Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Bound For Justice

This week we discuss Stamped by Jason Reynolds published in March 2020. This book is an adaptation Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi (National Book Award winner).

ABOUT THE BOOK: The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. Stamped reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can be discredited.

Taken from: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/08/StampedBookClubGuide.pdf)

This is a young adult book but anyone can read it. It’s a quick read and the audiobook is only about 4 hours long. The book is broken down into sections based on specific time periods, beginning in the 1400’s and ending in present day.

Discussion Questions:

1. This book has a lot of history condensed down. I learned a ton. I’m not sure if I just didn’t pay attention in school or if a bunch of this was left out, but there was so much I didn’t know. I was kind of ashamed. Was it the same for either of you?
2. I like how Kendi writes in the introduction that knowing the past paves the way to understand today. That is so powerful and important and a good point when someone has the argument, “it’s all in the past, why can’t we just get over it.” Have you had any conversations along those lines?
3. The first chapter defines segregationists, assimilationists, and antiracists and as you read through the book it points out specific examples of how someone can fall in more than one of those categories. I’ve never thought about it quite like this before. Was this an idea either of you have considered before?