Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi - “Stamped” and the Story of Racism in the U.S. | The Daily Show

Summary

In this enlightening discussion, the authors of 'Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You' share insights on the importance of understanding racism's historical roots and its ongoing impact on society. The book, aimed at younger readers, is designed to be engaging and accessible, with varied chapter lengths and a focus on the present and future of racism. It not only explores the history of racism but also highlights the fight against it, empowering readers to join the ongoing struggle for equity and justice.

Takeaways

• 📚 The book 'Stamped' is not presented as a traditional history book to appeal to younger readers who typically avoid them.
• 🔍 It emphasizes that history is not isolated but is ongoing and impacts our daily lives, making it a 'present book'.
• 👦 The book is designed to be palatable and understandable for younger readers, aiming to make the history of racism and anti-racism accessible.
• 📖 The structure of 'Stamped' is unconventional with varying chapter lengths and dynamic text presentation to engage readers in an overstimulated world.
• 🎮 The author discusses the idea of integrating lessons about racism into popular games like Fortnite to reach young audiences where they are.
• 💪 The book aims to provide hope by not only discussing the history of racism but also highlighting the ongoing fight against it and how readers can participate.
• 📉 It addresses the misconception that racism has a single start point, instead explaining it as an evolution that began with the transatlantic slave trade.
• 🗣️ The text delves into coded language and terms used historically and in modern times to perpetuate racist ideologies, such as 'ghettos' and 'thugs'.
• 🌐 'Stamped' seeks to create a new 'code' for anti-racism, encouraging a new form of 'indoctrination' towards equity and justice.
• 👏 The conversation highlights the importance of understanding and teaching the history of racism and anti-racism in a way that is engaging and relevant to today's youth.
• 🌟 The book is recommended for schools and praised for its unique approach to discussing a difficult subject in an understandable and impactful manner.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'Stamped' discussed in the interview?

The main theme of the book 'Stamped' is racism, anti-racism, and their impact on the present and future, as well as the history of these concepts.

Why did the authors choose to start the book by stating it is not a history book?

The authors wanted to appeal to younger readers who typically do not enjoy reading history books. They aimed to make the content relatable and engaging for them.

How does the book address the issue of racism in a way that is different from traditional history books?

The book 'Stamped' presents racism as a perennial issue that is not just historical but also operates in the present and future, making it more relatable to young readers.

What is the significance of the book's format with short chapters and varying writing styles?

The format is designed to engage young readers who live in an overstimulated world with multiple stimuli, such as cell phones and video games, and to compete with these distractions.

What is the book's approach to discussing the history of racism and anti-racism?

The book 'Stamped' provides a narrative that shows the ongoing fight against racism and anti-racism, encouraging readers to understand their role in this ongoing struggle.

How does the book deal with the emotional impact of discussing racism on young readers?

The authors aim to present the history of racism and anti-racism in a way that is palatable and understandable, without overwhelming young readers with negative emotions.

What is the 'Southern strategy' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to racism?

The 'Southern strategy' refers to a political approach that used coded language to appeal to racism indirectly, such as using terms like 'ghettos' and 'thugs' instead of overt racial slurs.

What is the significance of the term 'antiracist' as used in the book?

The term 'antiracist' is used as a new code to represent a commitment to fighting for true equity and justice, as opposed to passive non-racism.

How does the book 'Stamped' address the concept of indoctrination in the context of teaching about racism and anti-racism?

The book challenges the idea of indoctrination by suggesting that all education involves some form of it, and proposes creating a new 'indoctrination' for equity and justice.

What is the book's stance on the idea that racism has a definitive start date?

The book identifies the transatlantic slave trade as the start date for the concept of racism as we understand it today, where different African ethnic groups were imagined as one inferior group.

What is the intended impact of the book 'Stamped' on its readers, especially young readers?

The book aims to provide young readers with a deeper understanding of racism and anti-racism, empowering them to be part of the ongoing fight for equity and justice.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introducing 'Racism, Antiracism, and You'

The conversation begins with the introduction of the book 'Racism, Antiracism, and You' by authors Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. The book is positioned as not just a history book but a present and future-oriented guide for younger readers to understand the ongoing impact of racism in their daily lives. The authors discuss the importance of making the content accessible and engaging for a generation accustomed to digital stimulation, using varied chapter lengths and dynamic writing styles to capture their attention. The discussion also hints at the idea of integrating educational content into popular games like Fortnite to teach about racism in an interactive way.

05:02

🌟 Challenging Indoctrination with Anti-Racism

In the second paragraph, the dialogue shifts to the broader implications of the book's approach to teaching about racism and anti-racism. The authors argue against the notion of indoctrination, suggesting that all education involves some form of it. They propose the idea of creating a new 'indoctrination' that promotes equity and justice, using the term 'antiracist' as a new code for those fighting for true equality and love. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical roots of racism and the ongoing fight against it, encouraging young readers to join the struggle for a better world.

