The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah Jones – Eighteen essays that explore the legacy of slavery and how it continues to shape contemporary American life.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson – This New York Times bestseller examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy by Robert Jones – Jones reframes the enslavement of Africans as a continuation of acts of genocide and dispossession stemming from the first European contact with Native Americans.
How to Be an Anti-Racist, Ibram Kendi – An accessible and practical look at what it means, not just to be ‘not racist,’ but to be actively ‘anti-racist.
The Sum of Us – Heather McAfee – A powerful exploration of inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone—not just for people of color.
Just Mercy – Bryan Stevenson – An unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.
Stamped from the Beginning, Ibram Kendi – A comprehensive and readable history of racism in the Unites States
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi – Remixed for youth and young adults: “This is NOT a history book. This is a book about the here and now. A book to help us better understand why we are where we are. A book about race.”
So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo – a “hard-hitting but user-friendly examination of race in America.”
I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib is a graphic memoir that tells the story of her experience as a first-generation American of Filipino and Egyptian descent.
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor, Layla Saad – Based on the original workbook, this edition takes readers on a 28-day journey, complete with journal prompts, to do the work that can ultimately lead to improving race relations.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, Robin DiAngelo – In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, Beverly Daniel Tatum – How can we get past our reluctance to discuss racial issues? This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand dynamics of race and racial inequality in America.