Antiracism’ Was Never the Right Answer: A Critical Look at Ibram X. Kendi’s Center for Antiracist Research

The recent turmoil at Ibram X. Kendi’s Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University has brought the concept of "antiracism" into the spotlight123. In this opinion piece, Pamela Paul argues that "antiracism" was never the right answer. Here are the key takeaways from the article:

The Background

• Ibram X. Kendi is a scholar of race and racism, and the founding director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University in Washington, D.C.45.
• Kendi's book, "How to Be an Antiracist," has been celebrated as a well-timed contribution to a national conversation and won a National Book Award5.
• Among the book’s central tenets is that everyone must choose between his approach, which he called “antiracism,” and racism itself. It would no longer be enough for an individual or organization to simply be “not racist,” which Kendi called a “mask for racism” — they must instead be actively “antiracist,” applying a strict lens of racism to their every thought and action, and in fields wholly unrelated to race, in order to escape deliberate or inadvertent racist thinking and behavior15.

The Controversy

• The recent turmoil at Kendi’s Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University has brought the concept of "antiracism" into the spotlight123.
• The controversy centers around Kendi's vision of antiracism, which had considerable influence in shaping the national conversation around race1.
• Kendi’s antiracism prescription meant that universities, corporations, and nonprofits would need to remove all policies that weren’t overtly antiracist1.

The Critique

• Paul argues that "antiracism" was never the right answer, and that Kendi's vision of antiracism is too simplistic1.
• She argues that the concept of "antiracism" is too broad and vague, and that it is impossible to apply a strict lens of racism to every thought and action1.
• Paul also argues that Kendi's vision of antiracism has led to a culture of fear and self-censorship, where people are afraid to speak out for fear of being labeled racist1.

The Future

• It remains to be seen how the controversy at Kendi’s Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University will impact the ongoing conversation around race and racism123.
• The controversy is a reminder of the ongoing challenges facing efforts to achieve racial justice and equality123.

Conclusion

The controversy at Kendi’s Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University has brought the concept of "antiracism" into the spotlight. While Kendi's vision of antiracism has had considerable influence in shaping the national conversation around race, it has also been criticized for being too simplistic and leading to a culture of fear and self-censorship. It remains to be seen how the controversy will impact the ongoing conversation around race and racism.