Stamped from the Beginning The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. Winner of the National Book Award for Non-Fiction 2016

This book might be the most wellrounded and comprehensive history of racism in the United States of America up to today. It is full of facts, anecdotes and information about the progression of racist policies and racist ideas from the middle ages (starting with colonialism) up to the 2010s. The density of information and academic aspirations require focus and attention but if given, this book might seriously open your eyes and change your worldview. Five historical figures throughout the ages serve as guides through the complex history but they are not the explicit focus of the book. This nonfictional work is focused on the history of racist ideas and policies in the US but many of the ideas can be transferred to Europe and have occured here in similar ways. What I liked most about this book is how Kendi joins the dots on many things that I had heard about but never connected with each other and how he structures racist and anti-racist opinions along the three main schools of thought (so to speak): segregationists, assimilationists and anti-racists. These basic mindsets occur again and again throughout time and space and the way Kendi labels and explains them enables the reader to do so himself with current opinions and statements, be it on the media or in private conversations. In the end, Kendi concludes which antiracist strategies have proven useless and useful and thus gives guidelines for anti-racist action in the future. All in all it is a demanding but highly informative and formative read for everyone interested in history, current social and political issues and basically everyone that wants to be an anti-racist person.