Additional Books and Resources

[Pam]

A friend recently took fault with Eddo-Lodge's book and it's lack of depth. And I realized that they were right. Save for a few statistics, Eddo-Lodge's piece was a pertinent and passionate extended blog post. It's not a well researched, cutting edge journalism. It's very much a passion project.

I'm personally ok with it. I'm ok with seeing this as a primer or a stepping stone into more historical accounts or investigative journalism. I think I needed someone to smack me over the head and say "Hey! You're not paying attention" before I would dive deep. (Which speaks volumes)

I was reading her first chapter and I remember picking the book up pinching it between my fingers and thinking this is way too small to document EVERY atrocity or example. I'm sure the file sitting on someone's Scotland Yard's desk regarding the individual instances of racial profiling leading to false accusations or arrests is much thicker and denser than the chapter Eddo-Lodge could give to the subject.

So for those who want to know more. For those who want to dive in deeper. What books or resources or blog posts or organizations can we recommend?

[Pam]

My offering to the group is

Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America

From the blurb: What would it take to change the lives of poor children—not one by one, through heroic interventions and occasional miracles, but in big numbers, and in a way that could be replicated nationwide? The question led him [Geoffrey Canada] to create the Harlem Children's Zone, a ninety-seven-block laboratory in central Harlem where he is testing new and sometimes controversial ideas about poverty in America. His conclusion: if you want poor kids to be able to compete with their middle-class peers, you need to change everything in their lives—their schools, their neighborhoods, even the child-rearing practices of their parents.

[MeerderWörter]

Pam wrote: "My offering to the group is

[book:Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and Ameri..."

Oh, this sounds very interesting and plays right into the works of Pierre Bourdieu.

[MeerderWörter]

I am reading this book right now and I really recommend reading this for everyone, but especially for everyone in Canada:

Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Issues in Canada

[Pam]

We Read Too
http://wereadtoo.com/

An app on your phone that offers book titles with poc characters by poc authors created by Kaya Thomas

[Stella]

There are more books listed on the Black Feminist authors thread.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

For multicultural children's books, I look to https://diversebooks.org/ and https://thebrownbookshelf.com/

[Pam]

Awesome! Great additions.

Do we know of any organizations or groups?

[Cassilynn]

I listed two books I've read over on the Black Feminist author thread, but I figured it didn't hurt to also list them here. Next on my list is
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Angela Davis - Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Michelle Alexander - The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

[Cassilynn]

Pam wrote: "Awesome! Great additions.

Do we know of any organizations or groups?"

Are you looking to become part of a group or org that revolves around reading, or social justice that you wish to become involved in?

[Pam]

Cassilynn wrote: "Pam wrote: "Awesome! Great additions.

Do we know of any organizations or groups?"

Are you looking to become part of a group or org that revolves around reading, or social justice that you wish t..."

As much as I love books, books alone will not have all the answers. So to those who want to go beyond reading books where can we turn to? Organizations, publications, etc

[Cassilynn]

One of the things I've done is start following women of color on social media and look for online circles that are set up for white women, or people, who are ready to listen without becoming defensive. When you go into these places, you can count on being uncomfortable, being called out for poor behavior, and sometimes, you just listen to the conversations. I'm a knitter, so I found craftivist groups. One fell apart because of white fragility, but it lead me to a better one. some of the women I follow include Ijeoma Oluo, Didi Delgado, the Middle Eastern Feminist, and several others. I'm using my phone to reply, and don't think I can flip over to FB to get the full list (so I can get named spelled right) without having to start this over. I also have a file of syllabuses/good articles that deal with race, pretty much all from the American standpoint. If you are interested, I can link those over here.

[Stella]

Cassilynn wrote: "One of the things I've done is start following women of color on social media and look for online circles that are set up for white women, or people, who are ready to listen without becoming defens..."

