Tag: racism

Sisters in Hate

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

The alt-right, or the white nationalist movement, is the contemporary arm of the movement that has its roots in the KKK and other racist groups. Proponents of this movement proudly proclaim that white people are superior to any other racial or ethnic group, and that America should be for white people only. While men are the primary leaders in this movement, as most white nationalists also believe that men should lead and women should be supporters, women are a key component of the continuing success and growth of the movement. Journalist Seyward Darby introduces readers to three women who have been in the past or are currently white nationalists: Corinna Olsen, Ayla Stewart, and Lana Loketeff.

What I loved most:

I read this shortly after finishing White Fragility (check out my review here), and it was a fascinating juxtaposition. Both books centered around whiteness as a concept, and the question of what it means to be a white person in today’s day and age. It feels vaguely weird to say I loved Sisters in Hate? But honestly, it was one of the most captivating books I have read this year so far. One of my favorite things is to hear from people about why they make the decisions that they make, how their attitudes have formed over the years, and all that other fascinating stuff that makes them who they are. The white nationalist movement is so hardcore, so extreme – and it was fascinating to hear about how these women came to hold such radical beliefs.

Read this book if you like:

Sociology and group dynamics, psychology, anti-racism, doing a deep-dive into people’s thoughts and behaviors

Book details:

  • Author: Seyward Darby
  • Publisher: Little Brown and Company
  • Date of Publication: July 21, 2020
  • Interest Level: Adult
  • Look up Sisters on Hate on WorldCat to find it at a library near you!

White Fragility

~ rachelbenzine ~ 1 Comment

Plot:

The subtitle of this book is “why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism”, and I think that sums up this book so well. White Fragility looks at the concept of whiteness in America, and how whiteness and racism interact. Most white people don’t grow up talking about race, and how race shapes their world; most people of color do. This book addresses why we as white people are so uncomfortable talking about race, why we get so defensive when it’s brought up, and what we can do to change the way we think about and talk about race.

What I loved most:

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this year about the experiences of people of color in America – check out my list of stellar anti-racist books here. I think it’s crucial for white people to listen to people of color, and to learn from them whenever possible. However, we also have to look at ourselves, and what it means to be white in America in 2020. White Fragility is a super complicated book, and it’s definitely going to challenge the way that you think about race and about your own complicity in America’s structural racism. But it’s worth the effort, friends.

Read this book if you like:

Analyzing your own attitudes and beliefs, personal growth, anti-racism, sociology

Book details:

#JusticeforGeorge Book List

~ rachelbenzine ~ 1 Comment

My first draft of this blog post started with a narrative of my journey to recognizing my white privilege, realizing that racism is still actively working in our country, and trying to learn more about the experiences of people of color. But then I deleted all of it, because here’s what it comes down to: we have to do better, y’all.

We need to dismantle the racist systems that continue to oppress people of color, and we also need to change as individuals. I’m a huge proponent of the concept that small individual changes add up to make larger change. May our collective sadness/frustration/anger at the death of George Floyd and so many other Black people at the hands of police last beyond this moment. May we take it upon ourselves to do all that we can to change our country for the better.

I watched a powerful video yesterday of George Floyd’s brother urging people to educate themselves. When I started on this journey several years ago of trying to open my eyes to the racism that’s so prevalent in our country, I turned to books. I want to share with you a reading list of some of the best books I’ve read that have helped me become more educated on this topic.

After I finished making the list, I realized it was huge. So I’m going to divide this into a few sections: first, I’ll tell you my if-you’re-only-going-to-read-a-few-read-these-ones list. I’ll have a longer list at the bottom if you’re wanting to dig in and do some more extensive reading. If you have any good recommendations for books you loved that I should check out, leave me a comment! Let’s walk on this journey together.

The following are some of my favorites that have helped me learn more about racism, oppression, and the lives of people of color. These ones are all written for adults.

Adult Nonfiction

  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
  • Motherhood So White by Nefertiti Austin
  • In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero
  • Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow

Adult Fiction

  • Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  • Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

And now, for the full list:

Adult Nonfiction

  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
  • Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou
  • You Can’t Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson
  • Unashamed by Lecrae
  • In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  • Motherhood So White by Nefertiti Austin
  • How Not to Get Shot by D. L. Hugely
  • Solito, Solita by Steven Mayers (editor)
  • Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow
  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
  • Free Cyntoia by Cyntoia Brown
  • Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
  • We Are Not Here to be Bystanders by Linda Sarsour
  • A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett
  • Love Thy Neighbor by Ayaz Virji
  • The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson

Adult Fiction

  • Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  • American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings
  • Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

YA & Children’s Nonfiction

  • Reaching for the Stars by Katherine Johnson
  • Free Lunch by Rex Ogle
  • Proud by Ibtihaj Muhammad
  • The Real Story Behind U.S. Treaties with Native Americans by Sarah Machajewski
  • Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II by Albert Marrin

YA & Children’s Fiction

  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  • The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah
  • Devils Within by S. F. Henson
  • Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
  • Internment by Samira Ahmed
  • You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino
  • The Inside Battle by Melanie Subrow

#justiceforgeorge #pleaseicantbreathe #blacklivesmatter