Let’s Give A Damn – Episode 279 with Ibram X. Kendi
Date: June 10, 2025
Host: Nick Laparra
Guest: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Overview
In this engaging and urgent episode, host Nick Laparra welcomes Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, renowned scholar, anti-racism advocate, and author of the new young readers’ biography Malcolm Lives, for a wide-ranging, riveting conversation. The pair discuss Dr. Kendi’s journey, the nuances of anti-racist action, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the collective struggle for liberation, his focus on children’s literature, and the powerful legacy of Malcolm X — all against the backdrop of an era marked by political crisis and moral reckoning. Dr. Kendi offers both sobering analysis and hope, encouraging listeners to find their own forms of resistance and action.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Finding Focus & Purpose in Difficult Times
[04:06 – 06:21]
- Dr. Kendi shares that he’s currently in a “spirit of focus,” feeling the pressing need to protect civil and human rights in the United States for future generations.
- “A lot of Americans are in a moment...to help really save humanity, save the nation, allow us to ensure that we'll pass on a country where our children will have human and civil rights.” (Kendi, 04:08)
- Nick relates to this, noting how many feel helpless, but there’s power in focusing on actionable solutions.
Dr. Kendi’s Path: From NYC Youth to Leading Anti-Racist Scholar
[06:21 – 11:25]
- He outlines formative experiences: growing up Black in NYC, experiencing racism, and being inspired by his parents (both ministers) to use words to create change.
- “I didn't believe since I was black, I was an expert on black people...I realized that I could actually have much more freedom if I'm a professor.” (Kendi, 08:11)
- On shifting from sports writing to writing about race: a pivotal internship in Alabama (2003) prompted him to cover the complexities of race in sports, sparking his career trajectory.
The Importance and Power of Changing One’s Name
[12:46 – 18:48]
- Kendi shares the intention behind his name changes: from Henry (problematic connotations) to Solani (“peace” in Zulu), and later jointly choosing Kendi (“loved one” in Meru) with his wife to communicate meaning and autonomy.
- “If we're not working to create a society where we can have collective peace, then what are we really seeking to do?” (Kendi, 14:13)
- Laparra and Kendi discuss the American tradition, especially within Black history, of changing names to reclaim identity.
- The practical struggles of changing one’s name in the current political climate (e.g., barriers from the SAVE Act).
On “How to Be an Anti-Racist” and the Difference Between Inaction and Resistance
[19:47 – 28:02]
- Kendi distinguishes between being “not racist” and “anti-racist” with detailed historical analogy:
- “Those who were enslaving...were completely fine with those Northern white Americans who said, 'I don't like slavery.'...They had an issue with abolitionists.” (Kendi, 21:31)
- “When you do nothing in the face of an injustice, what happens to that injustice? It persists.” (Kendi, 22:48)
- Nick adds that passivity — complaining but not acting — is a form of complicity.
- Kendi emphasizes varied routes to anti-racism: financial support, volunteering, organizing, or creating new groups where none exist.
Navigating the Harsh Present: Gaza, Fascism, and Hope
[28:02 – 36:42]
- Nick and Dr. Kendi draw parallels between historical injustices and today's crises, especially the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
- Kendi discusses strategies for resistance amid rising authoritarianism:
- “Those who have compared this administration to Nazis, I don't think that that is a reach, nor is it hyperbolic.” (Kendi, 30:54)
- He points to case studies in Hungary and El Salvador to warn about the loss of democracy and the importance of opposition solidarity before the system is irreparably rigged.
The Next Chapter: Building at Howard University
[36:42 – 38:12]
- Kendi announces his move to Howard University to direct the Howard Institute for Advanced Study and further anti-racist intellectual work.
- “To be able to have that intellectual space is going to be critical.” (Kendi, 35:37)
- Plans for fellowships, continued research, and support for Howard’s community of scholars.
