I was raised in small town, red pill, grandma got fired from being a teacher because of her racism and people are still mad about it, kind of area. I've taken a lot of effort to reverse this but still notice (upon looking back days or weeks later) cringey stuff I've said or done that tell me I have a lot of work to do.
So, what are some books that could be helpful? Preferably books written by poc, and that aren't afraid to fire devastating shots. I want to be called out and uncomfortable, and to make so many notes I actually have to bring a notebook with me when I read it.
by StrongNovel7707
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I embarked on a mission like this a few years ago and would like to renew my effort, so I’m saving this post hoping for some good recommendations from people who know more than I.
Books that I read which were eye opening to me, though not necessarily all in the “calling out your implicit bias” kind of way were: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution by Elie Mystal, and How to be an Anti-racist by Ibram X. Kendi. Oh and a work of science fiction that shouldn’t be missed: The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin (first book is The Fifth Season)
Two that helped me were Passing by Nella Larsen, and a short story by James Baldwin called Going to See The Man.
So many good ones. I want to encourage you to not just *prefer,* but to __*ensure*__ that any books you read on these topics are definitely written by Black and Brown people.
You could start with *Caste* or *The Warmth of Other Suns* by Isabel Wilkerson, or *The New Jim Crow* by Michelle Alexander. Or ideally all three.