An anti-racism
listening list
An anti-racism listening list
From essays and memoirs to fiction, these listens have been a source of education, reflection and inspiration for the Audible community including our members.
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
So relatable, so insightful. If I could put some of my experiences into words, they would form this book.
-Sherene TaylorYou highlighted my own ignorance in being a Black British man in this country, oblivious of the structural landscape that I find myself in. This book hurts as I thought that personally I wasn't affected by race, due to wealth or a progressive career that has helped shield me from aspects of life that I have both forgotten and have become numb to. This is an important read for all in understanding how racism, especially structural, is so entangled in every day society.
- junior owusu
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
As a white, middle aged male, I know nothing of the world Angie Thomas writes about and so I 'enjoyed' the story more for the world that opened up to me rather than the core story line. It brilliantly highlights inequality and the inherent racism that exists in the US - knowing that it exists and is growing elsewhere.
- Gary BAn all too familiar story nowadays. Bahni Turpin reads it beautifully and with raw emotion. A Black youth shot for no reason, the story illustrates the agony that it causes an already troubled community.
- C V Grieve
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
What makes this such a strong book is that it is also a confession: Kendi's antiracist stance is hard-won and actively striven for. Part memoir, he discusses his own upbringing and indifferent schooldays when he internalised anti-black racism, when he grew up imbibing sexist and homophobic ideologies, and recounts with honesty his struggles at university to free himself from his own prejudices. It's this humility combined with a scholar's critical intelligence (his PhD was in African-American studies) that give this book its heft.
- Roman ClodiaThe main ideas of the book - it's not racist ideas that cause inequality and suffering but racist policies. Change policies and you'll achieve change. Attempt to change racist minds and you're only dealing with symptoms, not the root cause.
- Signe
Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
This book is not simply for reading, it's a 28 day work book and it's a very real and tangible way to become involved in anti-racism work. No more white people excusing ourselves as one of the good ones, no more thanking black, anti-racism teachers on instagram and then doing nothing ourselves, no more performative social media posts, no more white tears. We need to do the work and this book by Layla Saad is an excellent tool to begin that work.
- MichelleDespite the discomfort, I highly recommend the process to anyone interested in combating racism and wanting to understand what they can do to make society more equal and socially just from an individual level.
- Ms Rayya Ghul
Natives by Akala
This book is both an excellent account of the experiences of a mixed-race boy growing up in 80's/90's London as well as a dig deeper in to the Empirical history of England and how that has shaped the nation's views on race and colour and how they continue to manifest themselves today.
- Ross ClarkThis is the kind of education that ought to be taught in schools. Akala is intellectual and authentic. An honest view of colonialism, classism and racism, from a perspective that matters.
- Meg ConnellThis book told the story of the relationship between class and race excellently especially in the UK.
- Anonymous User
In Search of Black History with Bonnie Greer
This podcast is a riveting, well researched, and beautifully curated overview of Black history in all the places or situations you probably didn't know or think about.
- Amazon CustomerFor most of my life I've only heard and been exposed to the contributions of white race. Hearing stories of Black people, Black women fighting for our freedom, identity, dignity, humanity and contributions to humanity. It also makes one wonder why the white race goes to such lengths to erase or take credit for the contributions of others. I really appreciate efforts to surface the stories that are hidden in plain sight.
- Char Bris
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
I was struggling to understand how I could help combat racism, now I know.
- MR EDENA must read for any white person. Never before have I had so many ‘aha’ moments, recognising my own behaviour as a white woman in relation to my Black partner and friends. Wish this had been around 10 years ago. Completely agree that the learning never ends.
- AvMEvery white person should read this book. Informative, concise, and a well informed perspective on a range of issues that we, as the white collective, too often feel aren’t ‘our’ issues to combat and change.
- Rebecca Wright
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
A really excellent world, created as a mirror to our own. Had 'non-racist' me getting continually confused as to who was in power. So brilliantly simple world leaders might understand matters a little better if only they read it - or like me, had it read to me!
- Gary BA superbly constructed insight into some of the worst aspects of human nature. Touching, poignant and hard-hitting all at the same time. Highly recommended for teens and adults. The sort of book that should help change the world.
- MarkLove in a divided world, it's breathtaking and brilliant. I read it as a teen and still revisit it now as an adult. Hope for a equality in a world that still judges on appearance.
- donna grandison
Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith
Pulitzer Prize nominee Dael Orlandersmith wrote and performed this one-woman drama about the 2014 murder of Black teenager Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Orlandersmith lends her voice to unearthing and dismantling the unspeakable truths of racism—that so long as it exists as an institution, Black men and women are in imminent danger. Until the Flood was born from extensive interviews with Missouri residents following Brown’s death and is fleshed out further by the darkness that lingers in American history. When coupled with Orlandersmith’s tender, compassionate performance, the resulting play captures the agony wrought time and again by systemic racism.An urgent moral inquest.
- The New York TimesThis was beautifully written and performed - a must listen.
- shane m
We Need to Talk About the British Empire by Afua Hirsch
Afua Hirsch introduces inspiring people and lets the narratives unfold and it is just riveting.
- BR I found this a fascinating series that covered the way that the British Empire impacted on the lives of so many people. It contained a variety of personal stories that reflected the diversity of the Empire. It did not hold back from showing the overt racism, cruelty and stratification of the colonies. It covered the slave trade as well as the tragedy of the chaotic and disastrous partition of India in 1947. It taught me a lot of history that was never covered in school.
- M. Bellamy
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
I highly recommend this book to all people- especially white people like me who didn’t and don’t understand our own racism and our racist history in the US... I look back on my own perceptions of the history that I’ve lived through and the lens, the white lens, through which I viewed it. Makes me hungry to learn more...and to speak up more.
- Karen Friedman 'Hatred has a way of convincing us half-love is whole'. The best, best 'history' book I have ever had the honor of listening to. Thank you. I feel inspired to fight the good fight.
- Hannah
