How to Be an Antiracist

When Kendi attended college at Florida A&M, he would often present his theories about race to his friend, Clarence, who tolerated the conversation. Once, Kendi proposed his theory that White people are “aliens” (133), and Clarence ridicules him. Kendi took his idea about White people further by penning an editorial for The Famuan college newspaper in which he wrote that Black people should stop hating White people because “Europeans are simply a different breed of human” (135). His remarks caused alarm in White readers, and Kendi’s boss at his newspaper internship at the Tallahassee Democrat took notice, as well, giving him an ultimatum to pull the column or lose his job. Kendi explains the resolution to this anecdote in the following chapter.

Kendi reflects on the election of George W. Bush where many Black people were prevented from voting—especially in Florida. Black people were 11% of registered voters, but 44% of their votes were purged. Kendi reports that Black people are ten times more likely to have their votes rejected. He attributes this to Bush’s victory in the elections where 179,855 votes were rejected, leading to his victory by 537 votes.

After the push for a recount vote, Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore conceded.