Episode 83: Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter. Black Stories Matter. Share them. Say their names. Don’t let them be silenced.
Resources
- Advancement Project’s List of Organizations (https://advancementproject.org/how-you-can-act-now-to-address-police-violence/)
- Bookshop’s Antiracist Reading Recs (https://bookshop.org/lists/antiracist-reading-recs)
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr. spotlights the last 50 years of African-American history in “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise” now streaming in full for free online (https://watch.weta.org/show/black-america-mlk-and-still-i-rise/)
- Guide to Ally-ship: read the short guide here (https://guidetoallyship.com/)
- 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship: on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/CA04VKDAyjb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
- An anti-racist reading list from Ibram X Kendi (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html)
- List of Black-Owned bookstores in the U.S. (https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php)
- The Conscious Kid (https://www.theconsciouskid.org/about/) : A resource to help educate children on racial bias and promoting positive identity development
- I have No Mouth, and I Must Scream: The Duty of the Black Writer During Times of American Unrest by Tochi Onyebuchi (https://www.tor.com/2020/06/01/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream-the-duty-of-the-black-writer-during-times-of-american-unrest/)
- Ibram X Kendi on why not being racist is not enough (https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/14/ibram-x-kendi-on-why-not-being-racist-is-not-enough)
Accounts to Follow on Social Media
- The Conscious Kid on Instagram (https://instagram.com/theconsciouskid?igshid=9p7j4jyk7wn3)
- Spinesvines on Instagram (https://instagram.com/spinesvines?igshid=1itc7byp0ob5l)
- The Stacks Podcast on Instagram (https://instagram.com/thestackspod?igshid=1ocj4sd78c8ak)
- Diverse Spines on Instagram (https://instagram.com/diversespines?igshid=9n2shtxu7gsv)
- Bowties and Books on Instagram (https://instagram.com/bowtiesandbooks?igshid=t3167ozs7bbv)
Where to Donate
- Black Live Matter: donate here (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019)
- Campaign Zero: donate here (https://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision)
- The Bail Project: donate here (https://bailproject.org/)
Podcasts/Podcast Episodes
- Code Switch Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/code-switch/id1112190608): hosted by journalists of color, the podcast tackles the subject of race head-on.
- Deadline City Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deadline-citys-podcast/id1482022414): hosted by authors Dhonielle Clayton & Zoraida Cordova who talk about the publishing industry and their writing journeys.
- First Draft Podcast’s (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-draft-with-sarah-enni/id896407410?i=1000452748799) interview with Jason Reynolds, discusses his book LOOK BOTH WAYS, his childhood growing up in DC, his writing career, and more.
- The Stacks Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-112-r-eric-thomas-here-for-it/id1362164483?i=1000475188487) interview with R. Eric Thomas, author of HERE FOR IT, a collection of humorous and thoughtful essays centering around his identities of Black, Christian, Gay, and American.
- The Reading Women’s (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-women/id1118019442?i=1000465359770) interview with Kiley Reid, author of SUCH A FUN AGE.
Black Stories on Youtube
- Let’s Talk About Race: Nic Stone & Jodi Picoult (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQcUPRqbUuA)
- Amber Ruffin’s Experience with Police on Late Night with Seth Meyers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o6OEyfuJU8)
- This is My Story - The FBE Cast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FowNV-PvcyY)
- Untold Story of Black Suffragettes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzpc6u2PJ5U)
Tara’s Book Rec
Sister Outsider - on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32951.Sister_Outsider) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/sister-outsider-essays-and-speeches-9780143134442/9781580911863)
Audre Lourde is a legend. When I read Sister Outsider for the first time a few years ago I felt empowered, I felt rage, I felt sickened - I cried a number of times. Ultimately, it’s a plea for hope and change.
Why I picked it? A stunning number of my friends on Goodreads have not read this book. It’s older, but I think it’s just as important now as when it was published.
Meredith’s Book Rec
Dear Martin on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24974996-dear-martin?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JkaNZk39FR&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/dear-martin/9781101939529)
This book might be short, but its impact is huge as it tackles racial discrimination, police brutality, and the inequality in the American school system.
Why I picked it?
This is one of those books that sticks with you. I ugly cried during portions of it, but was still left with hope at the end. It’s also a great time to read it because Nic Stone is publishing a sequel called DEAR JUSTYCE in September 2020 that deals with the very real issues facing Black boys and other minorities in the American justice system.
Jeannette’s Book Rec
All American Boys on
Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657130-all-american-boys) and
Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/all-american-boys-reprint/9781481463348)
Told from the two perspectives of Rashad and Quinn, this book explores the idea of police brutality and the trauma and impact it has on the victim and their community, but it also shows a white teen dealing with his privilege and what his responsibility is as someone who knows the truth behind the incident.
Why I picked it?
This book is so powerful in the way it handles real issues of discrimination and privilege. It made me think, it made me cry, and it has never really left me.
Non-Fiction Book Recs
- March on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29436571-march) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/march-book-one-9781603093002/9781603093002)
- How to be An Antiracist on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40265832-how-to-be-an-antiracist?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RcrqyFlOBY&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/how-to-be-an-antiracist/9780525509288)
- So You Want to Talk About Race on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35099718-so-you-want-to-talk-about-race?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=kHNRRrmlzG&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/so-you-want-to-talk-about-race/9781580058827)
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6792458-the-new-jim-crow?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=A9O5vRwRbM&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-new-jim-crow-mass-incarceration-in-the-age-of-colorblindness-anniversary/9781620971932)
- Heavy: An American Memoir on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430746-heavy?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=drcUZW2fhg&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/heavy-an-american-memoir/9781501125669)
- White Fragility: Why it’s so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43708708-white-fragility?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=qvf4zvOBvd&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/white-fragility-why-it-s-so-hard-for-white-people-to-talk-about-racism/9780807047415)
- Just Mercy:A Story of Justice and Redemption on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20342617-just-mercy?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=i5URE53cNm&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/just-mercy-a-story-of-justice-and-redemption/9780812984965)
- Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898216-stamped-from-the-beginning?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ySHfnhQvR5&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/stamped-from-the-beginning-the-definitive-history-of-racist-ideas-in-america-9781568585987/9781568585987)
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52220686-stamped?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=GzTXW6dN5T&rank=2) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/stamped-racism-antiracism-and-you-a-remix-of-the-national-book-award-winning-stamped-from-the-beginning/9780316453691)
- Here For It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45915136-here-for-it?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FFJht955IC&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/here-for-it-or-how-to-save-your-soul-in-america-essays/9780525621034)
- I Know Why the Caged Birds Sings on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13214.I_Know_Why_the_Caged_Bird_Sings?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FVDgMjJy5I&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/9780345514400)
- The Fire Next Time on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/464260.The_Fire_Next_Time?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VjShxSnbiF&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-fire-next-time/9780679744726)
- Between the World and Me on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489625-between-the-world-and-me?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Fui0mGBH9g&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/between-the-world-and-me/9780812993547)
- Sister Outsider on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32951.Sister_Outsider?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4DXMxZmpPV&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/sister-outsider-essays-and-speeches-9780143134442/9781580911863)
- Becoming on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38746485-becoming?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=sRwlA7QlrN&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/becoming/9781524763138)
- Brown Girl Dreaming on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20821284-brown-girl-dreaming?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=MqwNGFAQWX&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/brown-girl-dreaming/9780147515827)
- Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29780253-born-a-crime) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/born-a-crime-stories-from-a-south-african-childhood/9780399588198)
Fiction Book Recs
- The Hate U Give on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075671-the-hate-u-give) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-hate-u-give/9780062498533)
- The Fifth Season on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19161852-the-fifth-season?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VFZbxrH0N1&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-fifth-season/9780316229296)
- Kindred on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60931.Kindred?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=qNDoKp897l&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/kindred-9780807083697/9780807083697)
- Homegoing on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27071490-homegoing?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ACZZCRQs1w&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/homegoing-9781101947135/9781101971062)
- Invisible Man on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16981.Invisible_Man?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JSTgSxWdMc&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/invisible-man-9780679732761/9780679732761)
- The Underground Railroad on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29584452-the-underground-railroad?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Hq6NJPQMHK&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-underground-railroad-9780385542364/9780345804327)
- The Nickel Boys on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42270835-the-nickel-boys?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=kn9mpwcpny&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-nickel-boys-winner-2020-pulitzer-prize-for-fiction/9780385537070)
- Long Way Down on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22552026-long-way-down?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=G3pOQt7HjY&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/long-way-down-9781481438254/9781481438261)
- The Belles on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23197837-the-belles?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=HaoMmcEL2S&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-belles/9781484732519)
- A Phoenix First Must Burn on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49619831-a-phoenix-first-must-burn?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=QKOjX8e7i7&rank=2) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/a-phoenix-first-must-burn-sixteen-stories-of-black-girl-magic-resistance-and-hope/9781984835659)
- All American Boys on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657130-all-american-boys?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Fsje5QTOC9&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/all-american-boys-reprint/9781481463348)
- Dear Martin on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24974996-dear-martin?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=26fM2HEZEH&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/dear-martin/9781101939529)
- American Street on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30256109-american-street?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=dIUmteTScP&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/american-street/9780062473059)
- Pride on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35068632-pride?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=NFFXEYoI9g&rank=7) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/pride-9780062564047/9780062564054)
- Slay on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43723509-slay?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=sBxstr9aex&rank=9) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/slay/9781534445420)
- You Should See Me in a Crown on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50160619-you-should-see-me-in-a-crown?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=TxhQ8aU6ux&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/you-should-see-me-in-a-crown/9781338503265)
- Felix Ever After on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51931067-felix-ever-after?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=q8ivmnHk9L&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/felix-ever-after/9780062820259)
- The Wedding Date on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33815781-the-wedding-date?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=qRYtpHHhy4&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-wedding-date-9780399587665/9780399587665)
- Riot Baby on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43719523-riot-baby?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=yQHOjE5X6D&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/riot-baby/9781250214751)
- The Bluest Eye on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11337.The_Bluest_Eye?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BkFLYgPLrc&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/the-bluest-eye/9780307278449)
- Their Eyes Were Watching God on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37415.Their_Eyes_Were_Watching_God?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=fXHDz3soTy&rank=1) and Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/books/their-eyes-were-watching-god/9780061120060)

