Books
Many books have been incredibly important in shaping history. Authors, publishing outlets and the media have been as influenced by racism as any other institution. This influence has caused deficits in the access to knowledge about race, racism and Black authors. Resistance to racism and profiling anti-racism issues has often involved pushing anti-racism books into public discourse. We'd like to contribute to that push.
The power that authors hold is immense and we wanted to raise the profile of some amazing anti-racism books. Here, there's a range of work from political to historical, fiction and non-fiction as well as some recommendations for childen's books.
We've collated some of the books that influenced us and our community of activists to do better, we hope you love them too.
Please note, we have shared a website link for each of the book recommendations in case you would like to purchase them. We have provided Waterstones or Penguin recommendations because we believe these sites to be credible and trusted organisations, but we recommend that you do your own research.
Many books have been incredibly important in shaping history. Authors, publishing outlets and the media have been as influenced by racism as any other institution. This influence has caused deficits in the access to knowledge about race, racism and Black authors. Resistance to racism and profiling anti-racism issues has often involved pushing anti-racism books into public discourse. We'd like to contribute to that push.
The power that authors hold is immense and we wanted to raise the profile of some amazing anti-racism books. Here, there's a range of work from political to historical, fiction and non-fiction as well as some recommendations for childen's books.
We've collated some of the books that influenced us and our community of activists to do better, we hope you love them too.
Please note, we have shared a website link for each of the book recommendations in case you would like to purchase them. We have provided Waterstones or Penguin recommendations because we believe these sites to be credible and trusted organisations, but we recommend that you do your own research.
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Afua Hirsch - Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging
Share Afua Hirsch - Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging on Facebook Share Afua Hirsch - Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging on Twitter Share Afua Hirsch - Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging on Linkedin Email Afua Hirsch - Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging linkWhat does it mean to be British? A part memoir and part investigation into Britain's relationship with race and the denial of its imperialist past that in turn feeds into modern day racism.
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W.E.B Dubois - Color and Democracy: Colonies and Peace
Share W.E.B Dubois - Color and Democracy: Colonies and Peace on Facebook Share W.E.B Dubois - Color and Democracy: Colonies and Peace on Twitter Share W.E.B Dubois - Color and Democracy: Colonies and Peace on Linkedin Email W.E.B Dubois - Color and Democracy: Colonies and Peace link -
Reni Eddo-Lodge - Why Im No Longer Talking to White People About Race
Share Reni Eddo-Lodge - Why Im No Longer Talking to White People About Race on Facebook Share Reni Eddo-Lodge - Why Im No Longer Talking to White People About Race on Twitter Share Reni Eddo-Lodge - Why Im No Longer Talking to White People About Race on Linkedin Email Reni Eddo-Lodge - Why Im No Longer Talking to White People About Race linkThe book that sparked a national conversation. This book looks at institutional racism and it is an essential handbook for those who want to understand more about race relations in Britain today.
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Akala - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire
Share Akala - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire on Facebook Share Akala - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire on Twitter Share Akala - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire on Linkedin Email Akala - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire linkThis book covers a wide spectrum of topics which branch off the topic of racism itself; from the far right, education, police and politics.
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Nikesh Shukla, The Good Immigrant
Share Nikesh Shukla, The Good Immigrant on Facebook Share Nikesh Shukla, The Good Immigrant on Twitter Share Nikesh Shukla, The Good Immigrant on Linkedin Email Nikesh Shukla, The Good Immigrant linkNikesh speaks with Black and Brown people from across Britain and gathers their experiences on immigration and racial inequality.
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Lupita Nyong'o- Sulwe (Children's book)
Share Lupita Nyong'o- Sulwe (Children's book) on Facebook Share Lupita Nyong'o- Sulwe (Children's book) on Twitter Share Lupita Nyong'o- Sulwe (Children's book) on Linkedin Email Lupita Nyong'o- Sulwe (Children's book) linkA story about a little girl who wishes for her dark skin to be lighter. The story is based on colourism and teaches children to cherish their own unique beauty.
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Floella Bejamin - Coming To England (Children's book)
Share Floella Bejamin - Coming To England (Children's book) on Facebook Share Floella Bejamin - Coming To England (Children's book) on Twitter Share Floella Bejamin - Coming To England (Children's book) on Linkedin Email Floella Bejamin - Coming To England (Children's book) linkA little girl and her family move their lives from Trinidad to England, where they are met with hostility. The story conveys the message that courage and determination can overcome adversity.
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Marion Deuchars- The Spots and the Dots (Children's book)
Share Marion Deuchars- The Spots and the Dots (Children's book) on Facebook Share Marion Deuchars- The Spots and the Dots (Children's book) on Twitter Share Marion Deuchars- The Spots and the Dots (Children's book) on Linkedin Email Marion Deuchars- The Spots and the Dots (Children's book) linkThere are two books in one and you can choose whether to read from the perspective of the Spots or the Dots. This book focuses on differences and finding similarities in others as well as the discovery that fear often comes from ignorance.
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Ibram X. Kendi- Antiracist Baby (Children's book)
Share Ibram X. Kendi- Antiracist Baby (Children's book) on Facebook Share Ibram X. Kendi- Antiracist Baby (Children's book) on Twitter Share Ibram X. Kendi- Antiracist Baby (Children's book) on Linkedin Email Ibram X. Kendi- Antiracist Baby (Children's book) linkA book to inspire children and their parents to eradicate racism. The book includes nine steps to follow to become an antiracist ally.
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Carolyn Suzuki- F is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment (Children's book)
Share Carolyn Suzuki- F is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment (Children's book) on Facebook Share Carolyn Suzuki- F is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment (Children's book) on Twitter Share Carolyn Suzuki- F is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment (Children's book) on Linkedin Email Carolyn Suzuki- F is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment (Children's book) linkTwenty six words form A-Z put together to equip both girls and boys with the words they need to empower themselves.
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Additional book recommendations
- Black Skin, White Mask by Frantz Fanon
- The revolution will not be funded: Beyond the non-profit industrial complex By Incite! Women of Colour Against Violence
- Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston
- Imperial Intimacies: A Tale of Two Islands By Hazel Carby
- The autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X
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