20 Books to Read on Your Anti-Racism Journey
Are you looking to expand your understanding of racial justice? These 20 essential books on anti-racism offer powerful insights, personal stories, and practical lessons to guide you on your journey towards creating more equitable spaces.
In this article, we explore:
What is Anti-Racism and Why is it Important?
Anti-racism describes the active process of identifying and opposing racism. This includes advocating for policies, behaviors, and beliefs that promote racial equity.
But it goes beyond simply being “not racist”. Anti-racism involves a commitment to understanding the roots of racism and how it permeates in society. It means taking proactive steps to dismantle racism at individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels.
Anti-racism remains essential because it directly confronts injustices and helps craft a world where everyone, regardless of their race or ethnicity, has equal access to opportunities and can live free of discrimination.
By practicing anti-racism, we acknowledge the realities of racial inequality and work collectively towards building a more equitable future for all.
How to Approach Anti-Racism Literature
Reading anti-racism literature is an opportunity for growth, reflection, and action.
When we’re reading, it’s important to do so with humility and a willingness to unlearn deeply-rooted beliefs. We can be confronted by uncomfortable truths about ourselves, our systems, and our lifestyles, and it’s important to come prepared to be challenged.
It can be helpful to start by creating space for self-reflection. Ask yourself:
How are the ideas presented in a book resonating with you, your experiences, and your worldview?
Do I feel uncomfortable when reading about the experiences of marginalized people?
Discomfort and defensiveness is normal and is a natural part of the process. In fact, discomfort is often a sign of progress. By recognizing our own flawed ideas and experiences, we are able to learn, reflect, and grow.
We encourage you to take your time reading these works. Don’t rush through them, and engage in conversations with others, discuss concepts, and deepen your understanding.
Furthermore, while reading anti-racism literature is an excellent start, it doesn’t have to end there. You can:
Support BIPOC-owned bookshops, businesses, and work
Hold your friends and family accountable
Use inclusive language and do not make assumptions
Be involved in organizations that support racial justice
Finally, remember that reading is just one part of the work. Use these books as a springboard to take action in your community, workplace, or personal life. Anti-racism requires sustained effort, and these books provide invaluable knowledge that must be paired with a commitment to implementing change.
Anti-Racism Literature to Check Out Today
Ready to dive deeper into your anti-racism journey? Here are 20 books that will expand your understanding and help guide you toward meaningful action.
Books to Start Your Journey
1. Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, Big Business, Re-create Race In The 21st Century by Dorothy Roberts
This book examines how race is a socially constructed tool used to maintain racial inequity in modern society.
2. Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas In America by Ibram X. Kendi
Kendi traces the origins and evolution of racism in America, offering a comprehensive narrative on how anti-black, racist ideas have held power over the course of American society. He uses the stories of 5 American intellectuals to drive the narrative: Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Angela Davis.
Books to Keep Learning
3. Tell Me Who You Are by Winona Guo & Priya Vulchi
Guo and Vulchi’s work features conversations with everyday people across the U.S., offering a personal, engaging perspective on race, identity, and belonging. Their work spurred from the realization that they had not had any intensive conversations about racism in school, leading them to defer their college admission to collect their stories.
4. This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How To Wake Up, Take Action, And Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell & Aurelia Durand
This accessible guide is crafted for all ages and offers practical steps in recognizing privilege, understanding oppression, and becoming actively anti-racist. It helps reveal the origins of racism and gives the power to untangle yourself and undo it, building chapter-by-chapter to help you grow your knowledge.
Memoirs
5. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Angelou’s memoir recounts her childhood experiences with racism, trauma, and resilience.
6. Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog & Richard Erdoes
This memoir recounts Crow Dog’s experience growing up in poverty on the Rosebud Reservation. Inspired to activism by the rebellion at Wounded Knee, she joined the American Indian Movement, shedding light on the struggles of Indigenous peoples.
