(#gifted @librofm) I listened to Jason Reynold’s young adult version of Ibram X. Kendi’s ‘Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America’ and it was so informative, accessible, and even funny at times! But Reynolds knows when humour is appropriate and not - although some of his jokes reminded me of those UK GCSE textbooks with their cheesy dad jokes which were still kinda funny 🙊

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To be honest, I think as a Brit I probably got a lot more from this book than your average US adult might. But then again, maybe not, as a lot of black history tends to be glossed over or toned down when it comes to the truly shocking parts, even in America.

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Reynolds starts from Gomes Eanes de Zurara, the guy who is considered the first racist (or at least the first person to write down racist ideas) all the way to present day with the BLM movement. This ‘non-history history book’ hits the perfect length for each section, which means it’s perfect for the wandering attention span of teenagers - another excellent book for if you’re teaching at home, actually!

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Reynolds’s tribute to the younger generation in the acknowledgements at the end really hit me. It’s so true that the generations before try to shame young people for being sensitive, or ‘special snowflakes’, just because they’re more attuned to prejudices and want a fairer world. But it is young people who will hopefully change the world for the better.

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I did occasionally find it hard to take in and retain all the facts with the audio, and if (when) I read X. Kendi’s original text, it will definitely be in print. But Jason Reynolds reads it himself in the audio and it is very well done!