Anti-Racist Book Club

The Anti-Racism Book Club was created in 2020 to be a space to connect with others as we continue our own learning and education in the anti-racism space.

Our goal in coming together is be simple - to learn, to be brave in asking the tough questions, to engage in potentially uncomfortable conversation and ultimately become better allies – ultimately, playing an active role in ending systemic racism.

The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities,their racial identities. Many years later,one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?

How the Word Is Passed, Clint Smith

Beginning in his own hometown of New Orleans, Clint Smith leads the reader through an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks—those that are honest about the past and those that are not—that offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has been central in shaping our nation’s collective history, and ourselves.

Hood Feminism, Mikki Kendall

Today's feminist movement has a glaring blind spot, and paradoxically, it is women. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. All too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. That feminists refuse to prioritize these issues has only exacerbated the age-old problem of both internecine discord and women who rebuff at carrying the title. Moreover, prominent white feminists broadly suffer from their own myopia with regard to how things like race, class, sexual orientation, and ability intersect with gender. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?

Well, That Escalated Quickly, Franchesca Ramsey

In her first book, Ramsey uses her own experiences as an accidental activist to explore the many ways we communicate witheach other--from the highs of bridging gaps and making connections to the many pitfalls that accompany talking about race, power, sexuality, and gender in an unpredictable public space...the internet. Well, that Escalated Quickly includes Ramsey's advice on dealing with internet trolls and low-key racists, confessions about being a former online hater herself, and her personal hits and misses in activist debates with everyone from bigoted Facebook friends and misguided relatives to mainstream celebrities and YouTube influencers. With sharp humor and her trademark candor, Ramsey shows readers we can have tough conversations that move the dialogue forward, rather than backward, if we just approach them in the right way.

Five Little Indians, Michelle Good

Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention. Alone and without any skills, support or families, the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, where they cling together, striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn’t want them. The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome, or at least forget, the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission.

Girl, Woman, Other, Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity and a moving and hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women that paints a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and looks back to the legacy of Britain's colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. The twelve central characters of this multi-voiced novel lead vastly different lives: Amma is a newly acclaimed playwright whose work often explores her Black lesbian identity; her old friend Shirley is a teacher, jaded after decades of work in London's funding-deprived schools; Carole, one of Shirley's former students, is a successful investment banker; Carole's mother Bummi works as a cleaner and worries about her daughter's lack of rootedness despite her obvious achievements. From a nonbinary social media influencer to a 93-year-old woman living on a farm in Northern England, these unforgettable characters also intersect in shared aspects of their identities, from age to race to sexuality to class.

The Skin We're In, Desmond Cole

Desmond Cole documents a year of anti-Black racism in Canada, drawing on personal experiences and broader societal events. The book is a call to action, highlighting the need for systemic change to address racial injustice.

Bad Cree, Jessica Johns

In this novel, a young Cree woman named Mackenzie wakes from a dream where she relives the last moments of her sister's life. As her dreams become more vivid and disturbing, Mackenzie returns to her family and culture to seek answers and healing.

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America, Thomas King

Thomas King offers a witty and insightful critique of the historical and ongoing treatment of Native peoples in North America. The book blends history, politics, and personal anecdotes to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions.

Seven Fallen Feathers, Tanya Talaga

Tanya Talaga investigates the deaths of seven Indigenous high school students in Thunder Bay, Ontario, between 2000 and 2011. The book delves into systemic racism, the legacy of residential schools, and the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities in Canada.

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison's debut novel tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, an African American girl in 1940s Ohio who dreams of having blue eyes, believing they will make her beautiful and loved. The novel explores themes of race, beauty, and identity.

Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto, Tricia Hersey

Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, presents a powerful manifesto advocating for rest as a form of resistance against the relentless pace of modern life. She argues that rest is a radical act of self-care and a pathway to liberation.

Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, Adrienne Maree Brown

Adrienne Maree Brown explores the politics of feeling good and how finding joy can be a form of activism. The book blends theory and practical application, encouraging readers to embrace pleasure as a means of personal and societal transformation.

Hotline, Dimitri Nasrallah

Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah is a poignant exploration of immigration, identity, and resilience, set against the backdrop of 1980s Montreal. The story follows Muna Heddad, a Lebanese immigrant who, after fleeing a war-torn homeland, finds herself working as a hotline operator at a weight-loss center to make ends meet. As she navigates the challenges of cultural barriers and societal prejudice in her new life, Muna becomes a confidante to strangers over the phone, hearing their raw confessions and personal struggles. Through this deeply human connection, she confronts her own feelings of displacement and discovers unexpected strength and compassion.

Hijab Butch Blues, Lamya H.

A deeply personal and thought-provoking memoir, this work explores identity, faith, and belonging through the eyes of a queer hijabi Muslim immigrant. Lamya navigates her coming-of-age by drawing strength from Quranic stories that mirror her own struggles and desires, finding solace in figures like Maryam and questioning the nonbinary nature of Allah. Spanning her childhood in South Asia and the Middle East to early adulthood in New York City, these essays delve into the intersections of queerness, spirituality, and self-discovery. With radical hope and unflinching honesty, it celebrates the courage to embrace one’s true self and build a life of authenticity.