Reading Roundup: Antiracist Books for Black History Month and Beyond

Jan 1

LIST ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS PART OF DIVINATION HOLLOW REVIEWS BLACK HISTORY IN HORROR MONTH CELEBRATION

I know what you’re thinking, what does a list of books on how to live an antiracist life and body positivity have to do with the media Divination Hollow usually covers? Lots. Our aim here at Divination Hollow is to cultivate an inclusive, accepting, and open-minded environment in the bookish and media communities online. We actively call for our peers, community supporters, fellow readers, and even writers to make sure they read diversely and on a variety of subjects or genres, including non-fiction. Consuming a broad range of topics and viewpoints will help you become a better reader, a more empathetic person, and well-rounded in self-education.

Participating in group events highlighting underserved and marginalized voices in various communities is awesome, but it isn’t enough. We love hosting these events, but we also know there is a lot more work to be done on a continual basis. Events and holidays are fine and dandy and do a lot to raise awareness, but we need to do the internal work to facilitate real change and improvement in our communities. The work doesn’t stop just because you’re “tired.” Think of all the marginalized voices that don’t get a day off? Think of all the marginalized people who can’t check out of who they are, and experience ongoing violence on the daily? It’s not enough to just share during highlight months or special events, and if that’s all you’re willing to do, your actions are performance and spectacle and disingenuous. You have to do more; we have to do more. You have to be more; we have to be more. That all starts by doing the inner work and continuing to put ourselves under a microscope and examine our inner biases and learned behaviors. And we must not let our passion and fervor wane; it is our responsibility continue to explore these themes, to unlearn the old and learn to do better, and to encourage others to join us on that journey.

I’m including a list of these books specifically to remind folks that we need to continuously do inner work and inner soul searching. We need to challenge our inherent racism and inherent bias and do our best to sit with it, examine it, and grow beyond those negative learned tendencies. In doing so, we’ll be better able to receive the work of others, better able to support our peers and family members, and be able to dismantle systemic racism starting with our own person. No one is perfect, surely, but we can all do better. We must do better.

Reading the suggested texts on this page may also offer added value and better perspective into the lived experiences of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and other marginalized creators and the motivation behind their work. Make sure these books are not only on your shelves, but also in your hands and in front of your eyes. Join us here at Divination Hollow in our commitment to doing the uncomfortable work of dismantling inherent bias and building a more inclusive community.

Anti-Racist and Inclusive Perspective Books for Adults and Teens

Here’s a list of non-fiction titles to explore for older teens and adults that tackle a wide variety of perspectives on racism, bias, and social justice issues.

How to Be An Antiracist
By Ibram X Kendi

So You Want to Talk About Race
By Ijeoma Oluo

Me and White Supremacy
By Lalya F. Saad

Eloquent Rage
By Brittney cooper

This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and do the Work
By Tiffany Jewell

The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity For Girls of Color

By Virgie Tovar

The Body is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love

By Sonya Renee Taylor

Glitch Feminism: A Manifesto

By Legacy Russell

Hood Feminism

By Mikki Kendall

The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth
Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson

Anti-Racist Books for Younger Readers and Teens

This collection of titles is a mix of non-fiction options along with fictional stories rooted in true experiences and historical context. We’ve also included a list of board books and picture books to introduce the topics of anti-racist ideals to younger readers and continue the education as they grow and mature.

Antiracist Baby (Board Book)
By Ibram X. Kendi and Ashley Lukashevsky

A is for Activist (Board Book)
By Innosanto Nagara

Counting on Community (Board Book)

By Innosanto Nagara

An ABC of Equality (Board Book)
By Chana Ginelle Ewing and Paulina Morgan

Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood From Champions of Change
By Robin Stevenson and Allison Steinfeld

Sulwe

By Lupita Nyong’o with Illustrations by Vashti Harrison

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

By Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali and illustrations by Hatem Aly

All the Colors We Are: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color/ Todos Los Colores de Nuestra Piel: La Historia de Por Que Tenemos Differentes Colores De Piel
By Katie Kissinger with Photos by Chris Bohnhoff

I am Enough