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Author Ibram X. Kendi shares views with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community during Diversity Month conversation

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, award-winning author of 鈥淗ow to Be an Antiracist,鈥� spoke to more than 300 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff in celebration of Diversity Month on March 31.聽 Kendi is a three-time, No. 1 New York Times best-selling author including the groundbreaking, 鈥淗ow to Be an Antiracist,鈥� one of the books chosen for the university鈥檚 first campus-wide book read and discussion on race and ethnicity. Lauren Wilson, assistant director of the Multicultural Center, joined Kendi in a frank discussion about his books, work in higher education, and his views on policy and power. “It was my honor to be in conversation with Professor Kendi,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淚 was impressed by the way he was able to take the big ideas from his research and work and make them relevant for us here at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. It is my hope that this conversation will lead to more conversations, but more importantly, to action that will help our campus be a welcoming, equitable space for all students, faculty, staff, and community members.” Kendi also spoke about his most recent book project, serving as co-editor of 鈥� The book brings together 90 writers and poets to share the 400-year journey and history of African Americans in one unique volume. 鈥淏ringing together 90 writers was unlike anything I鈥檝e ever done before,鈥� Kendi said. 鈥淚 wanted to put together a single volume of Black history that would allow people to read the full story of African Americans. I wanted them to learn about the Black historical experience in all of its complexity. I wanted them to see that the racial problem has never been Black people. The racial problem has always been racism.鈥� He offered advice on how those in higher education can work toward building an antiracist society that ensures equity and justice. 鈥淚f you are in faculty affairs, focus on faculty diversity and affairs,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou should be pressing for a faculty body representative of the state. If you are a student, you should do the same with students. We can all focus and start in our own backyard.鈥� As the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, Kendi researches novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and solve seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice. 鈥淲e have a nation of racial inequities and injustice. Let鈥檚 look at anti-Black racism,鈥� Kendi said. 鈥淏lack folks are twice as likely to be unemployed than white people. Black folks are disproportionately incarcerated. They are dying at twice the rate of Covid-19. We have to track those stories to understand those stories. That鈥檚 the first research project. The second research project is what is causing these disparities. The next step is what are we going to do about it, and then we can create data-driven solutions.” When asked by an audience member how people should respond to the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, Kendi compared the situation to how you handle the death of a loved one who is seriously ill and then passes away. 鈥淲hen we know they are seriously ill, we are not necessarily surprised or shocked when they pass away, but we are still hurt,鈥� Kendi said. 鈥淚f there is a not guilty verdict, we shouldn鈥檛 be surprised. It鈥檚 almost impossible to convict a white police officer of killing a Black person in this country. It鈥檚 almost impossible to get them to trial, let alone get a guilty conviction. I also don鈥檛 think that should stop us from being sad or outraged or hurt, as we are when a loved one passes away. If there is a guilty conviction, that is something we can build on. We want a system of equal justice.鈥� Wilson asked for Kendi鈥檚 suggestions for podcasts and television shows to watch for people who want to learn more about differing viewpoints. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 necessarily read, you can listen to audiobooks when you exercise,鈥� Kendi said. “I consume a lot of audio books. It allows me to read more. Podcasts like NPR鈥檚 鈥楥ode Switch鈥� is a podcast I would recommend. Many people talk about 鈥榃atchman鈥� or 鈥楲ovecraft County.鈥� Even a show like 鈥楽.W.A.T’ on CBS talks about racial issues. We are in a time when there are many great creators.鈥� Kendi also had a message of hope for those who are overwhelmed by the fight for racial justice and equality. 鈥淒ealing with racism for everyday people who are going about their lives is tiring. Fighting racism on top of that is tiring too,鈥� Kendi said. 鈥淚 think people should be able to voice how tired they are. I think it鈥檚 human to be tired of fighting something day in and out. I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 a problem. I do think it鈥檚 a problem if we allow that tiredness to cause us to stop. There are days when we are cramming for that test, and we are tired. We should say that, but we shouldn鈥檛 consider stopping. It鈥檚 important for us to know that if we are fighting against racism collectively that there is a chance that one day we won鈥檛 be tired anymore from racism. That鈥檚 the type of society that I want to build. That is the type of society that we should all want to build.鈥� The event was sponsored by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Multicultural Center, Diversity Council, and Office of the Chancellor. For more information on Kendi, please visit .