Lies about Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why It Matters

Bold, unflinching, and urgent—a pioneering guide to dismantling racist stereotypes and creating real change.

From Black Lives Matter to the stark inequities exposed by COVID-19, America's history of racial bias demands a new approach to understanding and action. Award-winning diversity expert Dr. Omekongo Dibinga reveals how even seemingly "innocent" stereotypes are rooted in hatred and continue to harm Black communities today.

In Lies About Black People: How to Combat Racist Stereotypes and Why It Matters, Dr. Dibinga combines powerful personal narratives, historical context, and contemporary analysis to expose the real-world impact of racist myths. Through intimate interviews, compelling research, and interactive exercises, readers will:

• Identify and confront their own hidden biases
• Master essential vocabulary for meaningful discussions about race
• Learn concrete ways to use privilege as a force for positive change
• Understand how common stereotypes—from "natural athletic ability" to "can't swim"—perpetuate systemic racism

This transformative guide goes beyond theory to provide practical tools for lasting change. Whether you're beginning your journey in anti-racism work or seeking deeper insights for advocacy, Dr. Dibinga offers a clear path forward.

"Dr. Dibinga is his generation's Dr. Carter G. Woodson... [it] rises above the banalities of lies and racist platitudes that have existed for centuries. I predict it will be read and studied for generations to come." —Joe Madison, "The Black Eagle" on SiriusXM Urban View

Perfect for:
- Educators and diversity professionals
- Corporate leaders and team managers
- Anyone committed to creating a more equitable society
- Book clubs and community discussion groups

Dr. Omekongo Dibinga’s life has been devoted to challenging bias and smashing stereotypes for over 30 years since first getting involved as a community activist. Dr. Dibinga is Senior Professorial Lecturer of Intercultural Communication at American University. He is an award-winning poet and a world renown professional speaker working with corporations and school districts across the country on leveraging diversity. His undergraduate and doctoral work has centered around issues facing the Black community not only in American but across the globe, which has led Dr. Dibinga to live and work in almost 30 countries. Dr. Dibinga earned his Ph.D. in International Education Policy at The University of Maryland (UMD) where his dissertation centered on post-Civil Rights Era Black youth. He also worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Teaching Diverse Students Initiative” and provides leadership, educational and diversity empowerment as a consultant and motivational speaker for organizations, associations, and institutions around the world. Omekongo lives in Washington, DC.