Black Lives Matter. Black Stories Matter. Share them. Say their names. Don’t let them be silenced.

Resources

Advancement Project’s List of Organizations
Bookshop’s Antiracist Reading Recs
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. spotlights the last 50 years of African-American history in “Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise” now streaming in full for free online
Guide to Ally-ship: read the short guide here
10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship: on Instagram
An anti-racist reading list from Ibram X Kendi
List of Black-Owned bookstores in the U.S.
The Conscious Kid : A resource to help educate children on racial bias and promoting positive identity development
I have No Mouth, and I Must Scream: The Duty of the Black Writer During Times of American Unrest by Tochi Onyebuchi

Ibram X Kendi on why not being racist is not enough

Accounts to Follow on Social Media

The Conscious Kid on Instagram
Spinesvines on Instagram
The Stacks Podcast on Instagram
Diverse Spines on Instagram
Bowties and Books on Instagram

Where to Donate

Black Live Matter: donate here
Campaign Zero: donate here
The Bail Project: donate here

Podcasts/Podcast Episodes

Code Switch Podcast: hosted by journalists of color, the podcast tackles the subject of race head-on.
Deadline City Podcast: hosted by authors Dhonielle Clayton & Zoraida Cordova who talk about the publishing industry and their writing journeys.
First Draft Podcast’s interview with Jason Reynolds, discusses his book LOOK BOTH WAYS, his childhood growing up in DC, his writing career, and more.
The Stacks Podcast interview with R. Eric Thomas, author of HERE FOR IT, a collection of humorous and thoughtful essays centering around his identities of Black, Christian, Gay, and American.
The Reading Women’s interview with Kiley Reid, author of SUCH A FUN AGE.

