Stamped from the Beginning: A vital watch for Black History Month
Netflix's documentary Stamped from the Beginning, based on Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s award-winning book, is more than just a historical overview—it’s a necessary lens for understanding the forces shaping race, power, and policy in America today.
As debates around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and civil rights intensify in Washington and across the country, this film provides crucial context, revealing how deeply embedded racism has been in U.S. history and how it continues to evolve in new forms.
At a time when DEI initiatives are under attack and policies protecting marginalized communities are being rolled back, Stamped from the Beginning lays bare the long history of efforts to both advance and suppress racial equity.
It traces how racist ideas have been used to justify discrimination—often disguised as neutrality—and how these ideas persist in modern political and legal battles.
The film underscores how historical patterns—such as Reconstruction-era backlashes and the Civil Rights Movement’s resistance—are echoed in today’s struggles over voting rights, affirmative action, and anti-racism education.
For Black History Month, Stamped from the Beginning is a must-watch not only to understand the past but to recognize its living impact.
It reminds viewers that the fight for racial justice is ongoing, that progress is often met with resistance, and that knowledge is one of the most powerful tools in dismantling systemic oppression.
Watching this documentary helps put today’s political climate into perspective, showing that the fight against racism has always been met with opposition—but also with resilience, activism, and hope.
