18 Books That Are Shaping Conversations About Race and Diversifying My Kindle

Jul 17

My dad would always tell me that sometimes the very best way to understand the world around us is to read a book. This theory still rings through today—especially as many are looking to educate themselves on race and power in America.

During the pandemic, I’ve been able to finally make more time for reading (long overdue). My Kindle Paperwhite (luckily, I got my new Kindle Paperwhite before a trip to Europe that was actually a week before lockdown) has become one of my closest companions. The thinnest, lightest Kindle Paperwhite yet—with a flush-front design and 300 ppi glare-free display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight, but is also waterproof so it can hangout with me in the bathtub. Wherever I decide to indulge in a good read, my Kindle Paperwhite has been such an incredible device to transport me deep in a literary trance.

Whether you’re reading a thoughtful essay, mesmerizing fiction or a memoir, contemporary black authors have graced us with a number of books that are shaping our conversations about race for readers of all ages.

I’ve put together a list of books that I’ve enjoyed and have found enlightening. Some of these books tackle larger issues like mass incarceration and police violence, a few are memoirs or simply by Black Authors I adore, while others offer intimate portraits of individual characters to showcase the world as experienced through different perspectives. Regardless of the scope, black writers are using literature as a way to explore race and the effects of racism on the world around us. As someone who is committed to being anti-racist and continually working towards being a steadfast ally, these books have helped me on my journey.