This page lists resources of all kinds– podcasts, books, talks, conversations, and more — to educate ourselves on how we can push towards a system that is more just and equitable, and provide examples of ways to take action in bringing about the long overdue fairness in human dignity for the black community. We will continue to add resources as we commit to continue learning, growing, and being proactive on an ongoing basis.
RECURRING CONTRIBUTIONS
Inspired by the #BlackoutBestsellerlist #Blackpublishingpower call to action, we encourage you to keep this going year-long. Commit to purchasing at least two books by Black writers each month. If you are in a position to do so, we also encourage you to purchase books by Black writers to gift to your family, friends, and/or colleagues to amplify black voices within your circles.
Well-Read Black Girl’s goal is to introduce a cohort of diverse writers to future generations – contemporary authors who are non-binary, queer, trans, and disabled. To address inequalities and improve communities through reading and reflecting on the works of Black women. Please consider supporting their work through monthly contributions by clicking here.
The Conscious Kid is an educational nonprofit that equips parents and educators with tools they can use to support racial identity development, critical literacy, and equitable practices in their homes and classrooms. They use critical race theory (which is intersectional) to navigate how issues of race impact young children and their identity development. Most of their work takes place off-line and is focused on critical media literacy research, teaching, advocacy, and increasing access to books that center marginalized groups through their book-of-the-month subscriptions and children’s lending library. Please consider supporting their work by joining their Patreon here.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
This is a list curated by the educational non-profit organization The Conscious Kid. Click here to view their recommended reading list for books written by Black authors confronting anti-Blackness for ages 0-18. Please consider supporting their work through their Patreon by clicking here.
This is a list curated by the educational non-profit organization The Conscious Kid. Click here to view their recommended reading list for children’s books that support conversations on race, racism, and resistance. Please consider supporting their work through their Patreon by clicking here.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION BOOKS (Order from black-owned independent bookstores here)
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Listen to Tomi’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Listen to Justina’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
Light It Up by Kekla Magoon (Listen to Kekla’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
Slay by Brittney Morris (Read Brittney’s 88 Cups of Tea featured essay here)
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (Listen to Jason’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Listen to Nic’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Listen to Angie’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Listen to Jacqueline’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (Listen to Jacqueline’s 88 Cups of Tea podcast interview here)
NON-FICTION BOOKS (Order from black-owned independent bookstores here)
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity In A World Made For Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
Pushout by Monique Morris
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
PODCASTS
“1619” a New York Times audio series examining slavery in America
“A History of Violent Protest” by What’s Next (Slate) on June 3
Code Switch by NPR
Intersectionality Matters! with Kimberlé Crenshaw
Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror
“Policing and Racial Trauma with Angela Davis” by Terrible, Thanks for Asking (American Public Media)
Still Processing by New York Times
Witness Black History by BBC World
DOCUMENTARIES/TV SHOWS/MOVIES
13th by Ava Duvernay on Netflix
Fruitvale Station by Ryan Coogler on Amazon Prime
Just Mercy by Destin Daniel Cretton based on memoir by Bryan Stevenson on Amazon Prime
LA 92 by T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay on Netflix
When They See Us by Ava Duvernay on Netflix
Netflix created a Black Lives Matter category to amplify and highlight the complex and diverse narratives. Storytelling from black voices matters. Click here for the titles.
WATCH NOW
Kimberlé Crenshaw’s “The urgency of intersectionality”
Bryan Stevenson’s “We need to talk about an injustice”
Baratunde Thurston’s “How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time”
Turn performative wokeness into allyship
Vernā Myers’ “How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them
An interview with the Black Lives Matter founders
Dr. Robin DiAngelo’s ‘White Fragility’
Jane Elliott’s “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise” and Fighting Racism