An Anti-Racist Reading List: 20 Highly Rated Nonfiction Books by Black Authors

GR, I'm disappointed you've left off White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, one of the most enlightening, educational books on the topic of racism and one that should be required reading. These books you've added are great choices, but non-fictions that examine the root of the problem with raw candor are absolutely essential. Please consider adding White Fragility and also reposting this great blog post as I think it deserves more time in the sun.

Caroline wrote: "GR, I'm disappointed you've left off White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, one of the most enlightening, educational books on the topic of racism ..."

'An Anti-Racist Reading List: 20 Highly Rated Nonfiction Books by Black Authors'

How hard is it for you to let Black writers have their moment.

Interesting that all of these books have been published in the last two years. None of them are Lindy...

I recently read Stamped by Jason Reynolds, and it was fantastic.

Ryan wrote: "Sav wrote: "Interesting that all of these books have been published in the last two years. None of them are Lindy..."

Lindy?"

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Lindy_effect

Yeah like... I wonder how many of them will still be read in 20 years.

I’d suggest: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and Custer Died For Your Sins

While I support the BLM movement, I also support 'all lives matter' because we all are facing racism in some ways. I remember my fellow Indians facing similar prejudice in Australia back in 2009 and it started a whole new movement for Indians. So all in all, discrimination of any sort is NOT okay. Black, Brown, White, Yellow, Blue, Green...color doesn't matter, equality and respect do.

Yes! Finally.
This critical part of white supremacy always seems to get lost: it is a sociopolitical form of fascism/dominance which operates on a philosophical basis by placing blackness opposite whiteness; therefore, black must continue to equal inferior as long as white means superior.
The amount of work that goes into denying this basic fact is herculean. I often wonder how much energy is wasted simply not admitting that one has privilege.
White people have racial privilege over others of color.
Others of color have some degree of racial privilege over black people, because white supremacy is philosophically anti-black at its core.

I find this simple--a paradigm of power and dominance, just like reading Lord of the Flies--so it seems that people who don't 'get it' are employing a massive amount of energy denying it.

Wouldn't it just be better for all of us to acknowledge reality?

Ultimately, power paradigms are dangerous to everyone.

Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."

Public library.

I have read One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson (plus 2 of her other books)

would like to read:
So You Want to Talk about Race
How to Be an Antiracist
Barracoon
A Black Women's History of the United States

I have read many other not on your list.

Thank you for the list.

Whose going to do the work if the country is all white people?!

"Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson. Fantastic and moving book.

Miki wrote: "May I be so bold as to also recommend The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House by Audre Lord? It's a fantastic collection of essays."
Everything I have read by Audre Lord has been stunningly perceptive.

Thanks to adblock i can remove this annoying ad/banner in my home page

Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."

You can check them out from the library.

Although published in May 2017, I think Paul Butler's Chokehold: Policing Black Men needs to added to the list. The need for nationwide police reform is also at the center for the call to end to the systemic racism that prevails throughout our society. Mr. Butler's work clearly calls out the inequities in our justice system.

I've averaged 40 to 60 books a year for 5 or 6 decades. I plan to read none of these 'anti-racist' books. Because I've never been racist, (as in the 1980s when I noticed no black folks in 3%-black Phoenix were applying for jobs at our 55-person warehouse, and I told our Temp-to-Perm employment agency to only send black folks. I hired two wonderful gals, Wanda and Cheryl, who stayed with us until the Savings & Loan Crisis closed us down in November of 1991). One of Wanda's NFL-sized sons was murdered in a botched drug deal on a canal bank and she carried a loaded revolver in her purse. Both of single-mother Cheryl's children suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. They both freely revealed these facts to me, because they knew I cared. All our employees had their individual health insurance premiums 100% paid for by us. This was before the government stepped in to make 'everything fair.' At work Wanda and Cheryl were good, conscientious workers, always thinking on their feet, and I never had any challenges with either of them. I've always treated black folks with the utmost respect. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents, on both sides, all in Wisconsin, never owned slaves or benefited from their labor. I have nothing to apologize for and I refuse to apologize. I will continue to treat black people based on their character, not their color. Always have, always will.

