Author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi partners with Netflix to Bring His Books to the Screen

Author and antiracist scholar, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, is known for his books including; How to be an Anti-racist, Stamped, Stamped from the Beginning, and Antiracist Baby. Many of his books became sell-out hits during the largest global Black Lives Matter Movement of 2020, during which increasing numbers of people sought to educate themselves and strive toward being anti-racist. Dr. Kendi is now partnering with the streaming platform, Netflix to bring three of his books – Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You, and Antiracist Baby – to life on screen.

The first of these adaptations, Stamped from the Beginning will be hybrid documentary and scripted feature programmed based on Dr. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas. It will be directed and produced by Oscar and Emmy Award-winner Roger Ross Williams (The Innocence Files, The Apollo, Life, Animated, Music by Prudence) through his production company One Story Up. NAACP Image Award-winner Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane) will serve as an executive producer alongside the author, Dr. Kendi.

The second programme created by Dr. Kendi and Netflix will be entitled Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You. It will be a companion documentary to Stamped from the Beginning and it will be aimed at younger readers, much like the book that it is based on, the New York Times bestseller for young adults of the same name by Dr. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. This documentary will be produced by Roger Ross Williams with Dr. Kendi as executive producer.

The final adaptation of Dr Kendi’s books for Netflix will be based on his bestselling children’s book, Antiracist Baby. executive produced by Peabody, Humanitas, NAACP and Emmy Award-winner Chris Nee (Doc McStuffins, Vampirina) and Dr. Kendi. Netflix’s Antiracist Baby will be a series of animated stories set to music and aimed at pre-schoolers.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi said: “I’m elated these projects landed at Netflix. What a wonderful partner. I’m elated to work with Roger Ross Williams, Mara Brock Akil, and Chris Nee. They are such ambitious, innovative, and passionate creators who are committed to racial justice. But I’m really elated for the viewers, for the adults and children who will be captivated, informed, and transformed by these projects.”