English
YA (12/13+)
Education
Anti-Oppression
Blair Imani
summary
Y’all, think back to the person that you would go to for answers when you were a teen. Maybe they were an older sibling, maybe a friend’s older sibling. A cousin, a cool neighbor or babysitter. That one person who you could trust to not bullshit you and to tell you like it is in a conversational and confident manner. That is Blair Imani’s newest book Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability, & More.
Genuine and informed, Imani tackles the stuff that we need to know now (especially young people). Based on her hit “Smarter in Seconds” series that’s exploded on social media, Imani has broken down the buzzwords we keep hearing about into manageable bite-sized snippets of information and shares much about herself along the way.
There are 6 chapters of subjects which is further broken down into different facets of disability, gender & sexuality, as well as really crucial stuff we didn’t learn in school like labor and class. Why yes, I DO want everyone to learn about socialism and how it was pitted against capitalism in order to create toxic homonationalist culture and patriotism.
Serious question, how do we get this on reading lists across the country? Empowering critical thinking in young people will continue the legacy of social movements and community organizing in this (and other) countries. It’s accessible, easy to understand, and doesn’t hold back.
This book was kindly sent by Ten Speed Press, but all opinions are my own!
Blair Imani
Blair Imani is an author, educator, and influencer. She is the author of the Read This To Get Smarter, Making Our Way Home, and Modern HERstory. Her scholarship spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. She has presented at universities including Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, Duke, and many more. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and on the Board of Trustees for Muslims for Progressive Values. The New York Times praises Blair Imani’s unique ability to create “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.” She was named to the Root 100 in 2019 and OUT 100 in 2018. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Her work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ community. As an educator and influencer, semi-retired organizer, and public speaker, Blair Imani is dedicated to making the world a better place and amplifying the voices and work of those fighting the good fight.