Keywords

💡Racism

Racism is a belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another. In the video, racism is discussed as a historical and ongoing issue that has been deeply rooted in society, shaping the lives of individuals and communities. The script mentions the history of racism, such as during slavery and the Jim Crow era, to illustrate its pervasive impact.

💡Antiracism

Antiracism refers to the active opposition to racism by advocating for the political, economic, and social equality of all races. The video emphasizes the importance of not only understanding racism but also learning about the history and actions of those who have fought against it. The authors of the book aim to show that antiracism is an ongoing struggle that young people can participate in.

💡History Book

A history book typically contains a detailed account of past events and is often associated with academic study. The script clarifies that while the book discusses historical aspects of racism, it is not a traditional history book, as it is designed to be more accessible and engaging for younger readers who might not typically be interested in historical texts.

💡Perennial

Perennial refers to something that lasts or is valid throughout the year or over a long period of time. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe how history is not just a series of past events but is continually relevant and present in our daily lives, influencing our current social structures and interactions.

💡Okey-doke

The term 'okey-doke' is a colloquial expression meaning to trick or deceive someone, often in a playful manner. In the script, it is used to describe the authors' strategy of initially assuring young readers that the book is not a history book, only to engage them with historical content in a way that is relevant to their lives.

💡Jim Crow

Jim Crow refers to the laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States between 1876 and 1965. The term is used in the script to highlight a specific period of intense racism and to illustrate the historical context of racial discrimination in America.

💡Indoctrination

Indoctrination is the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. In the video, the term is discussed in the context of how people are often unknowingly taught certain beliefs, such as racism, through societal structures and language. The authors suggest that there could be a positive form of indoctrination that promotes equity and justice.

💡Southern Strategy

The Southern Strategy was a political strategy used by the Republican Party in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s to appeal to white voters in the South by using coded racial language. The script mentions this strategy as an example of how racism can be perpetuated through indirect language and political tactics.

💡Code Words

Code words are terms or phrases used to convey a meaning that is not explicitly stated but is understood by a certain group of people. In the context of the video, code words are used to subtly express racist sentiments without directly using derogatory terms. The script discusses how politicians have historically used such language to appeal to racist sentiments.

💡Transatlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic slave trade refers to the period between the 16th and 19th centuries when millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas as slaves. The script identifies this as a definitive start date for the modern concept of racism, as it involved the dehumanization and racial classification of African people.

💡Equity

Equity refers to the concept of fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and opportunities. In the video, the term is used in the context of striving for a society where everyone has equal access to opportunities, regardless of their race. The book aims to inspire young readers to fight for equity and justice.

Highlights

The book 'Racism, Antiracism, and You' is intentionally not presented as a history book to appeal to younger readers who typically avoid history books.

History is discussed as being perennial, impacting our lives every day, not just in the past.

The book is designed to be palatable and understandable for young readers, aiming to make history relevant to their present and future.

The authors, Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, collaborated to tell the story of racism in a way that is engaging and easy to digest.

The book features short chapters and a dynamic writing style to engage readers in an overstimulated world.

The authors discuss the idea of integrating lessons about racism into popular games like Fortnite to reach young people.

The book aims to provide hope by showing the history of anti-racism and how young people can be part of the fight against racism today.

The book does not just focus on the history of racism but also on the ongoing struggle and ways to combat it effectively.

The transatlantic slave trade is identified as the start date of racism as we understand it, with the creation of racist policies.

The book breaks down the concept of racism to reveal underlying biases that people may not be aware they have been indoctrinated with.

The authors discuss the use of coded language in politics, such as the Southern strategy and the shift from overt racist terms to more subtle terms like 'ghettos' and 'thugs'.

The book's intention is to create a 'new code' for anti-racism, encouraging readers to fight for true equity and justice.

The authors challenge the notion of indoctrination, suggesting that creating new indoctrination for equity and justice could be powerful.

The book is praised for its unique approach to teaching history in a way that is engaging and relevant to young readers of all races.

The book 'Stamped' is recommended to be in every school, emphasizing its importance and impact on educating about racism and anti-racism.

Transcripts

Welcome, gentlemen, to The Daily Show.

-Thank you, thank you. -Uh, great to see you again.

But let's jump into this book,

which a lot of people would think...

would see the cover and go like, "Why would I read this?"

Racism, Antiracism, and You.

The first thing you say is, "This is not a history book."

What does that mean?

Uh, look, I-I chose to start the book that way,

because this book is geared toward younger people,

and younger people don't like to read history books.

-Right. -And so you start off by saying,

don't worry, this is not a history book,

and then you okey-doke 'em, right?

Uh, the other part of it, the other part of it, though,

is that... is that we talk about history

as if it's in a bubble.

But the truth is that history is perennial.

It runs through our lives... our lives every single day.

-Right. -And it's more about it being a present book

-that history actually impacts. -That's really interesting,

because that has been fascinating

reading through this.

