Hi, so I’ve seen a few people on here ask in relation to what is going on in Minneapolis with the unjust and cruel death of George Floyd, what they should read to become a better “ally” or to be Anti-Racist. I’m going to do a thread to highlight some books to have some resources.

Some of these books I have read, or have been recommended to me personally over time. I feel as a non-black PoC, this is one way I can help, on top of donating money to causes when I can. Also: please support Black owned bookstores, I’ll mention some in the next tweet.

@Loyaltybooks and @thelitbar are two that I know of here on the east coast, but here is a list that is extensive and has all their websites. For the thread, I’ll be using Bookshop, which both have, but purchase direct to support them the most if you can. https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php

If you have any recs, add them! I’m also trying to recommend nonfiction that is accessible to non-academics and through language etc. due to my personal belief that trying to learn anything should be accessible and not gatekept behind academia. Recommendations will start below:

An African American and Latinx History by Paul Ortiz:
https://bookshop.org/books/an-african-american-and-latinx-history-of-the-united-states/9780807005934 (Also in general the series of books are A+, if you’re looking beyond this).

Stamped From The Beginning and How to Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, and Stamped by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (Young Readers Edition)
Stamped: https://bookshop.org/books/stamped-from-the-beginning-the-definitive-history-of-racist-ideas-in-america-9781568585987/9781568585987
How To Be Antiracist: https://bookshop.org/books/how-to-be-an-antiracist/9780525509288
Stamped YRE: https://bookshop.org/books/stamped-racism-antiracism-and-you-a-remix-of-the-national-book-award-winning-stamped-from-the-beginning/9780316453691

Me And White Supremacy by Layla Saad (This is also great for non-Black PoC who are white passing, because we do benefit and are complicit in some ways to it.
https://bookshop.org/books/me-and-white-supremacy-combat-racism-change-the-world-and-become-a-good-ancestor/9781728209807

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
https://bookshop.org/books/white-fragility-why-it-s-so-hard-for-white-people-to-talk-about-racism/9780807047415

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo and Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo Lodge

So You Want To Talk About Race:
https://bookshop.org/books/so-you-want-to-talk-about-race/9781580058827

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race:
https://bookshop.org/books/why-i-m-no-longer-talking-to-white-people-about-race/9781635572957

Waiting ‘Till The Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power In America by Peniel E. Jospeh

https://bookshop.org/books/waiting-til-the-midnight-hour-a-narrative-history-of-black-power-in-america/9780805083354

Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing The World From The Tweets To The Streets by Feminista Jones

https://bookshop.org/books/reclaiming-our-space-how-black-feminists-are-changing-the-world-from-the-tweets-to-the-streets/9780807055373

Hood Feminism: Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

https://bookshop.org/books/hood-feminism-notes-from-the-women-that-a-movement-forgot/9780525560548