No Misalignment Between DNC’s Hopeful Message and Ibram X. Kendi’s Work

To the Editor:

I was immediately drawn to Eboo Patel’s op-ed “The DNC, Kamala Harris, and Lessons for the Social Change World” (August 27) because I found the Democratic National Convention so uplifting. I can’t read enough about it in my effort to maintain that afterglow.

But Patel seems to imply that the work of Ibram X. Kendi is oppositional to the convention and its tone, which I found interesting.

During the pandemic, I took great solace in Kendi’s 600-page tome Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. I never read long books but could not put it down. Kendi explained how and why racist ideas pervade American culture and create an environment where everyone suffers. He did this by thoroughly documenting racism’s roots. I found it incredibly well written and objective, not divisive or angry.

To me, the convention aligned well with Kendi’s view and the objective truth of American history, which can’t be ignored. African Americans are some of the most resilient people on Earth. I see this resilience in the personal stories of Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, and especially Michelle Obama, whose family was part of the Great Migration from the South.

Although not explicitly stated during the convention, it is clear to me that Kamala Harris is trying to build a country that levels the playing field and unshackles everyone from systemic racism, including white people.

Modern African American leaders — both those at the convention, as well as Kendi and other experts on race and civil rights — show me that it’s possible for all humans to overcome tremendous barriers. Kendi’s book in particular helps me see how a brighter future where everyone appreciates each other’s differences is possible. I felt the convention relayed a similar message, and there was no misalignment whatsoever.

Teri Beckman
CEO and Founder
HIGOL