Anti-Racism Reading List

Posted on June 30, 2020

by Teresa A

Anti-Racism Reading List for Adults

Books have the ability to transform, serving as an avenue to explore new thoughts and learn about the lives of others. When we delve into books, we are often confronted by notions and perspectives that may be contrary to the way we think or experience the world. Recently, our country has been called to challenge the racism that resides amongst us and within us. Part of meeting that challenge is educating oneself and seeking a greater understanding of the experiences and history of Black Americans. Books can help us achieve that goal, but they can only take us so far.

The list of books below addresses the topics of racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression experienced by Black Americans. While this list, and the many others that are circulating online, may lead us to these books, what we learn and how we apply the information is what really matters. The work that must be done extends far beyond reading.

A number of librarians assisted in assembling this list, including those that oversee the Art Tatum African American Resource Center and the Steinem Sisters Collection, two TLCPL collections dedicated to housing works about the experiences, ideas, and culture of Black Americans.

Cover of Alienable Rights: The Exclusion of African Americans in a White Man's Land 1619-2000 Cover of Alienable Rights: The Exclusion of African Americans in a White Man's Land 1619-2000
Cover of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Cover of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Cover of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide Cover of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
Cover of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Cover of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Cover of Race: A History Beyond Black and White Cover of Race: A History Beyond Black and White
Cover of The Fire Next Time Cover of The Fire Next Time
Cover of Notes of a Native Son Cover of Notes of a Native Son
Cover of Searching for Whitopia Cover of Searching for Whitopia
Cover of Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II Cover of Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
Cover of I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made For Whiteness Cover of I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made For Whiteness
Cover of Between the World and Me Cover of Between the World and Me
Cover of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir Cover of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir
Cover of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement Cover of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement
Cover of Women, Race & Class Cover of Women, Race & Class
Cover of The Making of a Racist: A Southerner Reflects on Family, History, and the Slave Trade Cover of The Making of a Racist: A Southerner Reflects on Family, History, and the Slave Trade
Cover of White Fragility: Why It's So Hard To Talk To White People About Racism Cover of White Fragility: Why It's So Hard To Talk To White People About Racism
Cover of Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America Cover of Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America
Cover of Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do Cover of Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do
Cover of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership Cover of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Bla</div><div class=

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