A group here on Goodreads, Reading for Racial Justice, has a list of 400+ books, with shelves including history, police and prisons, children's and YA, books specifically about whiteness. and much more. We just started Buddy Reads. Members are notified of new books each month.

It's hard to know where to begin. I don't want to sound flippant about the subject matter, but I'd like an engaging book that I can learn from, not something too bogged down in listing facts or statistics or events.

Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."
If you have a public library card, sign up for the Overdrive app. You can check out audiobooks or ebooks from your library that way.

Here's a tip, people: Stop replying to racists. It goes nowhere. Know what eats them up? IGNORING THEM!
This is a great idea for a list with fantastic titles. Keep the suggestions coming! Would be great if we could vote on/add/rec other titles to be added. We are a community too, and community matters right now, as always.

Kyndle wrote: "I want to read all of them lol but They Were Her Property..sounds like it could fuck me up"

YES

Paddy's Lament: Ireland 1846-1847 Prelude to Hatred Lament
Lament
The Great Shame: And the Triumph of the Irish in the English-Speaking World

Sabina wrote: "the amount of RACISTS here in the comments is DISGUSTING!!!

All lives don't matter until BLACK LIVES MATTER!

And saying that white lives matter is even more ignorant."

Why just black lives? Are there no other abused, neglected and forgotten minorities? Hispanics who come here for a better life are hired under the table, paid less than minimum wage and are abused. They have NO WHERE to turn because many are here illegally. I'm not concerned about their legal status, it doesn't bother me that they are illegal. I care because they are abused. Legal citizens have a recourse and a voice, other minorities don't.

I recently finished reading:

Things That Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett (one of the first football players to protest police brutality by kneeling).
Bonus: it comes in adult AND adolescent versions....

Yikes @ the flame war here.

A few fictional books that are amazing jumping off points for discussions on race, and useful as anti-racist educational texts especially for young people:
Octavia Butler's Kindred, Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents, and Xenogenesis series.

Sarah wrote: "ClaraBelle wrote: "Mia wrote: "I recently finished reading:

Things That Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett (one of the first football players to protest police brutality by kneelin..."
Yes that’s why I’m against kneeling during the National anthem and the people in athletics who do it!

I am read several of these books; however there are several that I think that should be added. The first suggestion is of anything written by John Hope Franklin. His histories are impeccable and riveting. If nothing else one should read his autobiography. From Dr. Franklin's we learn that there were many types of slavery and while there were some that treat their slaves well, most were treated very badly, which brings me to my second book, Beloved by Toni Morrison.

I found Ms Morrison's book difficult to read and I had to read it several times. It is the story of Sethe, a former slave living in Cincinnati. It is a pretty frank discussion of slavery and what being a slave does to a human being. Read it.

Another excellent book is Maya Angelou's book I Know why the Caged Bird Sings. This is an autobiographical book talking about the hardships of growing up black in America. Another book on my must read.

Finally a more contemporary book is Carol Finney's Black Faces, White Spaces. What drew me to this book was the white spaces was the Appalachian. I have hike large portions of the AT and it is obvious that there are not many people of colour on the trail. Here an analysis of why. The writing is academic and can be prett dry at times, however it is another interesting book.

Yes I know that I said finally in the last paragraph; however one more book popped into my mind and that was Doris Kearns Goodwin's Leadership. She talks about leadership using four examples, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Washington was a reluctant slave holder and it was a real problem for him. Owning slaves was a big financial drain for him, he tried to see that they were adequately cared for, but he always though that a switch would help the lazy slave work better. Andrea Wulf, in her book Founding Gardeners, talked about Washington's treatment of his slaves and it is not a pretty picture. I think that these two books along with the other books gives one an overview of the complex issue race is and that it can be traced back to the earliest days of our country.

I have a feeling that all this nonsense is going to go away after election day.

Tammy wrote: "Here's a tip, people: Stop replying to racists. It goes nowhere. Know what eats them up? IGNORING THEM!
This is a great idea for a list with fantastic titles. Keep the suggestions coming! Would be ..."

I'm far less concerned about pissing off racists and far more concerned about making it clear to people on this site that there are white people who are willing to put in the effort to make this site safe for them. You don't show that by staying silent, especially when there're a number of users whose full time job seems to be sitting on this discussion board and hating. Who knows how many of them are feeding in from Stormfront and co. and are just loving the lack of moderating oversight by the site creators.

