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How to Be an Anti-Racist Book Club Guide

This guide includes the curriculum you need to run a book club based on Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Anti-Racist, as well as supplementary reading and videos.

Chapter 11

A downloadable copy of this guide can be found here.

Goals for Chapter 11

  • Compare and contrast Kendi's definition of racism with the concept of 'reverse racism'
  • Identify material ways to support people of color in our institution

Discussion Questions

Go over the group agreements, then discuss the following questions:

  • How has it been for you since the last meeting? Did anything from the book stick with you during that time?
  • What were your “aha!” moments while reading this chapter?
  • What are ways in which we can support people of color in our institution?
  • Kendi’s definition of racism, which specifically incorporates the idea that people of color can be racist as well, differs from many other definitions. Talk about the ways in which it differs or aligns with your understanding of racism?
    • How is his definition different from the concept of “reverse racism”?
  • “Racist ideas are constantly produced to cage the power of people to resist” (p142) - talk about this concept (especially in the light of recent news)

Wrap up: Depending on time, you may ask people to put these in chat

  • What is a specific action you can take in the next week that is anti-racist?
  • What worked today? What didn’t work?

Additional Materials