The Hidden History of Race: How Power Invented Difference

Most of us grow up thinking of race as an obvious and ancient fact—something that’s always existed. But Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist turns this assumption upside down, revealing that race is a recent invention, designed by those in power to justify and perpetuate inequality. From the earliest days of the Atlantic slave trade to the policies that shape our neighborhoods today, the concept of race has always served the interests of those who benefit from division.

Kendi traces the origins of race to the economic and political needs of colonial powers. When European nations needed a justification for enslaving millions of Africans, they didn’t turn to science—they created new categories, dividing people by skin color and ancestry. These categories were then written into law, shaping who could own property, who could vote, and who could be free. Over time, these policies gave rise to ideas about racial superiority and inferiority, not the other way around.

This history matters because it shows that racism is not just a matter of personal prejudice. It is embedded in the very structures of society. Housing laws, school funding, voting restrictions—these are not accidents, but the legacy of policies designed to keep power in the hands of a few. Kendi’s book is full of examples, from redlining in American cities to the 'war on drugs,' showing how policy creates and sustains inequality.

But if race was invented, it can also be dismantled. Kendi urges readers to name and confront the systems that perpetuate injustice. This means more than changing hearts and minds; it means changing laws and policies. The work is difficult, but it is also hopeful. History shows that every system of oppression has been challenged and changed by people who refused to accept the status quo.

Understanding the origins of race is the first step toward building a more just world. By recognizing that difference was invented to serve power, we can begin to imagine new ways of living together—ways that celebrate diversity without creating hierarchy. The next chapter of history is ours to write.