Books Like...
If you liked The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, here are the top 100 books to read next:
A powerful, eye-opening read that exposes how mass incarceration perpetuates racial inequality in 'colorblind' America. Essential for anyone seeking to understand or change the system - even if it isn’t always an easy read, it’s an important one.
"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the systematic subjugation of black men in America. Through meticulously researched arguments, Alexander reveals the deeply embedded racial biases within the criminal justice system, highlighting the disparities and injustices faced by black and brown individuals. The book traces the historical trajectory of mass incarceration, exposing the racial motivations behind the criminal industrial complex and shedding light on a new caste system that mirrors the oppressive nature of the Jim Crow era.
The writing style of the book is described as intelligent, powerful, and gut-wrenching, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about systemic racism in the United States. Alexander blends academic sources with common sense observations to create a compelling narrative that not only educates but also urges readers to take action against the injustices perpetuated by the current criminal justice system.
For more than one hundred years, scholars have written about the illusory nature of the Emancipation Proclamation. President Abraham Lincoln issued a declaration purporting to free slaves held in Sout...2010•291 pages- #2
Save:Ambitious, eye-opening, and meticulously researched, 'Stamped from the Beginning' is a must-read for those who want a comprehensive, honest look at how racist ideas shaped - and continue to shape - America. It challenges, educates, and stays with you long after the last page.
'Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America' by Ibram X. Kendi is a monumental and well-researched study on the history of racism in America. The book traces the evolution of racist ideas in America from the Puritans to the present day, focusing on key historical figures such as Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. DuBois, and Angela Davis. Kendi discusses the different ideologies of racism, from assimilationists to segregationists, and anti-racists, highlighting the complexities and intersections of race and racism throughout American history. The book is informative, eye-opening, and heart-breaking, providing a comprehensive understanding of the impact of racism on American society.
THEY WEATHERED BRUTAL WINTERS, suffered diseases, and learned to cope with the resisting Native Americans. But nothing brought more destruction to Puritan settlements than the Great Hurricane of 1635....April 2016•597 pages - #3
Save:A must-read, approachable, and eye-opening guide for anyone serious about understanding and discussing race. Perfect for beginners, allies, teachers, or anyone wanting to move beyond defensiveness and into real, actionable allyship.
'So You Want to Talk About Race' by Ijeoma Oluo is a thought-provoking and informative book that aims to guide readers, especially white individuals, in understanding and addressing racial disparities and injustices. Oluo's writing style is described as extremely well-written, concise, and honest. The book covers a wide range of topics related to race, such as systemic racism, cultural appropriation, model minority myth, and intersectionality, providing readers with tools and insights to engage in productive conversations about racism.
I’m sitting across from a friend at a coffee shop near my house. He’s a good friend—a smart, thoughtful, and well-meaning person. I always enjoy his company and a chance to talk with someone who is al...2018•271 pages - #4
Save:A thought-provoking, deeply personal guide to understanding and actively confronting racism; not always an easy read, but absolutely worth your time if you want to challenge yourself and grow.
'How to Be an Antiracist' by Ibram X. Kendi is a deep exploration of racism, focusing on the definition of racism and steps needed to combat it. The book covers various aspects of racism in society, including policies that perpetuate racism, personal journeys towards anti-racism, and the importance of enacting anti-racist policies rather than relying on changing hearts and minds. Kendi uses personal anecdotes, historical context, and critical analysis to provide insights into systemic racism and the need for policy shifts.
RACIST: One who is supporting a racist policy through their actions or inaction or expressing a racist idea. ANTIRACIST: One who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing...August 2019•352 pages A provocative, accessible primer on race conversations for white audiences - great for sparking reflection, but its style, focus, and tone won’t work for everyone. Read with an open mind and pair it with books authored by people of color for a fuller picture.
Readers describe 'White Fragility: Why It?s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism' as a book that delves into the concept of white fragility, which is marked by guilt, defensiveness, anger, and fear among white people when discussing racism. The book explores how white fragility protects racial inequality and provides insights on engaging more constructively in discussions about racism. The writing style is described as compelling, transformative, and concise, making it accessible for readers of various backgrounds to understand and reflect on their own biases and behaviors related to race.
