UF student Gabrielle Garcia listened intently Sunday as she learned of the racism that plagues U.S. history.
One of about 200 in a crowd at the Alachua County Headquarters Library, located at 401 E. University Ave., Garcia came to hear award-winning author and UF professor Ibram X. Kendi speak.
Kendi, a professor of African-American history, is the author of The New York Times Best Seller and winner of the 2016 National Book Award “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” which details America’s deep-rooted racism and how its ripples are still felt today.
“It was actually so cool to hear about all the things they keep out of our textbooks when we learn about racism and slavery in school,” said Garcia, a 20-year-old UF graphic design sophomore.
Kendi’s appearance was a part of the third week of the Alachua County Library District’s 2017 Author Series.
Kendi told the audience he studied more than 600 years of history that often excluded the history of African-Americans.
“Students won’t know American history unless they know black history,” he said.
It’s common to believe ignorance and hate lead to racist ideas, which lead to racist policies, Kendi said.
“I decided I was going to differentiate the producers of racist ideas and the consumers of racist ideas,” he said.
The next talk of the series will be held March 12 and feature author Ann Hood, who has written 19 books spanning the literary gamut.
