20 books on antiracism and racial justice
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd became the latest unarmed Black American killed at the hands of police. As grief and outrage continue to spur civil unrest in cities across the country, including here in Detroit, we want to be a resource for anyone wanting to learn more or join in the fight against the police brutality and white supremacy.
Here is a list of books we’ve compiled as a staff, as well as other lists created by racial justice advocates and organizations, and ways you can take action online and in your communities.
ADULT AND YA BOOKS
How to be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi
Ibram X. Kendi compiled his own anti-racist reading list, you can see it here.
Citizen, Claudia Rankine
The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin
The Fire This Time: a New Generation Speaks About Race, edited by Jesmyn Ward
The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Ibram X. Kendi
Tears We Cannot Stop, Michael Eric Dyson
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge
Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas (Young Adult)
Dear Martin, Nic Stone (Young Adult)
CHILDREN/YOUNG READERS/MIDDLE GRADE
Anti-racist Baby, Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky (baby-prek)
Let’s Talk About Race, Julius Lester (early reader, ages 5–10)
The Other Side, Jacqueline Woodson (early reader, ages 5–10)
Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson (middle grade, ages 10+)
One Crazy Summer, Rita Williams Garcia (early/middle grades, ages 8–12)
Plus a teaching guide from the publisher
This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work, Tiffani Jewell (middle grade, ages 10+, backordered)
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi (ages 10+)
See more juvenile fiction here
See more juvenile nonfiction here
31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance, curated by literacy organizations Conscious Kid and American Indians in Children’s Literature
Reading is just a first step towards meaningful action. Here are organizations working to end police brutality and white supremacy, and resources for raising children whose literacy fuels activism.
Organizations you can support
DETROIT
Detroit Equity Action Lab
An innovative hub for community-driven research, programming, and media, working to dismantle structural racism in Detroit.
Detroit Heals Detroit
Detroit Heals Detroit exists to foster healing justice for Detroit youth in which they are able to transform their pain into power.
Detroit Justice Center
A non-profit law firm working alongside communities to create economic opportunities,transform the justice system, and promote equitable and just cities.
New Detroit
A coalition of leaders working to achieve racial understanding and racial equity in Metropolitan Detroit.
LITERACY ORGS
The Conscious Kid
Raising Race Conscious Children
We Need Diverse Books
