Discussion o f t he C ommon Book For the last several years, first year students have been asked to read a common book. The title chosen this fall, How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, reflects the seriousness of where we are in society and all that is happening around us. Virtual sessions were attended by more than 140 students, hosted by Senior Director of Academic Student Support Erik Bakke with the help of a variety of guest hosts including Professor Jodie Austin, Dr. Alma Clayton-Pedersen, Assistant Director of Residential Life and Housing Taylor Henkel, Professor Mutima Imani, Bowman Librarian Kathleen Kosiec, Provost Grande Lum, Dean Melissa Michelson, Professor Lakiba Pittman, Professor Melissa Poulsen, and Coach Denise Sheldon.
By Brianna Valentine ’24
Finding our Humanity
9 WINTER 2021
Kendi shows us that one of the best ways to fight racism is to first realize when we are being racist. He tells readers, “When we believe that a racial group’s seeming success or failure redounds to each of its individual members, we’ve accepted a racist idea,” and explains to us the importance of recognizing that everyone is their own individual and that no one should be put into categories or stereotypes based on their appearances. Fighting racism isn’t only a question of changing our minds, but also our actions. As a youth in the 21st century, I can say without a doubt that I agree with Kendi’s idea of judging people as being racist or antiracist based on what ideas and actions they are supporting. This follows the long-used phrase “actions over words;” more often than not people say they are going to do more things than they actually do. People show who they are through their actions rather than what they say. Kendi gives us a way to help stand against racism early on in his book when he says that “This book is ultimately about… the struggle to be fully human and to see that others are fully human,” explaining that we can combat racism “if we focus on power instead of people, if we focus on changing policy instead of groups of people.” This book is not only a depiction of racism that Kendi has seen in his lifetime, but is also a call to action, explaining to us the steps required for us to help others and ourselves become a better part of the fight for an equal society.