Black Lives Matter Reading List
The last two weeks have seen racial tensions in the US erupt to dominate headlines, timelines, minds, and hearts.
After the tragic death of George Floyd, who was killed by police during an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25th, our country has witnessed widespread protests--some peaceful and some not. Clearly, our nation is deeply in need of racial healing.
At Atlanta Innovative Counseling Center, we recognize that our job as therapists is to listen deeply and provide resources for everyone fighting the fight for racial justice and equality. This includes Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and allies alike. As such, we have compiled a Black Lives Matter reading list that actually includes more than just books.
This article is a roundup of reading material, Instagram accounts, TED Talks, and TV shows that focus on racial justice and more.
If you’re wondering how to help, or how to find representation and mental health resources during this time, please read on.
Nonfiction Books on Racial Justice and Equality
Many excellent books are available to shed light on the systemic racism that has led to this moment.
It’s especially important that allies understand demonstrations against police brutality that have followed in the wake of George Floyd’s death (and Breonna Taylor’s, Ahmaud Arbery’s, and more) are rooted in systemic racism. Allies have a responsibility to understand how this racism is perpetuated in our society.
A good way to access these texts is to put in an order at your local bookstore (look for BIPOC-owned book stores in your area if possible) and settle in for some deep reading.
We recommend the following books, which also happen to be current bestsellers on the Amazon bestseller list as of June 5th:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
For more books on understanding race and allyship, we highly recommend this list. Similarly, if you are an educator or have school-aged children, this reading list will help you understand the importance of Anti-Racisim in the classroom.
African American Representation in Fiction
BIPOC readers need more representation in media, whether it’s in literature, film, advertising, online, etc.
Seeing oneself in the media is imperative for feeling accepted and included in our culture. In short, representation matters.
If you are not BIPOC, one of the best ways to practice empathy is to put yourself in another person’s shoes. Fiction can be a way to do this, as readers are transported into stories about the lives and experiences of the characters.
Learning about the experiences of BIPOC is crucial for expanding one’s worldview and positively contributing to the critical conversation that is happening at this very moment.
To walk in another’s shoes, or to find yourself within the pages, consider the following works of fiction by Black authors and featuring Black characters.
These works are both contemporary and considered “classic” African American literature, and of course there are many more books that portray the African American experience.
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Dreams from my Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama (nonfiction, but still tells a story)
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Multimedia Resources on Racial Justice
We live in an age where listening to a podcast, watching a video, or reading a quick article are much more common for most of us than taking the time to engage in reading an actual book.
Of course we recommend deep diving into the fiction and nonfiction listed above, but sometimes you want something to listen to while working out or walking the dog, too. Or perhaps you’re interested in following social media accounts that share helpful information about the cause.
It’s also likely that you’re watching a lot more television these days while we all practice social distancing, and many large media companies such as Netflix, Hulu, and HBO have shows that specifically feature the BIPOC experience.
Finding time to engage with the conversation of racial justice is important at any time of day, and there are so many ways to enter this conversation and to listen.
So if you’re looking for resources that fit into your daily life, we’ve compiled lists for this, too!
*We are grateful to @wastefreemarie for suggestions on television shows, TED talks, and some instagram accounts, as well as the Active Minds Chapter at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for this list of black mental health resources.
Instagram Accounts
Social media has been one of the most important ways that organizers for Black Lives Matter have spread information about racism, rallies, and ways that we can all pitch in and join the cause. Many people follow hashtags like #blacklivesmatter and #blm as a way to keep up with this information.
Allies can follow these hashtags to learn more about not only the experience of racism in this country, but also ways to listen and to #amplifymelanatedvoices.
Allies can also work to diversify their own social media feeds by following and learning from people whose daily lives are different from their own.
Consider the following these accounts featuring female BIPOC voices:
@laylafsaad
@rachel.cargle
@ajabarber
@mikaelaloach
@greengirlleah
Additional resources that support BIPOC mental health include:
@blackmentalwellness
@diveinwell
@ethelsclub
@inclusivetherapists
@sistaafya
@thenapministry
@therapyforblackgirls
@black.man.now
@blackmalementalhealth
@blackmenheal
@healingwhileblack
@melaninandmentalhealth
@theblack_therapist
@therapyforblackmen
@qtpocmentalhealth
Recommended TED Talks for Watching and Learning
TED talks are a great way to get a lot of great information in a short amount of time. The following talks highlight BIPOC experiences in American society.
We recommend hosting a watch party with your friends and family so that you can all learn and grow together:
“We Need to Talk About an Injustice” by Bryan Stevenson
“The Dangers of Whitewashing Black History” by David Ikard
“Let’s Get to the Root of Racial Injustice” by Megan Ming Francis
“How American’s Public Schools Keep Children in Poverty” by Kandice Sumner
“The Symbols of Systemic Racism--And How to Take Away their Power” by Paul Rucker
TV Shows that Feature the Black Experience
As we mentioned earlier, many of us are watching more TV than normal as we try and stay home as much as possible to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus. Representations of Black experiences that are important to this moment of social change include:
13th on Netflix
When They See Us on Netflix
Just Mercy--this is actually streaming for free for the month of June
The Hate You Give on Hulu
The Racial Wealth Gap, Explained Season One, Episode One on Netflix
BlackAF on Netflix
Insecure on HBO
A popular mantra of the BLM protests, “No Justice No Peace” Involves Seeking Justice to Further the Mission of Peace and Equality
Using Media for Social Change
No matter which of the above media (or mix of media) you choose to seek out during this time, we hope this list will inspire you; will help you see yourself in the pages or on screen; and/or will help you figure out how to promote racial justice and equality.
If you find yourself anxious, depressed, or in need of someone to talk to right now, please know that you can always reach out to Atlanta Innovative Counseling Center. Our practice supports equality and offers space for talking, listening, and healing.