7. The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui
In this graphic novel Bui shares her family’s experiences as Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s, exploring themes of displacement, survival, and identity. Featuring poems and beautiful illustrations, she depicts the struggles and triumphs of adjusting to life’s changes.
8. Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
In this powerful memoir, Laymon reflects on his experiences growing up as a Black man in America, grappling with issues of race, weight, identity, and family trauma. Laymon invites readers into his personal journey toward healing and self-acceptance.
Black Studies and Experiences in America
9. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
This work highlights the historical and contemporary experiences of Black women in America, examining the intersections of racism and sexism.
10. March Trilogy (Graphic Novels) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
Through the lens of the civil rights movement, Congressman John Lewis recounts his experiences in nonviolent protest, providing an engaging and educational narrative about activism and justice.
11. Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment In Black America by James Forman Jr.
This powerful book examines the role of Black leaders, politicians, and citizens in shaping the policies that contributed to the mass incarceration crisis in America. Forman provides a nuanced perspective on crime, punishment, and race, challenging conventional views on criminal justice reform within the Black community.
Essays
12. They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
Abdurraqib’s collection of essays blends music, pop culture, and personal reflection to explore themes of race, identity, and survival in America.
13. Alligator and Other Stories by Dima Alzayat
This collection of stories grapples with questions of identity, displacement, and belonging, offering intersectional insights into the immigrant experience.
Children’s Books
14. Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia, Illustrated by Ken Min
A heartwarming tale that brings together themes of family, tradition, and culture as a young boy connects with his grandfather through a shared love for food.
15. Something Happened In Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
This book addresses racism and police violence in a way that is accessible for young readers, encouraging family discussions about racial justice.
Lessons in Fiction
16. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This critically acclaimed novel tells the story of Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman navigating race, identity, and immigration in the U.S. and the UK. Through her journey, Adichie offers sharp observations on the complexities of race and belonging in a global context.
17. The Year Of The Dog by Grace Lin
A story for younger readers, this semi-autobiographical novel follows a young Taiwanese-American girl, Pacy, as she balances her cultural identity and learns life lessons about friendship, family, and finding her place in the world.
18. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Vuong’s work is a letter from a son to his mother, exploring themes of race, identity, trauma, and survival. It weaves together personal and collective histories, focusing on the Vietnamese immigrant experience in America.
Books for Healing & Restoration
19. The Little Book on Race and Restorative Justice by Fania E. Davis
Davis presents an inspiring guide on how restorative justice practices can be used to address racial harm and promote healing and reconciliation.
20. The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing by Annealiese A Singh, PhD, LPC
This handbook offers practical activities and strategies for readers to challenge their own biases and engage in the ongoing process of racial healing.
Tips for Implementing Anti-Racism in Daily Life
Reading anti-racism literature is just the first step. The real impact comes from translating those lessons into everyday action.
Here are some practical ways you can implement anti-racism in your daily life, based on the themes explored in the books:
Keep Educating Yourself
Anti-racism is not a one-time learning process; it’s ongoing. Commit to continued education by reading, listening to podcasts, attending workshops, and staying informed about current issues affecting marginalized communities.
Attend Anti-Racism Training at Work
By attending and participating in anti-racism training, we equip ourselves with the necessary tools, understanding, and resources to come to terms with the importance of intersectionality and allyship.
Reevaluate Your Workplace Practices
Implement anti-racism principles in the workplace by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring, leadership, and everyday interactions. Encourage accountability and create an environment where colleagues can safely raise issues related to race.
Support and Amplify Marginalized Voices
Use your platforms—whether social media, professional networks, or community spaces—to uplift the voices of marginalized people. Share their work, support their causes, and advocate for policies that promote racial equity.
Practice Active Allyship
Allyship requires more than passive support; it involves taking deliberate actions to fight racial injustice. This can include advocating for policies that address systemic racism, volunteering for organizations that serve marginalized communities, or using your privilege to create opportunities for others.