Black History Month Celebration: Divination Hollow’s Antiracist Reading List
Antiracist Reading List
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
An ABC of Equality (Board Book) By Chana Ginelle Ewing and Paulina Morgan
Sulwe By Lupita Nyong’o with Illustrations by Vashti Harrison
I am Enough By Grace Byers with Illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness By Anastasia Higginbotham
Step Into Your Power: 23 Lessons on How To Live Your Best Life By Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy By Tony Medina and 13 Artists
Say Her Name (Poems to Empower) By Zetta Elliot and Loveis Wise
Concrete Kids By Amyra Leon with illustrations by Ashley Lukashevsky
Continuum By Chella Man with illustrations by Ashley Lukashevsky
Beyond the Gender Binary By Alok Vaid-Menon with illustrations by Ashley Lukashevsky
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
Different Differenter: An Activity Book About Skin Color By Jyoti Gupta
Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice By Bryan Stevenson
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You By Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Born a Crime: Stories from A South African Childhood By Trevor Noah
Listicle by Ellen Avigliano
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