Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

What are some examples of humor in Reynolds’s narrative? Are there detectable patterns to his usage of humor? How do you think the humor in the book assists or hinders the transmission of serious, troubling information to young adult readers?

The book discusses the complexities and ideological developments of many famous figures in American history, including Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, W. E. B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama. Which critical interpretation of a well-known historical figure surprised you the most? What had you previously learned about this person, and what new information did you learn from Stamped?

In what ways did notions of Black masculinity influence racist ideas in the 20th century? What about Black femininity? Rigid and stereotypical conversations about Black sexuality rendered Black LGBTQ+ experiences largely invisible in the mainstream. What intervention did queer Black commentators make in conversations about racism in the 20th and 21st centuries?