Book Review: Stamped from the Beginning

Kendi, Ibram X., Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Nation Books, NY: 2016.

This is essential reading for anyone from the United States and anyone now living in the United States.

The first section — Cotton Mather — didn’t grab my interest. Certainly, I knew about Cotton Mather — as a feminist Neopagan I’m obsessed with witches, and I’ve visited the Witch Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. I read this for a book discussion group, and someone pointed out that she enjoyed reading that part because she read Cotton Mather in her religious studies… and basically if you’re not into religious (as in Xianity) studies, it wouldn’t interest you as much. That made sense.

I mentioned that the book grabbed my attention beginning with the second section: Thomas Jefferson. Someone pointed out that this isn’t surprising, since Thomas Jefferson is such an iconic part of U. S. history.

My favorite sections were the last two: W. E. B. DuBois and Angela Davis. I have books by both (and I’ve reread some of Angela Davis’s work) and I’m looking forward to reading more.

This book is so eye-opening — for instance, about American pop culture.

I had no idea that Planet of the Apes was a metaphor for white fear of black power. Wow. And…