I am a Learner. That’s why I became a teacher (and also because I loved spending my days in the hopeful and inspiring world of young people). So in trying to deal with the horrific events of the last few weeks, I realized that I have so much to learn. So I am beginning an important undertaking: I am now focusing on educating myself on how to become Anti-Racist.
“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”
―“The opposite of racist isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘anti-racist.’ What’s the difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of ‘not racist.”
― How to Be an Antiracist
And one of the most hopeful things I’ve discovered in making this commitment to become anti-racist is that so many other people are doing the same thing! I took the photo above just this morning when I got on the library website to look for some e-books to add to my growing list of books to read on this subject. Every. single. book. has a waiting list of weeks and weeks! My heart soared with HOPE to see that there are so many other Learners out there!
On this page, I will keep a list with links to my reviews of books and other resources that I’ve found and appreciated, so please come back here occasionally to see this self-education journey.
BOOKS READ AND REVIEWED:
- Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
- Dream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama’s Inspiring and Historical Presidency, by Pete Souza
- They Call Us Enemy, by George Takei
- Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- We Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Dear Ijeawele: or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Becoming, by Michelle Obama
- Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America, by John Lewis
- Kindred, by Octavia Butler
READ BUT NOT REVIEWED (yet):
- Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah
- The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
- Barracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston
- Beloved, Toni Morrison
CHILDREN’S BOOKS ABOUT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE AND DIVERSITY:
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
- The House of Dies Drear, by Virginia Hamilton
- The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
- Black Children’s Book Illustrators to Follow and Support (link)
- I Am Loved, by Nikki Giovanni
- Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation, by Duncan Tonatiuh
- A Kid’s Book About Racism, by Jelani Memory
- Ruth and the Green Book, by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Gwen Strauss
- Almost to Freedom, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Colin Bootman
- Harriet Tubman: Conductor Of the Underground Railroad, by Ann Petry
- The Story of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles
PODCASTS:
- Unlocking Us with Dr. Brené Brown. “Brené With Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist“
- The Oath, with Chuck Rosenberg. “Racial Justice,” interview with Maya Wiley. Click here to read the transcript.
- The Michelle Obama Podcast, on Spotify
- “About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge”, on Emma Watson’s Our Shared Podcast, available on Spotify.
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The events of the last few weeks (on top of centuries) have shown us the need to learn and do. It is a great awakening for so many and I want to be part of it. I am participating in an online book study of Me and White Supremacy which really prompts us to look deep into our beliefs and our culture. I definitely recommend it as a self-study or a group study. One of the group members recommended Waking Up White which I am adding to my list. Change is coming and I am hopeful that it is bringing justice with it! Thank you for sharing your list!
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Marlo, your online book study sounds really interesting. I haven’t read that book yet, but it will be on my list, and I’ll be interested in what you have to say about it. Thank you, too, for the title “Waking Up White.” There are so many good books and good resources out there for this learning project!
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Great idea and even more impressive that you are following through on this. Congratulations! It’s up to everyone to educate themselves. Excellent that you’re taking that first step!
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Thank you, lizipaulk! I have so much to learn, but that’s what it’s all about, I think.
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Oh, me too. Me too.
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Like you, I’m turning to books so I can learn more about being anti-racist. I posted a similar list recently on my blog. Just Mercy is an absolutely amazing book. I still have a lot to read so I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on what you’ve read.
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Deb, I’m following your blog so that I can get inspiration from what you are reading and learning. Just Mercy is high up on my list. I’d like to read the book first and then see the movie.
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I, too, am working on becoming Anti-Racist. I admit I haven’t read many of the books yet, but once my library opens I’ll be requesting them. I have enjoyed so much seeing on Instagram and Twitter people stepping up and saying “This isn’t right, I will do better.” It gives me hope.
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Pamela, it gives me hope, too, seeing how many people are trying to educate themselves and do the right thing! I’ve been downloading e-books from my library, but won’t it be nice when they can reopen and we can start ordering book books again?!!
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Yes ma’am! My local library should reopen by the end of the month. I’ll be excited to just go look around! Bookstores and libraries are my happy place!
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Pamela, mine too!! Although I wouldn’t want any of the library or bookstore workers put in any kind of danger to Covid-19, I really feel they are “essential services.”
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They are. Mine has been putting on remote workshops and stuff, just haven’t been letting the public in. They do a remote storytime which I think is cool.
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Our library has been doing the same. Working for us despite the closures! I just can’t wait to walk to the library and spend time just browsing! Heavenly!
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I can’t wait for that too! I always seem to walk out with more books than I can read in 2 weeks lol
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Me too! I’m as bad about that with the digital library, too!
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I totally get that! Netgalley and BookBub are awesome for that tho!
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I read Black Like Me for an assignment in high school. I had never met a black person, but it certainly changed my life then.
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Tabor, I read Black Like Me in a college class many years ago. It was very powerful, and I would like to reread it now and see how it impacts me after 50 years!
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Just Mercy and The Bluest Eye were reads I loved. Great title selections Robin.
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Thanks for the recommendations, Diane! I have Just Mercy on my list to read and am anxious to get to it soon. I’ve read a number of Toni Morrison’s books, but not The Bluest Eye. I’ll put it on my list, as well.
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That is so encouraging to learn that all of those books have waiting lists! I think a lot of bookstores are out of stock, as well. It’s so great that people want to educate themselves!
I didn’t care for The Bluest Eye, but Beloved is fantastic! I’ve read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Just Mercy and Becoming. I’m currently listening to The Warmth of Other Suns, which is very good. I keep adding titles to my Good Reads List and will look forward to hearing your thoughts on the books you read.
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Les, I thought Beloved was incredible, too! I need to read Just Mercy soon, and as I told you the other day, I downloaded The Warmth of Other Suns, and will listen to it after I finish A Gentleman in Moscow (which I am loving!).
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