I am a white American raised in the United States. I have a white frame of reference and a white worldview, and I move through the world with a white experience. My experience is not a universal human...June 2018•207 pagesEssential, compassionate, and unforgettable - Evicted is required reading for anyone who wants to understand poverty, housing, and inequality in America. Not easy, but incredibly important.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond is a detailed exploration of the lives of individuals facing eviction in Milwaukee, shedding light on the struggles of both tenants and landlords. Desmond's writing style combines personal accounts and thorough research to provide a compelling narrative that captures the complexities of poverty and the housing market. Through intimate stories and insightful analysis, the book offers a poignant look at the impact of extreme poverty and the challenges faced by those without adequate support systems.
Before the city yielded to winter, as cold and gray as a mechanic’s wrench, before Arleen convinced Sherrena Tarver to let her boys move into the Thirteenth Street duplex, the inner city was crackling...March 2016•448 pagesA searing, essential read that reframes American racism as a caste system - deeply researched, deeply personal, and sure to spark conversation. Not always easy, but impossible to ignore.
Isabel Wilkerson's book 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' delves into the exploration of caste systems in various parts of the world, drawing parallels between the caste system in India, Nazi Germany, and the United States. Through the lens of caste, the author sheds light on the deep-rooted inequalities that persist in society and examines how these systems have influenced historical events and continue to impact contemporary issues. Wilkerson's writing style is described as insightful, thorough, and eye-opening, weaving together historical accounts, personal experiences, and sociological analysis to present a compelling narrative that challenges readers to rethink their understanding of race, power, and privilege.
In the haunted summer of 2016, an unaccustomed heat wave struck the Siberian tundra on the edge of what the ancients once called the End of the Land. Above the Arctic Circle and far from the tectonic...August 2020•461 pagesA beautifully written, essential piece of American history told through unforgettable personal stories - long, sometimes repetitive, but absolutely worth the journey.
"The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration" by Isabel Wilkerson tells the story of the Great Migration of African Americans fleeing the Jim Crow South through the biographies of three representative participants. Wilkerson chronicles this decades-long migration from 1915 to 1970, highlighting the experiences of those who left the rural South for northern and western cities like LA, Chicago, and New York City. Through personal narratives, the book explores the racism and economic struggles faced by these individuals, shedding light on the impact of the migration on America's cities and society.
The writing style of "The Warmth of Other Suns" is described as fascinating, novel, and eminently readable. Wilkerson weaves together the personal stories of migrants with historical context, providing a compassionate and artfully empathetic account of the Great Migration. delves into the complexities of race relations in America, offering a detailed and inspiring exploration of the African American journey during the 20th century.
A MAN NAMED ROSCOE COLTON gave Lil George Starling a ride in his pickup truck to the train station in Wildwood through the fruit-bearing scrubland of central Florida. And Schoolboy, as the toothless o...September 2010•678 pagesA powerful, eye-opening call for compassion and reform - required reading for anyone who cares about justice, mercy, or the American legal system.
"Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" by Bryan Stevenson is a powerful memoir that sheds light on the injustices within the American criminal justice system. Stevenson recounts his experiences as a lawyer working to defend the wrongfully imprisoned, particularly those on death row. Through the central story of Walter McMillan, one of Stevenson's early clients, the book exposes the systemic issues of racial bias, prosecutorial misconduct, and lack of competent legal representation faced by marginalized individuals. Stevenson weaves together compelling narratives of individual cases with insightful commentary on the flaws of the legal system, making a strong case for reform and compassion.
The temporary receptionist was an elegant African American woman wearing a dark, expensive business suit—a well-dressed exception to the usual crowd at the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee (SPDC)...1600•354 pagesSharp, essential, and painfully illuminating - a must-read for understanding the unrelenting pattern of systemic racism and why meaningful progress in America has always sparked a fierce backlash. Not an easy read, but an important one.
Carol Anderson's 'White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide' delves into the historical context of white supremacy and systemic racism in America, showcasing how advancements in racial equality for African Americans have consistently been met with backlash and oppression. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, the book uncovers the deep-rooted history of white rage, from Reconstruction to the modern-day challenges faced by black Americans. Anderson's writing style is informative, enlightening, and thought-provoking, providing readers with a comprehensive overview of key events and periods in black advancement while highlighting the continuous struggle for equality in the face of white dominance.
Although I first wrote about “white rage” in a Washington Post op-ed following the killing of Michael Brown and the subsequent uprising in Ferguson, Missouri, the concept started to germinate much ear...May 2016•279 pages
