Keen On America

The Boogeyman Speaks: Ibram X. Kendi on Why He's America's Most Controversial Anti-Racism Scholar

Jun 5, 2025
Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning author and scholar of anti-racism, delves into his controversial role in today’s discourse. He draws parallels between 1960s Black student activism and current Gaza protests, arguing that critics distort his work to create a 'boogeyman' narrative. Kendi discusses the evolution of campus activism, the current dynamics of racism, and the impact of government policies. With excitement for his new role at Howard University, he emphasizes the importance of rational dialogue in combating racism and advancing anti-racism scholarship.
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INSIGHT

History Repeats in Campus Activism

  • Today's student protests over Gaza echo the 1960s Black student activism struggles.
  • Opponents use similar talking points now as they did then to undermine anti-racist campus efforts.
INSIGHT

Shift from Desegregation to Re-segregation

  • The government once pushed campus desegregation but now promotes resegregation.
  • Modern campuses have police forces that suppress protests, unlike most campuses in the 1960s.
INSIGHT

Expanded Definition of Racist Ideas

  • Racism includes ideas that Black people are culturally inferior, not just biologically.
  • Modern denials of racism imply cultural inferiority is accepted as non-racist.
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