I like this idea! One of the first things I noticed when becoming more aware of sexism and racism: "Wow, my bookshelves are full of white male authors. Look how white my Facebook feed is! Augh! This needs to change!" Even now I look at my "Most Read Authors" on Goodreads, and go, "Tsk, tsk!" And as an introvert, the real life part is even harder. I'm working on it!

Just followed Ijeoma Oluo on Facebook, thanks for the suggestion. Her articles in The Establishment are great reads, too. In fact, maybe I should recommend The Establishment https://theestablishment.co/ to anyone who hasn't already discovered it.

[SW]

This thread is a great idea! Thank you everyone for your recommendations! I will try to add to the list.

If you haven’t watched it yet, Ava Duvernay’s documentary “13th” is really eye opening. It should be required viewing for all Americans especially.

There is a page called “wear your voice” on Facebook. It features articles by people of color. It is for those who have already grasped Racism 101 and want to hear about people of color discussing some more nuanced or radical views.

The Middle Eastern feminist is another page that posts good stuff. Despite the name, it is not limited to the Middle East.

Angela Davis, bell hooks and Audrey Lourde are authors whose books are all in my wish list as they are often cited as essential thinkers on race. On the fiction side, Zora Neale Thurston comes to mind.

[Pam]

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/...

A food stall is serving up some education along with food.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/bgn-home-p...
Home for black girl nerds

[Ashwin]

Pam wrote: "A friend recently took fault with Eddo-Lodge's book and it's lack of depth. And I realized that they were right. Save for a few statistics, Eddo-Lodge's piece was a pertinent and passionate extende..."

My thoughts precisely! Being from India, I have read quite a lot of colonial history from British as well as Indian perspective.

My favourite author on Colonialization is William Dalrymple. His books are a culmination of painstaking research through archives from all parts of south Asia as well as royal transcripts. Those interested in beginning of colonialization can go through this article he has written:

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/201...

Extract: "For a century, the East India Company conquered, subjugated and plundered vast tracts of south Asia. The lessons of its brutal reign have never been more relevant"

[Devin]

If you’re looking for academic works: “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander and “Savage Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol.

If you’re looking for passion: “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin.

If you’re looking for a fascinating historical perspective: “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B. Du Bois.

I apologize if any of these are repeats.

[K]

Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
I recommend the above book - I read it couple of months ago, Afua Hirsch writes candidly about her experiences of identity and race. She highlights race micro-aggressions, “othering” and subtle prejudices that she’s faced, a social commentary about Britain’s race issues (past and present), current affairs and the Pan African diaspora.
I attended her author conversation, and in person she is down-to-earth, driven and witty, as she writes persuasively, informatively and incisively. Worth reading and re-reading, and listening to her read it via audiobook.
Also I recommend looking up her Twitter and Instagram - she writes a lot for the Guardian and is active in race relations.

Also just read When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors - powerful and well written, gives insight and food for thought, recommend it!

I follow "A Mighty Girl" Facebook page and a couple of years ago I looked through their biography and autobiography reading list which focuses on women, and added a whole lot the recommendations to my "To-Read" list. Here's one list:
Stories of Mighty Women: 75 New Biographies for Adult Readers https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=19181

[Pam]

Great adds! Thanks Kate.

Given this book and The Hate U Give, reading "When they Call you a Terrorist" will continue moving from provocative reaction, fiction, to action.

[K]

Great! I just found these:
Reni Eddo-Lodge Shares Her Reading List: www.refinery29.uk/amp/2018/03/193364/...
And the links at the end also look interesting.

Haven’t listened yet but saw on Spotify podcast series: “About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge”
https://open.spotify.com/show/6RNwASB...

[Diana]

Not exactly a resource per se, but I just saw this video of Trevor Noah (from the Daily Show) answering some criticism about his joke of Africa winning the world cup due to the African origin of most players.

https://youtu.be/COD9hcTpGWQ

It's a great prespective about respecting a person's origin without denying their nationality or the country they lived their whole life.

Check it out ;) 8min of pure brilliance.

[Charlene]

Has anyone read White Like Her: My Family's Story of Race and Racial Passing?