Black Stories on Youtube

Let’s Talk About Race: Nic Stone & Jodi Picoult
Amber Ruffin’s Experience with Police on Late Night with Seth Meyers
This is My Story - The FBE Cast
Untold Story of Black Suffragettes

Tara’s Book Rec

Sister Outsider - on Goodreads and Bookshop

Audre Lourde is a legend. When I read Sister Outsider for the first time a few years ago I felt empowered, I felt rage, I felt sickened - I cried a number of times. Ultimately, it’s a plea for hope and change.

Why I picked it? A stunning number of my friends on Goodreads have not read this book. It’s older, but I think it’s just as important now as when it was published.

Meredith’s Book Rec

Dear Martin on Goodreads and Bookshop

This book might be short, but its impact is huge as it tackles racial discrimination, police brutality, and the inequality in the American school system.

Why I picked it?

This is one of those books that sticks with you. I ugly cried during portions of it, but was still left with hope at the end. It’s also a great time to read it because Nic Stone is publishing a sequel called DEAR JUSTYCE in September 2020 that deals with the very real issues facing Black boys and other minorities in the American justice system.

Jeannette’s Book Rec

All American Boys on

Goodreads and

Bookshop

Told from the two perspectives of Rashad and Quinn, this book explores the idea of police brutality and the trauma and impact it has on the victim and their community, but it also shows a white teen dealing with his privilege and what his responsibility is as someone who knows the truth behind the incident.

Why I picked it?

This book is so powerful in the way it handles real issues of discrimination and privilege. It made me think, it made me cry, and it has never really left me.

Non-Fiction Book Recs

March on Goodreads and Bookshop
How to be An Antiracist on Goodreads and Bookshop
So You Want to Talk About Race on Goodreads and Bookshop
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness on Goodreads and Bookshop
Heavy: An American Memoir on Goodreads and Bookshop
White Fragility: Why it’s so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism on Goodreads and Bookshop
Just Mercy:A Story of Justice and Redemption on Goodreads and Bookshop
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America on Goodreads and Bookshop
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You on Goodreads and Bookshop
Here For It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays on Goodreads and Bookshop
I Know Why the Caged Birds Sings on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Fire Next Time on Goodreads and Bookshop
Between the World and Me on Goodreads and Bookshop
Sister Outsider on Goodreads and Bookshop
Becoming on Goodreads and Bookshop
Brown Girl Dreaming on Goodreads and Bookshop
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood on Goodreads and Bookshop

Fiction Book Recs

The Hate U Give on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Fifth Season on Goodreads and Bookshop
Kindred on Goodreads and Bookshop
Homegoing on Goodreads and Bookshop
Invisible Man on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Underground Railroad on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Nickel Boys on Goodreads and Bookshop
Long Way Down on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Belles on Goodreads and Bookshop
A Phoenix First Must Burn on Goodreads and Bookshop
All American Boys on Goodreads and Bookshop
Dear Martin on Goodreads and Bookshop
American Street on Goodreads and Bookshop
Pride on Goodreads and Bookshop
Slay on Goodreads and Bookshop
You Should See Me in a Crown on Goodreads and Bookshop
Felix Ever After on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Wedding Date on Goodreads and Bookshop
Riot Baby on Goodreads and Bookshop
The Bluest Eye on Goodreads and Bookshop
Their Eyes Were Watching God on Goodreads and Bookshop