never fingers pointed at one group or another. Kendi takes care to share specific examples and individuals who contributed to the racist and anti-racist theories and policies. I also felt like there was very little personal criticism from Kendi himself. There are a few notes here and there, but mostly his own beliefs are removed from this critical read. It was an incredible book with a clear argument that has way too much evidence supporting it. It'll be one that I think about all the time and all the information I've learned will never leave my heart. ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Trish (readtmc) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020

A brilliant, extensively researched work that has fundamentally changed my worldview. It's well worth the 500+ page journey. (More thoughts to come) ...more

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Feb 28, 2019 ECH rated it it was amazing

Does what it sets out to do. And what it sets out to do is impressive.

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Jul 30, 2020 Jolene rated it it was amazing

Absolute stunner of a book. There was so much to process and learn/unlearn/relearn. The writing was engaging and approachable. The historical figures were painted in their full humanity and complexity. This is a history book that follows racist ideas and how they changed as society changed. It maps politics, media, cultural norms from 1500’s to present day and shows how race and racist ideas were created. Highly recommend.

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