5 Non-Fiction Books that school you on race and racism
These non-fiction books school you on race and racism all the way. I’ve gone with a nice mixture because I know there are ‘different strokes for different folk’. I’m a sucker for killing random sayings. Point being people have been writing about race and racism for years. The latest BLM movement that re-ignited after the killing of George Floyd has had some thinking that race and racism just appeared in 2020 and that every Black person is ready with open ears to these discussions or to answer questions. We’re not! But here’s a good middle ground. p.S: “No Karen, this isn’t new.”
By Trevor Noah
Book: Born A Crime
Publisher: John Murray
Released : 2017
If comedy and satire is your thing then Trevor Noah’s Born A Crime is your ideal book. In England he is mix-raced, in America he’s Black, and in South Africa he is mixed or coloured. I hate that term but we move! Born in 1984’s South Africa, his being was illegal according to Apartheid law. The whole book covers his experiences throughout his childhood. One incident in particular addresses the fact that he wasn’t able to be out in public with his mum growing up, or his dad for that matter. His mum hired a coloured woman to walk to the park and places with him, and she would walk behind pretending to work for the woman.
The book is filled with humour and had real roll on the floor choking in laughter moments, especially with the detailed stories of his ever growing mischief but race is at the core of the book.
“Where most children are proof of their parents’ love, I was the proof of their criminality”
By Michelle Obama
Publisher: Viking, Penguin Books
Released : 2018
If you’re looking for an autobiography from a famous/ public figure then Becoming by Michelle Obama is they key! Yes you hear about politics and some fluffy moments but Michelle Obama knows that she is a black woman and she's been very clear throughout the book. The memoir documents her experiences coming from Chicago, USA and how microaggressions affected her growning up. She covers imposter syndrome and how she noticed White flight before her eyes as her area went from diverse to grouped radically. As well as the treatment she received by the media during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. The book is empowering as she highlights not just the struggles and discomfort of navigating white spaces but how to thrive and give back to the community. She is a very hyper aware of who she is and what she brings to the table. Full review available here
By gal-dem
Publisher: Walkers Books
Released: 2018
If you’re looking for young people sharing their truth then this book by gal-dem is for you. 14 very different stories covering a range of topics detailing how they’ve grown up. You discover first hand experiences of sexuality, family life, love, identity and navigating life in the UK as a person of colour. What separates this book from others is that the contributors were not afraid to venture into typically "taboo" subjects. A real testament to breaking barriers and encouraging others to speak their truth even if it makes others uncomfortable.
Full review available here
By Robin Diangelo
Publisher: Allen Lane, Penguin Books
Released: 2019
If you are white and need to have your ego shattered by a white woman then I recommend White Fragility why it's so hard for white people to talk about racism this is by Robin D'Angelo. Equally, if you are not-white and want to learn more about race from a white person’s perspective it’s a good read. I don’t go out of my way to recommend White authors, on issues like racism I think it’s very important to understand it from someone's lived experience, however she has done a PhD and she has been giving training on diversity and inclusion for years. FYI she’s highly qualified and not blind to her own privileges. Full review here
By Reni Eddo-Lodge
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Released: 2017
If you are looking for an exploration through a very aware and educated perspective through a Black British channel then Rennie Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race is your book. The book was born after a post she released went viral. She speaks from the heart but also backs up her views with litertaure and incidents that cannot be argued on. On top of that she has provided readers with notes and bibliography to signpost you to research deeper. It’s been called one of the most important books of 2017 and it's not hard to understand why.
