This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work

As Jewell points out, anti-racism is about action. Have you been part of an anti-racist activity or protest near you? Write a personal essay about your experiences.

Did This Book Is Anti-Racist change your perspective on race, racism, privilege, intersectionality, or something else? Did it help affirm your beliefs? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Write an essay comparing and contrasting This Book Is Anti-Racist with another anti-racist text for younger readers. Some options to consider may include The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas or Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.

Did This Book Is Anti-Racist leave you with any questions? Write a list of your questions and conduct your own research to find answers. Make sure your answers are detailed and well-considered.

As Jewell points out, race is constructed differently across time and in different parts of the world. Consider the racial paradigm you grew up with in your country or state. How is this paradigm different to racial paradigms in some other countries that the book describes? How is it similar?

Jewell encourages readers to examine their family history and their own place in society. Write a personal essay examining your family history and your experience in society. Consider what you learned from This Book Is Anti-Racist when formulating your answer.

While Jewell does mention historical and contemporary racism in several countries, there is a lot that the book does not cover. Research and write about an element of the legacy of racism not discussed in detail in This Book Is Anti-Racist. For example, you could research the history of residential schools in Canada or create a detailed timeline of the history of Apartheid in South Africa.

Jewell discusses the benefits and drawbacks of “calling out” versus “calling in.” How do you feel about these two options? Do you think one is better or more likely to be effective than the other? What should you keep in mind when choosing which strategy to use?