As the last few months have shown us, many of us have A LOT to learn — and put into action — when it comes to understanding systemic racism in our society and in us. Fortunately, many of us have embraced the idea of figuring out what work we need to do in order to be anti-racist and promote anti-racist policies.
Side note: If you are not familiar with the term “anti-racist” and how it is different from simply saying “not racist,” then you are in the right place, so do not despair.
I am not an anti-racism educator and I am not a Black person. I am a white Hispanic mom, doing what she can to listen, learn, and put into action anti-racist ideas, beliefs, and behaviors. As part of this work, I am also committed to supporting anti-racist policies and investing in organizations that support Black lives.
This is why I am focusing this post on a list of recommendations instead of attempting to explain or educate you wonderful readers. The one piece of advice I will give is to please seek out Black leaders and educators to learn from, pay them for their labor (instead of expecting them to educate you for free), and then lift their voices.
Here is a compilation of short lists that I hope will be a good place for you to start or continue your journey to becoming an anti-racist mom.
For you to read
(Buy from local, independent, and/or Black booksellers if you can — bookshop.org is a good resource.)
- “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi
- “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown
- “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
- “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” By Beverly Daniel Tatum
- “Where To Begin” by Cleo Wade
For you to follow
(These are all Instagram accounts, but you can also Google these folks to find them on other platforms.)
- Rachel Cargle: instagram.com/Rachel.cargle
- Ibram X. Kendi: instagram.com/ibramxk
- Austin Channing Brown: instagram.com/austinchanning
- Ijeoma Oluo: instagram.com/ijeomaoluo
- Cleo Wade: instagram.com/cleowade
- The Conscious Kid: instagram.com/theconsciouskid
For your kids
(This list includes books for different age groups.)
- “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X. Kendi (board book)
- “A Kids Book About Racism” by Jelani Memory
- “This Book Is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell
- “Sulwe” by Lupita Nyong’o and Vashti Harrison
- “Stamped” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (great for teenagers and young adults)
This is far from an exhaustive list, mamas. I decided to keep it manageable, because otherwise too many options might make you feel like looking at the menu at the Cheesecake Factory (that menu is overwhelming!). Check some of these out to get started or continue on your journey — and keep in mind this is not the type of thing where we read one book and are good to go. I recommend following some of these knowledgeable leaders so that you can continue to learn and grow in the process.
And before I go, if you’re looking for a way to provide financial support to the Black community in a meaningful way, I recommend checking out The Loveland Foundation, which is an organization that has a particular focus on and commitment to Black women and girls.
