Year 5, week 7: Stamped from the Beginning

This week's book:
Stamped from the Beginning
By Ibram X. Kendi

This week is National Banned Book Week, and I have been wanting to read this book for a while now. I had taken a break from reading books about race, with our move and trying to sell our house. The kids started in-person school for the first time since March of 2020, and at a new school at that. I know there should never be a break from educating yourself and bettering yourself to become more antiracist. 

This book is written by Ibram X. Kendi, which I think I have read every book he has written so far. His writing is just so dynamic and educates you without speaking down to you, or belittling you for your skin tone. This book is very educational and brought up many points that hasn't been touched on in other books that are about the history of racism in our country. It reminded me once again how we aren't learning all of our history when we are in school. The portion that was really eye opening and heartbreaking was the section about Thomas Jefferson. He spoke so much about the slaves at that time, and all the while he was raping and fathering children with Sally Hemings. He definitely wasn't the singing and dancing character from Hamilton. I knew a little bit about their relationship, but not deeply.  

I can't say I enjoyed this book, because learning about the horrible history of how black people have been and continue to be beat treated and how far we need to go to be a better country and people to be honest, is always a hard pill to swallow. I would definitely recommend this book.