Learning About Racism & Anti-Racism
A book list for families
Why?
While my heart has been so heavy the week, I have found some joy in seeing the commitment so many people are showing towards fighting against injustice and racism. People in the US must constantly strive towards anti-racism, and to do so they need an understanding of what that even means. I am a firm believer that education is always a great place to start when attempting to tackle any issue, so I have created a resource guide to help others on the journey of understanding and addressing systemic racism against the Black community in the US.
This list begins with picture books that are great for the whole family and ends with books created for adults. I hope this helps families come together to learn about our difficult past, have critical conversations about racism, and put in the necessary work. These kid and YA books are also just great summer reads regardless!
Picture Books
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
This book pairs a poem written by Kwame Alexander with beautiful illustrations of Black heroes by Kadir Nelson. This book has been described as a love letter to African Americans. It's a great picture book to take children through the years of oppression that African Americans have faced while also highlighting their successes and contributions. It starts with slavery and ends in todays society. It is a powerful and impactful picture book!
Something Happened In Our Town by Marianne Celano
This book deals directly with police brutality towards African Americans. After a police officer murders a Black male, two children in two different households speak to their families to try to make sense of the tragedy. Both the White and Black families acknowledge the issue and teach their children to be seek justice.
The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson
I love this book because it shows the power of children. This is the true story of Audrey Faye Hendricks who served jail time at just 9 years old for marching against segregation. It's a great way to introduce civil disobedience to your children.
Middle Grade Books
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
This book also focuses directly on police brutality. It takes place after a young Black boy is killed by a police officer. The young boy who has been killed is now witnessing the tragic outcome of his murder as a ghost. He begins to connect his own story to those that have come before him. He also encounters the daughter of the police officer and witness her journey as she struggles with her father's actions. This is a powerful book that I highly recommend for the entire family.
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
While this book tackles difficult topics such as racism and discrimination it also provides a fun mystery to solve! Two kids are on an adventure to solve the puzzle of a missing treasure that they feel confident is out there! But to retrieve the treasure they have to force their city to expose and address its racist past.
Blended by Sharon M. Draper
This book is a great coming of age story that follows a young biracial girl as she navigates her parent's divorce and the racism she encounters in society. The author does a great job at showing the micro aggressions people of color face every day. As the protagonist, Isabella, is grappling with the racism around her things take a turn for the worst when a cell phone is mistaken for a gun.
Young Adult Books
Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X Kendi
If you know me you know I LOVE Jason Reynolds - and there is a reason! He is a great person to turn to when learning about racism and anti-racism and so is Ibram X Kendi. This book traces racism and anti-racism throughout history to make these ideas and lessons accessible for teens and adults. While the book does take readers through history the authors have expressed that this is "not a history book" for multiple reasons, one being that this is about the society we live in today and how we can shape an anti-racist future. The audio book is read by Jason Reynolds himself - I highly recommend it!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking about how much I would've benefited from a book like this in high school. Not only that, but my white peers would have benefited from it enormously as well. This is powerful story that, again, highlights the micro aggressions that Black people face constantly, while also illustrating the major instances of racism such as police brutality. This story focuses on the death of an unarmed Black male at the hands of the local police department. This book also includes the perspective of a Black cop who is struggling to navigate through all of this as well. An added bonus is that you can watch the movie afterwards!
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
So this book is actually still in my "to be read" list. I still feel pretty confident in recommending it because so many people committed to anti-racist work have read and recommended it. It has great reviews and is said to have done a good job at tackling race relations in the US.
Adult Books
How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
As you might notice, this is the same author cited on the Stamped recommendation. Ibram X. Kendi wrote Stamped from the beginning and Jason Reynolds adapted it for teens. Ibra X. Kendi also wrote How to be an Anti-Racist which could not be more timely right now. This book helps readers understand that anti-racism is not passive. It must be something you are actively working towards.
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
This is another book I have not read personally but that has been highly recommended by many of my peers, colleagues, and mentors. This book was written by a White female and is obviously geared toward White people in the US. The book is designed to help people navigate through their understanding of racism and see how white fragility upholds systemic racism in the US.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
I found this book to be really helpful to me years ago as I was finally digging into all of these readings and looking for words and research to explain what I had felt my whole life. My favorite part of this book is the discussion around racial identity development for both people or color and White people. I like this book because it recognizes that we have to be open and honest about our racial identities and how it impacts our lives.