Holy smokes. What the year 2020 is shaping up to be.. and we’re not even halfway through! The coronavirus pandemic and a resurfacing racial divide here in the United States have proven to be catalysts for change. The people are uneasy, unsettled, and feel called to action.
In the days following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Black America and her antiracist allies have marched thousands of miles in several major cities worldwide. What for? For justice, for Black lives to matter equally as much as white lives, equally as much as blue lives (that is, law enforcement officers), equally as much to all lives.
Many people in America — and when I say people, I truly mean people — of all faces and races, of all ages and stages, are now beginning to acknowledge the hurt and pain centuries of white privilege and supremacy mentality have caused our fellow people, our fellow human beings of color, especially the Black community,
As is the case every summer I am “off” from my teaching job, this year I booked myself a series of conferences, webinars, and professional development reads. My reading list this summer is solely focused on becoming a better racial ally. This is not a moment; it’s a movement. I stand for and conspire with marginalized racial groups for justice and equality.
Summer Reads for the Antiracist Ally
Now that we are past the official start of summer, I commit to read:
- 1) How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- 2) This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by Aurelia Durand
- 3) So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
If you’re interested in any of these titles, I recommend purchasing them through locally owned Black bookstores. You can find 10 Black-owned online shops here.
More Racial Justice Reads
- 1) Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
- 2) Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
- 3) White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, foreward by Michael Eric Dyson
DISCLAIMER: The last book pictured, White Fragility, I did not personally read myself. Several close friends of mine have, though, and all spoke very highly of its content.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? was a required read for my M.Ed. coursework years ago. An easy read for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of race in America, it’s still relevant, now more than ever.
Stamped from the Beginning is a phenomenal read! I actually finished it earlier this month. Fast-paced and deeply researched, the book chronicles the power of racist ideologies over the course of American history. BONUS: The book is actually free to listen to on Spotify at the time of this posting.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: What are you actively doing this summer to professionally grow? How are you using your privilege to ally with and advocate for the oppressed?
