I’ve stayed mostly quiet about everything going on in our country right now for a myriad of reasons — which I admit, are excuses.
I don’t have anything of value to add to the conversation. I don’t want to offend anyone. I don’t want to seem uneducated. I don’t have all the information. I don’t want to detract from what other, more important voices have to say.
I’ve seen a lot of Instagram stories and had a few conversations in the last couple of days that have encouraged me to use my voice — that my voice matters more than I can imagine — that every voice speaking out against injustice and racism matters.
So, after a lot of research, I am here to do just that by doing what I do best — sharing books and resources to help educate myself and others.
Photo credit: @taylor_hill
It’s scary what’s happening in our country right now. Police brutality against black people is unjust and deeply disturbing. I am sick to my stomach seeing stories like George Floyd’s in the newspaper headlines year after year. It’s time for it to stop. It should have stopped a long time ago, but clearly we still have a far way to go as a nation.
I’ve compiled the following list of resources I found helpful and will continue to look into to educate myself. I know it’s not a lot, but it’s a start.
Where to Donate & Petitions to Sign
Articles You Can Read to Better Understand White Privilege
- How White People Can Be Better Allies to the Black Community by Jackie Saffert
- On Becoming Anti-Racist by Joanna Goddard
- Who Gets to Be Afraid in America by Ibram X. Kendi
- Talking About Race: Being Anti-Racist from the National Museum of African American History & Culture
- This Google Doc is full of educational articles, podcasts, books, films, organizations, and more.
Books About Race
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
Books By Black Authors
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
There are obviously HUNDREDS of resources out there, but this is where I’m at now in this journey. I’m going to continue updating this post weekly with any new resources, books, articles, etc that I find helpful. I’m committed to educating myself when it comes to being anti-racist. I know I have a long way to go, but I’ve got to start somewhere and this has got to be a continuous conversation. If you have any resources you would like to share with me, please feel free to leave them in the comments or shoot me a quick email.
I urge you to educate yourself, and speak out against injustices you see in this world.
We can make a change.
Kimberly
