A local organization here has released a list of books that they feel are imperative to have in the time ahead. The list was not easily shareable, so I copy-pasted it here.
There is no need to read all of these, but one thing you can do that takes little effort is call your library and see if they have them in stock.
If you are moneyed, you can buy some copies and put them in little free libraries.
EDUCATING FOR ADVOCACY BOOK LIST
All books are written by authors from that culture
(2024) Be a Revolution: How Everyday People are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World - and How You Can, Too by Ijeoma Oluo
Each chapter discusses how someone is advocating for oppressed populations
and has examples of how others can do the same or similar.
(2024) The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The author travels to Senegal, South Carolina and Palestine and grapples with deep questions and emotions.
(2023) Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper
A memoir of a Black man learning to claim space for himself and others like him.
(2022) Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies about Our Past Edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer
The title explains it so well.
(2022) South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry
History, rituals, and landscapes of the American South and why they must be understand it in order to understand America.
(2022) Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
Tells the story of 3 generations of a Southern Black family in Memphis.
(2021) How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
An exploration of important monuments and landmarks in the USA that show
how slavery has been foundational in the development and history of our country.
(2021) The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
(2021) The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
Historical fiction telling the story of several generations of a Dakota family
(2020) The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman
26 authors share their stories of living in the USA.
(2020) Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how we continue to be defined in this way..
(2020) This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman
(2019) The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah Jones (among others)
Reframes our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its continuing legacy at the center of our national narrative.
(2019) Things are Good Now by Djamila Ibrahim
Stories of how migrants sort out their lives in foreign lands.
(2018) So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
An examination of race in America.
(2018) Iām Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
A memoir telling her journey of learning to love her blackness while navigating America's racial divide.
(2018) If They Come for Us by Fatimah Asghar
Poetry that captures the experience of being a Pakistani Muslim woman in contemporary America, while exploring identity, violence, and healing.
(2016) Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
Traces the history of Black America.
(2015) Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A memoir, in the form of a letter to his young son, telling his personal experiences with racism and violence in the United States.
(2015) My Seneca Village by Marilyn Nelson
Poetry and information about Seneca Village ā a multi-racial, multi-ethnic neighborhood in the center of Manhattan (Central Park ) that thrived in the mid-19th century.
(2014) An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Tells the 400+ years of US history, from the perspective of Indigenous peoples
(2013) Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Explores the place of plants and botany in both Indigenous and Western life.
(2010) The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of Americaās Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Follows the stories of three Black Americansā migration journeys from Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana.
(2010) The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Explains how we havenāt ended, but have redesigned, the caste system in the U.S.
(1972) Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions by John (Fire) Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes
Told by Lame Deer, a Lakota medicine man, this memoir teaches the history of Indigenous people in the USA.
(2021) Firekeeperās Daughter by Angeline Boulley
The novel's main character is a young woman with a French mother and an Ojibwe father, who often feels torn between cultures.
(2021) The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and RenƩe Watson
Illustrated by Nikkolas Smith
Tells the story and consequences of American slavery in verse.
(2020) Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Shorter and appropriate for middle and high schoolers.
(2020) All Boys Arenāt Blue by George M. Johnson
Series of personal essays about the authorās life growing up as a gay, black man.
(2020) Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters Illustrated by Mehrdokt Amini
(2020) Woke: A Young Poetās Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatewood Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
Poetry about fighting for racial justice through joy and passion.
(2020) Be Amazing: A History of Pride by Desmond Is Amazing Illustrated by Dylan Glynn
The history of Pride, with bold illustrations, focusing on the importance of embracing oneās own uniqueness and tuning out the haters.
(2020) Dear Justyce (Dear Martin #2) by Nic Stone
Continues the story of Justyce from Dear Martin in a series of flashbacks and letters.
(2020) Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
A novel in verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated.
(2019) Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobab
The author tells the story of life as a nonbinary person in graphic novel form.
(2019) An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People original book by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz adapted by Debbie Rees and Jean Mendoza
Shorter and appropriate for middle and high schoolers
(2017) Sea Prayer by Khalad Hosseini Illustrated by Dan Williams
Written as a poetic letter, from father to son, this is a story of the journey of refugees.
(2017) Dear Martin (Dear Martin #1) by Nic Stone
A story of the realities of a Black teen living in America.
(2015) All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
From the perspective of two teenage boys, one Black and one White, a story is told with the realization that racism and prejudice are still alive and well.
(2015) Beyond Magenta: Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
The author interviewed six transgender for gender-neutral young adults and lets
(2011) Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
The title explains it well
(2023) An American Story by Kwame Alexander illustrated by Dare Coulter
Tells the story, poetically and honestly, about American slavery
(2023) Step by Step!: How the Lincoln School Marchers Blazed a Trail to Justice
by Debbie Rigaud and Carlotta Penn illustrated by Nysha Pierce
Tells the story of a group of Black mothers and children and their two-year march to integrate an Ohio elementary school.
(2022) Say Their Names by Caroline Brewer illustrated by Adrian Brandon
A young Black girl leads a #BlackLivesMatter protest march.
(2021) Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.
Shorter, more kid friendly version of Stamped from the Beginning.
(2021) Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Traces the history of this African-American āWall Street Districtā and its destruction by White supremacists.
(2016). I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
The life and work of RBG told in picture book form.
(2008) Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad written and illustrated by James Rumford
Ancient and recent history of Baghdad from the perspective of a young boy.
(2005) Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson illustrated by Hudson Talbott
Traces the history of the āshow wayā quilt from slavery through freedom.
(2005) My Name is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin illustrated by Barbara Kiwak
Muslim-American student experiencing religious prejudice.
(2005). Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee Ilustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy
An alphabet book that teaches about the extraordinary lives of 26 women.
(1978). The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall
Helps children learn about indigenous cultures.
(2023) These Olive Trees: A Palestinian Familyās Story written and illustrated by Aya Ghanameh
A story of a young girl and her family in Nablus, Palestine, 1967
(2020). Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi illustrated by Ashley Lukashvsky
Teaches young children how to be an antiracist.
(2016). When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett
A young, indigenous girl learns about her grandmotherās experience in a
(2013). A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara (board book)
An ABC book that teaches children about being an activist.
