stuff and things

As protests against injustice in legal system, discrimination, police brutality spread through the US, it is necessary to educate yourself about these issues. 

Here are just a few book recommendations (there are so much more out there), include both non-fiction and fiction about racism and challenges that black people face throughout their lifetimes. 

Thank you so much for more recs. Below are some more amazing book recommendations from the comments:

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates

A Guide to White Privilege by COURTNEYAHNDESIGN

1. White Privilege doesn’t mean your life hasn’t been hard. It means your skin tone isn’t one of the things making it harder! There’s plenty of other privileges (socio-economic, male, heterosexual, cisgender, christian, able-bodied) but white privilege is perhaps the most enduring throughout history.

2. White Privilege exists as a direct result of both historic and enduring racism, biases, and practices designed to oppress people of color.

3. White Privilege means you actively benefit from the oppression of POC You are the dominant representation on all media No on questions your citizenship Products are designed for you 1st People at work look like you You don’t get harassed for existing in public locations Inherited power and wealth Your actions aren’t perceived as those of all your race

4. Systemic racism exists at every level of society. The wealth gap (90% White owned vs 10% POC owned) Black graduates are 2x more likely to be unemployed Black americans are 30% more likely to get pulled over Black students are 3x more likely to be suspended Black americans make up 40% of the prison population Black americans are shown 18% fewer homes Black women are 4x more likely to die from childbirth And this is only a small port of the oppression

5. What would I do with my White Privilege?

After learning what Black Out Tuesday was originally intended to be, I too would like to use this opportunity to boast about some black creators and their work that needs more attention.

These are the three books, two graphic novels and one poetry book, that I will be reading this week.

✊🏾 I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina and illustrated by Stacey Robinson & John Jennings with a foreword by Bryan Stevenson:

When an off-duty officer mistakes a clothes hanger for a gun, Alfonso Jones wakes up in the afterlife guided by fellow victims of police shootings. Meanwhile, Alfonso’s family and friends struggle with their grief and seek justice for Alfonso’s murder.

✊🏾Your Black Friend and Other Strangers by Ben Passmore:

Described as required reading for those seeking to be useful allies in the fight for justice, this collection of culturally charged comics tackles race, gentrification, the prison system, racial micro-aggressions, and more with both humor and relatability.

✊🏾Say Her Name by Zetta Elliot and illustrated Loveis Wise:

In this collection of haikus and poems, Elliot creates a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls while also paying tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists championing for the Black Lives Matter cause.

I encourage everyone to check out these books, support a independent bookstore (especially Black-owned ones!!!) and your local libraries. And as always, BLACK LIVES MATTER! And please don’t forget to let your Black joy shine!

- Veronika ✊🏾

Justiceforbreonna.org

Moveon.org

Colorofchange.org

Change.org

Thepetitionsite.com

“Updated June 1st,

The FBI has announced an investigation into the murder of Breonna Taylor. We're still demanding Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fire the officers now!”

porto, portugual.

prague, czech republic.

weggis, switzerland.

musée du louvre.

segovia, españa.

Pascal Campion on Tumblr and Instagram