I really wish there was a 'like comment' feature in these threads so that I could show solidarity with the few people in this thread talking sense.

Mia wrote: "I recently finished reading:

Things That Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett (one of the first football players to protest police brutality by kneeling).
Bonus: it comes in adult A..."

Might I recommend the book The coddling of the American mind as this book you are suggesting appears to be offering binary thinking similar to feminism. It is removing agency and responsibility from the people not great to treat grown adults like children.

Night wrote: "Even though she is British and not American, I really liked Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. It is very instructive, and in..."

Thank you for that recommendation. Whilst racism and discrimination is prevalent everywhere, as a Brit I want to know how I can change within OUR system. Reading books by US authors (whilst still very insightful) does not always "translate" because our laws, society, government etc are all so very different.

Lalaa #ThisBlackGirlReads wrote: "Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."

I've read about 90% of these sele..."

As a British person, which of these books are more to do with racism as a whole and less to do with racism in the USA? I want to focus on racism as it affects those around me, and how I can change my actions to try and make a difference.

I don't want to get bogged down in racism from a US political history point of view because I worry I'll struggle to see how to apply my learning in the UK. I hope that doesn't sound offensive, my apologies if it does and as I'm looking to be educated on racism and it's effects I'm happy to have to have any errors explained to me.

The racism here is just as bad as the US but in different ways. For example our police are not armed, nor is the general populace, so black and ethnic minorities do not have as great a fear for their lives. At least I hope so, because yes I am white and therefore yes I am privileged. However they are still victimised in other ways and institutional racism is very much an issue here. We don't have the legacy of a law driven segregation but I can guarantee it happened and more than likely still happens. We may have laws against discriminations on race, gender, sexuality, religion etc and laws on hate crimes but it doesn't stop it happening every day.

Night wrote: "Even though she is British and not American, I really liked Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. It is very instructive, and in..."


That's a great rec!

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (Walter Rodney)

This is not a book, but I found James Baldwin's lectures and debates on youtube incredibly inspiring and informative

Would be great if this reading list didn't solely focus on racial issues in America and included more black authors from across the globe. Some good ones could include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigerian), Margaret Busby (Ghanaian), Johnny Pitts (British) and Reni Eddo-Lodge (British).

Eilish wrote: "Would be great if this reading list didn't solely focus on racial issues in America and included more black authors from across the globe. Some good ones could include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nig..."

Thank you Eilish - I don't want to get caught up in US politics and trying to understand that when it doesn't apply to the situation I am in. I want to understand being black in the UK, so I will definitely look up those last two authors first!

Bonnie G. wrote: "Tara wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "Ella wrote: "Paul wrote: "All Lives Matter."

That goes without saying, but black lives are being subjected to systematic racism, abuse, and violence all over the wor..."

Wow, great argument! Well, you've convinced me.

siriusedward wrote: "Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."

Yes , please.."

Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."

A lot of libraries have these as ebooks with no waitlist/holds :)

I recommend White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism (2018) by Robin DiAngelo. Ibram X Kendi recommends her book on his Anti-racist reading list.

Miryamu wrote: ...I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."

You can find many of them at the library for free.

Louise wrote: "Lalaa #ThisBlackGirlReads wrote: "Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem interesting..."
..."
To the British person asking for specifics: I recommend:
Kehinde Andrews (Black male)
Renni Eddo-Lodge (Black female)
Priyamvada Gopal (Insurgent Empire): (British-Indian female)

I wold add the following:

My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
We Want To Do More Than Survive by Bettina Love
Any books by bell hooks

Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books?

I recommend When They Call You a Terrorist.

Mary wrote: "Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books?

I recommend When They Call You a Terrorist."

I second this! This is where I began my journey. It's powerful, moving, and really revealed my white privilege. Such a good book.

Mia wrote: "Louise wrote: "Lalaa #ThisBlackGirlReads wrote: "Miryamu wrote: "Anybody could recommend where to start among those books? I've got a tight budget, so I have to pick one or two, but they all seem i..."

Thank you so much!

I also suggest the book Picking Cotton.