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. I decided to begin 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.
Red: Click to read my review
Blue: Read but not reviewed
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 Called 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
- Our Time Is Now, by Stacey Abrams
- The Beautiful Struggle, by Ta’Nehisi Coates
- Misty Copeland: A Life in Motion, young readers edition, by Misty Copeland
- Idia of the Benin Kingdom, by Ekiuwa Aire
- The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
- I Am Loved, by Nikki Giovanni
- Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
- 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
- Through My Eyes, by Ruby Bridges
- The Story of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles
- Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson
- Barracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston
- The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, by by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
- Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah
- The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
- Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story, by Angela Shelf Medearis
- The House of Dies Drear, by Virginia Hamilton
- Beloved, Toni Morrison
- Harriet Tubman: Conductor Of the Underground Railroad, by Ann Petry
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
ART and ARTISTS I ENJOY:
Links to Podcasts and Other Sites to Visit:
- 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.
- Black Children’s Book Illustrators to Follow and Support (a link to check out!)
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A Fondness For Reading 