How to Raise an Antiracist

Written by Ibram X. Kendi

Narrated by Ibram X. Kendi

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The book that every parent, caregiver, and teacher needs to raise the next generation of antiracist thinkers, from the author of How to Be an Antiracist and recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant.

“Kendi’s latest . . . combines his personal experience as a parent with his scholarly expertise in showing how racism affects every step of a child’s life. . . . Like all his books, this one is accessible to everyone regardless of race or class.”—Los Angeles Times (Book Club Pick)

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar

The tragedies and reckonings around racism that are rocking the country have created a specific crisis for parents, educators, and other caregivers: How do we talk to our children about racism? How do we teach children to be antiracist? How are kids at different ages experiencing race? How are racist structures impacting children? How can we inspire our children to avoid our mistakes, to be better, to make the world better? 

These are the questions Ibram X. Kendi found himself avoiding as he anticipated the birth of his first child. Like most parents or parents-to-be, he felt the reflex to not talk to his child about racism, which he feared would stain her innocence and steal away her joy. But research and experience changed his mind, and he realized that raising his child to be antiracist would actually protect his child, and preserve her innocence and joy. He realized that teaching students about the reality of racism and the myth of race provides a protective education in our diverse and unequal world. He realized that building antiracist societies safeguards all children from the harms of racism. 

Following the accessible genre of his internationally bestselling How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi combines a century of scientific research with a vulnerable and compelling personal narrative of his own journey as a parent and as a child in school. The chapters follow the stages of child development from pregnancy to toddler to schoolkid to teenager. It is never too early or late to start raising young people to be antiracist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9780593560389

Ibram X. Kendi

Ibram X. Kendi is a National Book Award–winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include Antiracist Baby; Goodnight Racism; How to Be an Antiracist; and How to Raise an Antiracist. Kendi was the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University and the Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research for five years, before leaving to become Director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study in 2025. In 2020, Time magazine named Kendi one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was also awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship.

Reviews for How to Raise an Antiracist

[squeakychu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an important book for everyone to read whether or not they have children of their own. It addresses the origins of racism in children and the way that these ideas can either be stopped or changed into making children antiracist by modeling such behavior to them in whatever role an adult has to a child.

This is such a good book because the author is an excellent writer and teacher. His prose is organized, crystal clear, and sprinkled with pertinent examples for points he makes. It’s really a delight to read.

I especially liked the section of this book which deals with teaching critical thinking skills. Much of this could be directed at other adults as well, such as the use of questions to understand reasons for things happening and human behavior.

This book offers many good ideas for countering racism. I hope this book is widely read and its suggestions put into practice.

[pomo58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How to Raise an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi is a valuable book for anyone even remotely involved in a child's life. The lessons here will have as much impact on the adults as on the children.

I am in complete agreement with the idea that everyone is, in practice, either racist or antiracist. In other words, if all one says is "I am not racist," even if they mean it, but does little to nothing to combat racism, then they are a de facto racist. If you don't speak up when a friend says or does something, you are encouraging further racism, thus, in action, you are a racist, even if you disagree with what they said or did. One doesn't define oneself by a negation, being "not a racist" might be descriptive but not much more. In a society in which race is built into so many aspects, one is either antiracist or, whether through inaction or actual intent, racist. That said, even someone who is antiracist can do or say racist things. The difference is usually one of awareness. An antiracist is less concerned with defending oneself than with improving, while the racist (including the "I'm not racist" variety) tries to rationalize or defend. We all have moments where we contribute to the racism in our society, to pretend otherwise is dangerous. It is what we choose to do when we realize what we are doing that makes a difference, both in ourselves and our society.

All of that is to say that I found this book valuable in not just how I (should have) raised my children but also in how I can contribute to how others raise their children. The children in extended families and in communities are raised by everyone there, like it or not. We can make it easier on parents if we are also modeling antiracist behavior. Ideally we do so all the time no matter who is around, but we can make a point of being particularly vigilant when young people are around.

If you're worried about being preached to in this book, don't be. Kendi passionately makes his points but does so as often by showing his own mistakes as pointing out the mistakes of others. The personal thread that runs throughout the book makes it almost memoirish at the same time that it allows the reader to feel less guilt about the mistakes in our past. We make mistakes, we can learn from them and improve or dwell on rationalizing them and contribute to racism. That choice is on you.

I would highly recommend this to not only parents but anyone even remotely involved with young people.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[hccpsk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist has been a cornerstone of the movement to read your way to a better understanding of racism and how individuals can combat it in everyday life. He seems to be turning it into a franchise with Antiracist Baby and now How to Raise an Antiracist. I don’t begrudge him his fame, and he has an excellent ability to break down racism and explain circumstances and actions, but if you have read his first book this one covers much of the same territory. With that said, it is very interesting, written in Kendi’s straightforward style, and contains a lot of valuable and relatable information, so definitely worthwhile reading.