The recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement has many of us thinking hard about race, equality, and justice, and becoming more conscious about long-standing issues like racial profiling and police brutality and the broader implications of systemic racism within our society. In order to better understand the issues at hand and be proactive in pushing for societal change, the movement calls on people of all races, ages and genders to educate themselves on the ways in which racism manifests in our society. In the interest of raising awareness, the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries has curated a collection of books highlighting Black voices, lives and experiences. These titles aim to inform, enlighten, start conversations and spur transformative action by exploring Black history, racism and social injustice, and anti-racist organizing and resistance movements in Canada, the United States, and beyond.
“When They Call You a Terrorist” by Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Co-authored by one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, “When They Call You a Terrorist” offers a detailed firsthand account of the history of the movement and some of its most prominent activists, culminating as a powerful indictment of a flawed and prejudicial criminal justice system and a call to action against the persecution of Black communities at the hands of law enforcement.
“Me and White Supremacy” by Layla F. Saad
Inspired by the viral Instagram challenge of the same name, “Me and White Supremacy” challenges readers to a journey of self-reflection, prompting them to examine their own internal, often subconscious biases, and how they may contribute to perpetuating a culture of racial inequality. Layla F. Saad prompts readers to re-evaluate and reshape their own beliefs and biases and do the essential work needed to effect real social change.
“How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi
Through exploration of the many different forms that racism may take and the social and cultural consequences of racist attitudes and practices, “How to Be an Antiracist” highlights the vital importance of moving beyond awareness of racism to taking action against it. Ibram X. Kendi argues that mere acknowledgement of racial injustice is futile unless backed up by action, and calls upon readers to be actively anti-racist, exploring the different forms that effective, transformative activism can take.
“White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo
Robin DiAngelo defines and examines the phenomenon of white fragility: the counterproductive responses and defensives mindset white people may have when their beliefs about race are confronted or challenged. DiAngelo prompts readers to consider the ways in which reactions such as defensiveness, argumentation, or silence, work to prevent meaningful dialogue and impede positive change, and explores the ways in which we can engage more constructively on issues related to racial inequality.
“Until We Are Free” by Rodney Diverlus
Although Black Lives Matter began as a response to racially biased police violence in the United States, racial prejudice and inequality is very much a global problem, and the movement’s message quickly spread and gained momentum in other countries. “Until We Are Free” details the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada, as well as some of the more recent developments in Canadian Black activism, through a collection of essays by and conversations with Canadian BLM activists.
“Policing Black Lives” by Robyn Maynard
Black Canadians face disproportionate rates of poverty and unemployment, unequal access to quality education and healthcare, and are more frequently targeted by discriminatory police practices, violence and incarceration. Robyn Maynard contextualizes these struggles by tracing their history over nearly 400 years of systemic persecution of Black lives in Canada, a historical context which provides a framework for understanding the deeply entrenched structures of racial inequality that survive in the country today.
“Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect?” by Alicia Garza
Featuring a foreword by Alicia Garza, one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, this collection of reports and essays poses some challenging questions about the realities of modern policing in the United States. Contributed writings explore a broad range of issues related to modern police practices, including the killing by police of Black men and women, and law enforcement’s treatment of pregnant women and civilians suffering from mental illness. Also detailed are numerous case studies of miscarriages of police brutality, miscarriages of justice, and failed attempts at police reform and accountability measures.
“Say Her Name” by Zetta Elliott
#SayHerName is the name given to the viral social movement that seeks to raise awareness for Black female victims of police brutality and racially motivated violence in the United States. A powerful collection of poems, “Say Her Name” pays tribute to female victims of racism, persecution, and violence at the hands of law enforcement, and to the resilient activists fighting for a better, more just society for future generations of Black women.
The above titles and many more are available through our digital library. Visit nlpl.ca for more resources and follow @NLPubLibraries on Twitter for the latest news.
Alyssa Griffiths is the acting Central Regional Librarian with the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries.
