Below you will find titles that explore race in America from different perspectives. From graphic novels to ethnographic studies to books that encourage conversation and discussion around issues of race and identity, these recently published books are sure to be of interest to people looking to expand their world view and develop a better understanding of the racial tensions in our country.
Looking for more book recommendations? Check out the rest of our Staff Curated Book Lists.
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A Black Women's History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry & Kali Nicole Grass Download the audiobook via eZone A vibrant and empowering history that emphasizes the perspectives and stories of African American women to show how they are--and have always been--instrumental in shaping our country. |
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Paying the Land by Joe Sacco
Graphic novel revealing a people in conflict over the costs and benefits of development. Sacco recounts the shattering impact of a residential school system that aimed to “remove the Indian from the child”; the destructive process that drove the Dene from the bush into settlements and turned them into wage laborers; the government land claims stacked against the Dene Nation; and their uphill efforts to revive a wounded culture. |
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The Deepest South of All: True Stories of Natchez, Mississippi by Richard Grant Download the audiobook via eZone Natchez, Mississippi, once had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in America, and its wealth was built on slavery and cotton. Today, prominent white families dress up in hoopskirts and Confederate uniforms for ritual celebrations of the Old South, yet Natchez is also progressive enough to elect a gay black man for mayor with 91% of the vote. |
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Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami Download the audiobook via eZone What does it mean to be American? Tapping into history, politics, and literature, Lalami elucidates how accidents of birth--such as national origin, race, and gender--that once determined the boundaries of Americanness still their shadows today. |
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Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine As everyday white supremacy becomes increasingly vocalized with no clear answers at hand, how best might we approach one another? Just Us urges us to begin the discussions that might open pathways through this divisive and stuck moment in American history. |
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Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America by Ijeoma Oluo Download the audiobook via eZone After the election of Donald Trump, and the escalation of white male rage and increased hostility toward immigrants that came with him, New York Times-bestselling author Ijeoma Oluo found herself in conversation with Americans around the country, pondering one central question: How did we get here? |
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The Purpose of Power by Alicia Garza Download the audiobook via eZone
An essential guide to building transformative movements to address the challenges of our time, from one of the country’s leading organizers and a co-creator of Black Lives Matter. |
This list compiled by Reference Staff at Barrington Public Library. Please contact us at 401-247-1920 x2 with any questions or if you would like help placing a hold on one of these titles.
