GenreLand discussion

Here's a chance to read something to help combat racism. Ibram Kendi (the author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America and Antiracist Baby, among other things) has put together this list: https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/l.... There are other lists out there as well. The ones I see can be a little US-centric, so it'd be interesting to see what people are reading on this subject in other parts of the world.

I had difficulties for January-Science because of my Geography exam, but I am already ready for February-Anti-Racist.

The first one I read was in French, but the original is in Polish:
Les Cahiers de Janina, Janina Hescheles. For sure it is translated in many other languages.
Janina, a Jew girl, tells her souvenirs from the occupation, concentration camp, and Jew extermination in Lwow, Ukraine. She could escape and was hidden during the rest of the war in Cracow, Poland. The souvenirs were written during the hidden period, it means she was still a child, it makes it special.
Rest of life and videos can be found in wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janina_...

I read another book related to the subject, but this time in Portuguese only.
Os "Pretos do Sado", Historia e Memoria de uma Comunidade Alentejana de Origem Africana (Séculos XV-XX) by Isabel Castro Henriques.
It is well know that Portugal had black slaves during a long time, and what happened to these slaves and their descendants ? The black people you see nowadays in Portugal streets are generally immigrants or Portuguese descendants of immigrants coming from former colonies, but not descendants of slaves from the XVI century and following.
The descendants of the slaves mixed with the population and are invisible.
BUT in one zone of Portugal, the Alentejan zone of Vale do Rio Sado, where the rice plantations were mainly farmed by black slaves since the end of XV century, it is still possible to see their influence on the facial features of the inhabitants.
The study makes a research about who were these slaves, why they were concentrated in this region, their difficult life and work conditions, their culture, their religion, etc.
If you read Portuguese, it is a very interesting history book.

I have just started reading Sathnam Sanghera's Empireland for this. A very recent book, picking up on the statue-toppling, name-challenging awareness of how slavery and exploitation are tied in with Britain's history and present and exploring this history.
I am anticipating finding evidence to confirm what I know - Britain's wealthy imperial past was a brutal and exploitative system which is still barely understood or acknowledged.
By the way, the author is from my home city, and I liked how one of his first references is to the name of the local team's football ground, Molineux, being that of a family who prospered through slavery and colonial exploitation. While still namechecking "the mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers"...

I know I'm going to read "So You Want to Talk about Race" because I'm reading that for another book club. I'm also trying to focus on authors of African descent this month in general if I can. Right now I'm reading "Trouble the Saints" by Alaya Dawn Johnson. It's about African Americans in New York City who have inherited supernatural powers in order to defend their communities. A lot of them are in the criminal life, since that was one of the easier ways to get money and influence. I think it's really good so far and definitely deals with racial issues as well.

I've borrowed How to Be an Antiracist from the library, and I am also hoping to get to The End of Policing.

I have White Rage all ready downloaded on the kindle, but I am not sure I will get to it this month (I know it is still early, that could change). This month has just started out stressful at work, and I need a fluff book (so far some romance and a teen vampire tale)

I read So You Want to Talk About Race. It's good. Some of it is hard to hear. Judging by all the one-star reviews here, I'd say a lot of people are still not ready for it.

I'm reading "How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.

I have started White Rage, but I have discovered I can’t read it before bed...white rage indeed. Lots of stuff about our US history that I was blissfully unaware of. I am glad I am reading it, but dang white people suck and I have just gotten to the Jim Crow era.

I finished "So You Want to Talk About Race". It's a good primer for USA racial issues.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This was in my feed this week, thought I would share in case anyone is interested in going further with the antiracist theme (and to save it it in a place I can find it later)

https://mashable.com/shopping/anti-ra...

I don't currently have access to any of the books on the list, but I decided to try a different approach to anti-racism. I read one work of fiction -- The Autobriography of Miss Jane Pittman -- one memoir -- A Long Way Gone -- and one book by an activist -- See No Stranger. The first two included discussions of the experience of Black people -- historically in America and in our contemporary world with African child soldiers. The third was an education in ways we can work to combat prejudice and a sense of other-ness within ourselves and within our society. The combination was very effective for me.

Cheryl wrote: "I don't currently have access to any of the books on the list, but I decided to try a different approach to anti-racism. I read one work of fiction -- The Autobriography of Miss Jane Pittman -- one..."

That sounds like a great way to go about it!

Leslie wrote: "I'm reading "How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi."

I still plan to finish reading that one soon, but the only thing I managed to actually finish in February was Antiracist Baby by the same author.

Marie-thérèse wrote: "I read another book related to the subject, but this time in Portuguese only.
Os "Pretos do Sado", Historia e Memoria de uma Comunidade Alentejana de Origem Africana (Séculos XV-XX) by Isabel Castr..."

Both of yours sound fascinating!

Amy wrote: "I read So You Want to Talk About Race. It's good. Some of it is hard to hear. Judging by all the one-star reviews here, I'd say a lot of people are still not ready for it."

Eesh. That is very sad.

Angela wrote: "I have started White Rage, but I have discovered I can’t read it before bed...white rage indeed. Lots of stuff about our US history that I was blissfully unaware of. I am glad I am reading it, but ..."

Yeah, there was so much stuff in Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America that was completely new to me. It's really hard for me to muster enthusiasm for the entire concept of the USA anymore.

Jacqie wrote: "I finished "So You Want to Talk About Race". It's a good primer for USA racial issues.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Thanks for sharing your review. I'll have to add that one to my TBR.

Angela wrote: "This was in my feed this week, thought I would share in case anyone is interested in going further with the antiracist theme (and to save it it in a place I can find it later)

https://mashable.co..."

Oh, wow, what a great resource! Thanks for the link!

Reading some essays by Dr. Cornel West. The book is titled Race Matters.

finally finished my Feb. book. Dr. West writes some seriously thought provoking essays on race, poverty, social structures and political policy. is even handed towards not only the social conservatives, but also liberals and neoliberals and the media. An inspiring and unsparing look at the issues.

Dawn wrote: "finally finished my Feb. book. Dr. West writes some seriously thought provoking essays on race, poverty, social structures and political policy. is even handed towards not only the social conservat..."

Sounds interesting!