As nationwide protests against police brutality and racism persist, we all must stay educated on racism within our communities whether we are the ones experiencing it or seeking to dedicate ourselves to becoming better allies. In addition to peacefully protesting, using our voices and platforms, pledging to do more, and demanding change — helping end racism starts with doing the work.
This means taking the time to reflect, reading books that explain the history of the Black Lives Matter movement, watching films and documentaries that portray racial injustice, supporting Black-owned businesses, and facing uncomfortable conversations with our friends and family.
Today I want to highlight a selection of books to read so you can start doing the work and keep true to your word. I have also linked each book to Black-owned bookstores to support the Black community — it’s a small action that can make a big impact.
You might have to pre-order some of the reads on the list, but it was more important to support small stores over simply linking out to Amazon, which does not aid Black communities. Scroll on to read my list and find a book of your choosing. Also, read to the end to see the included children’s books as well.
.How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
White Rage by Carol Anderson Ph.D.
This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins
Locking Up Our Own by James Forman Jr.
The Devil Finds Work by James Baldwin
The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy Tyson
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity In A World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
America’s Original Sin by Jim Wallis
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Good Talk by Mira Jacob
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
How Does It Feel to Be the Problem? by Moustafa Bayoumi
The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Asha Bandele and Patrisse Cullors
An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz
Citizen by Claudia Rankine
Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out by Ruth King
Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson
This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
Have Black Lives Ever Mattered? by Mumia Abu-Jamal
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
No Name in the Street by James Baldwin
Children’s Books
An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy
This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World by Matt Lamothe
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler
I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
ABC What Can She Be?: Girls Can Be Anything They Want to Be, from A to Z by Jessie Ford and Sugar Snap Studio
When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner
Grace for President by Kelly Dipucchio
We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street) by Bobbi Kates
One Love adapted by Cedella Marley
Dreams of Freedom by Amnesty International
I Am Enough by Grace Byers
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry
Little Feminist Board Book Set by Mudpuppy
Counting with-Contando Con Friday by Patty Rodriguez
Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan
The Day You Begin by Jaqueline Woodson
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
