Books and further reading

On this subject

Books

Akala (2018). Natives: race and class in the ruins of empire. 

Hip hop artist Akala talks about growing up mixed race and working class in ’80s Britain and shares uncomfortable truths about our history, politics and the myth of meritocracy.

Eddo-Lodge, R (2017). Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race. London: Penguin.

The book that sparked a national conversation. Explores everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race.  It is the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand race relations in Britain today.

Dabiri, E (2020). Don’t Touch My Hair. London: Penguin. 

From women’s solidarity and friendship to forgotten African scholars and the dubious provenance of Kim Kardashian’s braids, the scope of black hairstyling ranges from pop culture to cosmology, from prehistoric times to the (afro)futuristic.

Don’t Touch My Hair proves that far from being only hair, black hairstyling culture can be understood as an allegory for black oppression and, ultimately, liberation. [Synopsis]

DiAngelo, R (2019). White fragility: why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism. London: Penguin. 

Robin DiAngelo coined the term ‘White Fragility’ in 2011 to describe how anger, guilt, fear, denial and silence serves to uphold the system of white supremacy.

It argues that it is not enough to simply hold abstract progressive views and condemn the obvious racists on social media.

Change starts with us all at a practical, granular level.  It is time for all white people to take responsibility for relinquishing their own racial supremacy.

Gentleman, A (2019). The Windrush betrayal: exposing the hostile environment. London: Guardian Faber.

Amelia Gentleman’s exposé of the Windrush scandal shocked the nation, and led to the resignation of Amber Rudd as Home Secretary.

This book shines a light on the people directly affected by the scandal.  It illustrates the devastating effect of politicians becoming so disconnected from the world outside Westminster that they become oblivious to the impact of their policy decisions.

This is a vitally important account that exposes deeply disturbing truths about modern Britain.

Hirsch, A (2018). Brit(ish): on race, identity and belonging. London: Penguin. 

You’re British. Your parents are British. Your partner, your children and most of your friends are British. So why do people keep asking where you’re from?

We are a nation in denial about our imperial past and the racism that plagues our present.

Brit(ish) is Afua Hirsch’s personal and provocative exploration of how this came to be – and an urgent call for change. [Synopsis]

Shukla N (2017). The good immigrant. London: Unbound.

Bringing together 21 exciting black, Asian and minority ethnic voices emerging in Britain today.

The Good Immigrant explores why immigrants come to the UK, why they stay and what it means to be ‘other’ in a country that doesn’t seem to want you, doesn’t truly accept you—however many generations you’ve been here—but still needs you for its diversity monitoring forms.

Further reading

Mac, T (2020). Save the tears: white woman’s guide. https://tatianamac.com/posts/save-the-tears/

If you’re a white woman who is watching the world burn because of police murder against Black people, and you don’t know what to do, I wrote you a guide. [Introduction]

Mac, T (2020). White guyde to the galaxy. https://tatianamac.com/posts/white-guyde/ 

If you are a white guy and you don’t know what to do beyond donate and being quiet, I made you a list. [Introduction]

Stamborski A, Zimmerman N and Gregory B (2020). Scaffolded anti-racist resources.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/preview

This working document is aimed at white allies who wish to develop their understanding and knowledge.

It brings together resources which are divided into sections that are based on a model that outlines the stages of becoming a white ally.