Writing for Young People: Why Children’s Books Matter
[38:12 – 47:49]
- Kendi explains his shift to youth literature, prompted by adult feedback about learning true history too late.
- “If I read this history when I was younger, it would have changed my life.” (Kendi, 38:44)
- He admires how children’s authors center reader experience, reaching both kids and adults. Many adults require accessible texts given widespread low literacy levels.
- Pushback from academia hasn’t stopped him: “I don't care about them. I care about the young people.” (Kendi, 42:44)
Malcolm Lives: A Century After Malcolm X
[47:49 – 60:31]
- Kendi was approached by Malcolm X’s estate and publisher to write the official young readers’ biography for the centennial of Malcolm’s birth.
- The book is about Malcolm’s individual courage, the impact of racism, and overcoming Islamophobia.
- “Malcolm X was one of the most courageous humans that ever lived.” (Kendi, 48:54)
- Written to read like a novel, fast-paced and accessible, focused on catching young readers’ attention early.
- The stakes of writing such banned books are acknowledged:
- “We need to write them and publish them quicker than they can ban them.” (Laparra, 51:50)
- Kendi emphasizes the transformative potential for young readers — and why authorities seek to restrict access to such works.
- “That's why they're banning these books. That's why they're defunding our schools. That's why they're smearing and firing teachers, because they want our kids to be like us.” (Kendi, 55:33)
- The biography also addresses Malcolm’s childhood adversities, offering young people relatable stories of resilience.
Memorable Quotes
-
“When you do nothing in the face of an injustice, what happens to that injustice? It persists.”
— Ibram X. Kendi (22:48) -
“Malcolm X was one of the most courageous humans that ever lived.”
— Ibram X. Kendi (48:54) -
“If we’re not working to create a society where we can have collective peace, then what are we really seeking to do?”
— Ibram X. Kendi (14:13) -
“We need to write [books like this] and publish them quicker than they can ban them.”
— Nick Laparra (51:50) -
“All I can do is what I can do. The beauty about our resistance is that it's going to take us collectively in order to create a new world...I can only carry what I can carry.”
— Ibram X. Kendi (62:09)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 04:06 — Dr. Kendi on staying focused amid crisis
- 06:21 — His upbringing & early influences
- 09:49 — Transition from sports to race journalism
- 14:13 — The meaning and practice of changing names
- 19:47 — How to Be an Anti-Racist: action vs. inaction
- 28:02 — Navigating today’s crisis: Gaza, fascism, U.S. politics
- 34:59 — New directions at Howard University
- 38:12 — The pivot to children’s literature & its importance
- 47:49 — Writing Malcolm Lives, the first sanctioned youth biography
- 55:33 — Book banning, youth, and hope for a new generation
- 61:31 — Kendi’s personal self-care and work-life balance
Dr. Kendi on Self-Care
[61:31 – 63:14]
- Finds writing therapeutic.
- Stays present with his children.
- Maintains a vegan diet and exercises.
- Consciously limits his sense of individual responsibility: “I can only carry what I can carry,” relying on collective action.
Tone & Takeaways
The conversation is honest, urgent, and at times heavy, but always underpinned by hope and practicality. Kendi’s steady confidence, accessibility, and deep care for the next generation shine through. Both host and guest model the actionable ethos of “giving a damn”: learning, resisting, and building — in solidarity — even through challenging times.
Recommended Actions:
- Support organizations fighting systemic injustice wherever possible through volunteering, donations, or advocacy.
- Equip young people with the tools and stories to understand complex social issues.
- Seek, read, and share banned or threatened books to ensure the flow of vital knowledge.
- Reflect on your own practices — name, action, daily habits — and let them align with your values.
For more:
- Purchase Malcolm Lives and put it in the hands of young readers everywhere.
- Stay engaged with Dr. Kendi’s ongoing work at Howard University and beyond.
- Connect with the Let’s Give A Damn community for future conversations and resources.