I didn't know what to expect. You know, you read books

that tell you about the history of America,

you read books that only focus on racism today,

or maybe even jim crow, but this book really just takes you

through everything in a way that seems like it's palatable.

Like, has it been designed in such a way

that you can just read it and understand without...

without feeling too much?

Is that what you've tried to do for younger readers?

I mean, racism is historical.

And what that means is, it's rooted in the past,

but you can constantly see it operating in your daily life,

and you constantly see how it's gonna operate tomorrow.

And that's what we wanted to sort of show for young people,

that this history book is in the present,

it's operating in the future,

so they can understand their everyday lives.

NOAH: When you... when you wrote the book,

you know, the two of you came together,

Jason and Ibram, and you... and you worked on this,

telling the story of racism.

And-and you have such short chapters

in the book, which is really interesting.

It doesn't follow the format of a normal book.

Sometimes, a chapter is ten pages.

Sometimes, it's-it's longer. Some...

You know, sometimes, the way you write on a page,

like, the words pop out. They change.

It really does engage you in a certain way.

Were you trying to break the mind

and how it's consuming information

-when you created the book? -For sure.

But-but I'm also trying to make sure

that we're working with, uh, the realities of young folks,

which is an overstimulated world, right?

-Oh. -I-I can't compete with cell phones,

video games, YouTube, uh, Fortnite

and all these things that they have going on

with their lives every single day.

My job isn't to compete, though.

That's a silly and futile argument.

My job is to work with those things

by creating multiple stimuli within the pages of a book.

-Why not? -Why? That's brilliant.

-(applause) -I think you...

With-Without even realizing it,

you-you might have hit on another opportunity.

You-you just add, like, an expansion onto Fortnite

-that just teaches you about racism. -Exactly.

So, you have, like, skins from the past,

and then kids can learn.

-There's, like, challenges. -Don't give too much away.

-Don't give too much. -(laughter)

-That's next up. -Um, Ibram,

young people are gonna read this book,

and some of them may feel deflated.

They may go like, "Man, racism was so bad back then,

"so bad during slavery,

"so bad during jim crow, segregation, et cetera,

"and it feels like it's so bad today.

How can I maintain hope in this world?"

You know, whether-whether as a black kid

or whether as a kid who's not black

and going like, "I'm an ally.

I want this world to be a better place."

So, that's why we didn't just want

to write a history about racism.

We wanted to write a history about anti-racism.

We wanted to show them how people have been fighting

-against anti-racism from its... from its origins. -NOAH: Mm-hmm.

And people are fighting against it today,

and they can be a part of that fight.

And-and here is essentially how people have done it in the past,

here how they've been effective,

and here's how you can be effective today.

When you look through the stories,

when you dig into the history of racism,

does it, does it have, the way we understand racism today,

does it have a definitive start date?

Is there a moment in time, or is it just an evolution

of people hating each other because they're not the same?

So, there is a start date-- the transatlantic slave trade.

You know, that's when you had all these different

ethnic groups in Africa were imagined as one people.

-Mm-hmm. -One inferior people

that was worthy of enslavement.

And, then simultaneously, the racist policies

that undergirded the transatlantic slave trade.

And, we talk about these original racists in the text

and-and young people are like, "Whoa, there-there was like a,

there was, like, original first racists-- I had never known!"

-Right. -And, you know, that's one of the fascinating things

I think about this text.

One thing you do really well in the book in my opinion

is you break it down, so that people can see

what is oftentimes underlying racism or-or racism

that some people may not even realize

that they have been indoctrinated into.

You know, you-you talk about the Southern strategy.

You talk about how Nixon and many Republicans

realize that they couldn't just say these things,

they couldn't call black people the N-word outwardly,

they had to say "ghettos" and they had to say "thugs,"

and those, the code words and language that was used.

When breaking that down for kids,

do you think that will help them understand

some of those implications that are still in place today?

I do, I do think that breaking it down

will help them sort of grapple with it and understand,

but I also think that we can create new code, right?

And, so, and, so, what I'm saying is that this book,

the intention of this book is to create new code, right?

"Antiracist" is a new code, right?

For-for-for, uh, a person who's really fighting for true equity.

-Right. -For true love, right?

And I think, and I think that's our-our real test.

People talk about indoctrination all the time.

This idea that, like, "Oh, this is-- I don't want this book

in my classroom, 'cause it's indoctrination."

Well, isn't everything?

So, what if we were able to create new indoctrination

for equity and justice?

-Wow. -(applause and cheering)

That's powerful.

I-I loved it.

I've never read about history like this.

I've never read about the now like this.

And, it really breaks racism down into a beautiful way

that I think kids of all races will enjoy.

-Thank you so much for being on the show. -You're welcome.

I hope everybody reads it. It should be in every school.

-Yes. -Thank you, man. -I'll tell you that much.

Thank you so much for being on the show.

Stamped is available now.

You'll really want to go out and get it.

Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, everybody.