Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 2nd Read Harder task.

Gonna read from this list 12 (Mostly) Canadian Books about Racism, Anti-Blackness, and Anti-Racism, Plus Places to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

How to be an AntiRacist is sitting on my chair side table. I was about to pick it up, having just finished Reading While Black (highly recommend to anyone who is interested in biblical studies/interpretation - this from an African American perspective. Very good!)

I'll probably read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents for this one

How to be an AntiRacist by Ibram X. Kendi. I started it this year and then a bunch of library books swooped in and took my attention away.

Denise wrote: "How to be an AntiRacist by Ibram X. Kendi. I started it this year and then a bunch of library books swooped in and took my attention away."

I think this is what I'm going with as well.

I think I'm going with Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race. It's on by tbr for quite a long time.

I wonder if Stacey Abrams' new book Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America might count for this prompt? I've been interested in reading it. Otherwise, I have Between the World and Me on my wishlist as well.

The one on my TBR for 2021 is , but I might add another late.

- No question about it.

I admit, this confuses me. Wouldn’t almost any book about racism fit this prompt?

Would Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime count for this one?

It’s not about antiracism as a mindset, but it is definitely about a man who helped combat racism in his community.

I've also been meaning to finish How to Be an Antiracist and finally found a copy of my own (plus a workbook), so I'll be going with this (and hopefully a few others?) this year!

"How to Be an Antiracist" or "Stamped from the Beginning." Have read "White Fragility" and strongly recommened.

TBRing How To Be An Antiracist.

There are a number of antiracist books on my TBR I'm eager to get to, but I'm thinking Stamped from the Beginning.

Maryam wrote: "Gonna read from this list 12 (Mostly) Canadian Books about Racism, Anti-Blackness, and Anti-Racism, Plus Places to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is "

Oh, thanks for that! I find it's harder to find Canadian-focused books, though I am currently reading The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power and read 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality earlier this year (not on that list but I recommend to fellow Canadians!)

For 2021 I will likely read one or more of:
- How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide
- Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
- Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race,
- Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City

'this book is anti-racist' by tiffany jewell.

I'm going to read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Also going to do How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram Kendi.

I'm going to attempt The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

Hello everyone! Our rec post for this task is now live: https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021...

I've selected Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower for this one!

Oh Eloquent Rage is a great choice. I’m switching to that

I want to read
The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing
Would love to find ways to help show the world we are all equals :)

I think I'll read Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot

Would Caste by Isabel Wilkerson for this?

Tanvi wrote: "I admit, this confuses me. Wouldn’t almost any book about racism fit this prompt?

Would Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime count for this on..."

I've seen this discussed quite a bit over the last few months. There is a difference between non-racist and anti-racist. Basically anti-racist is taking actual action to combat racisim rather than just not displaying racist behavouir. Not explaining it very well though. If you google the difference there are many articles that come up regarding this. (sorry I'm at work so can't link any right now).

https://www.literatibookstore.com/ant...

Not only is it a great list including books for young readers, it also includes a definition if like me you are unsure.

Amber Ruffin, writer for "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and host of "The Amber Ruffin Show," has a book coming out in January that's perfect! Her sister, Lacey Lamar, has had to document racist stuff at her job, and the "funny ones" are coming out in book form titled "You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey."

I'm planning on reading 'The history of white people' by Nell Irvin Painter, and will top that off with Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt, PhD, since I currently have it on the top of my TBR pile next to my bed.

I'm going with This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work, since it's already on my shelf.

Tanvi wrote: "I admit, this confuses me. Wouldn’t almost any book about racism fit this prompt?

Would Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime count for this on..."

Its been my understanding that "anti-racist" implies an active state vs "not being racist" which is passive. There are a lot of great books that center on racism and bring awareness to it - socially, historically, and personally. Anti-racist books actively and intentionally identify and challenge racism and the mechanisms that support systemic racism in our society as well as the reader's perceptions and beliefs. I think the difference is subtle but important. I don't know off hand if that book would be considered anti-racist, but if you think it meets the criteria then I say use it!

Patty wrote: ""How to Be an Antiracist" or "Stamped from the Beginning." Have read "White Fragility" and strongly recommened."

I read Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America this year, and it was really eye-opening. I expect I'll read How to Be an Antiracist this year.

is my plan

I've read and and would highly recommend them :)

I just finished the Stamped (the YA version by Jason Reynolds) audiobook, which is narrated by Reynolds. Highly, highly highly recommend.

I'm going with So You Want to Talk About Race.

Patty wrote: "Amber Ruffin, writer for "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and host of "The Amber Ruffin Show," has a book coming out in January that's perfect! Her sister, Lacey Lamar, has had to document racist stuf..."

Thanks for this heads up! I have another book for this prompt - but I am for sure going to read this! I hope Amber does the audio narration!

I'm thinking of reading Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy. I've started it but haven't had the chance to finish. Or maybe Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology by Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens. I prefer reading about these topics from Black women.

I recommend that anyone choosing to do this challenge selects a book written by a Black person. It's better to allow Black people to tell their own stories.

I picked up When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir from one of my nearby Little Free Libraries not too long ago and plan to read it for this prompt.

Fourevver wrote: "I think I'm going with Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race. It's on by tbr for quite a long time."

It's very good. I read it a few years ago.

I've been meaning to read The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease. It is not a "how to be an anti-racist" book but I think it would count as a book about anti-racism, as it focuses the suppression of black civil rights activism via the medical system.

I am planning on reading Women, Race and Class by Angela Davis, we meant to read it with our book club but because of Covid 19 it never happened...so now is the time :)

Would Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City work for this prompt?

I read a lot of books that fall into this category in 2020, but I still have The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness on my list of books to read.

I'm thinking about

Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man
by Emmanuel Acho

I am reading 'Superior: The Return of Race Science' by Angela Saini

How to Be an Antiracist read it last year

Robin wrote: "How to be an AntiRacist is sitting on my chair side table. I was about to pick it up, having just finished Reading While Black (highly recommend to anyone who is interested in biblical studies/inte..."

My spouse just finished Caste and said it was one of the best books he's read about race - and he's read quite a few!

Ady wrote: "I read a lot of books that fall into this category in 2020, but I still have The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness on my list of books to read."
This was a good book and I highly recommend it. Although, I was scared to see the Supreme Court decisions.

There was a book on the recommendation list for Read a work of investigative nonfiction by an author of color called HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PROBLEM? BY MOUSTAFA BAYOUMI. I'm choosing that one to be my anti-racist book. I still may read some others like Caste, but I thought that was interesting.