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Antiracist Reading List for Readers of All Ages

"To build a nation of equal opportunity for everyone, we need to dismantle this spurious legacy of our common upbringing. One of the best ways to do this is by reading books. Not books that reinforce old ideas about who we think we are, what we think America is, what we think racism is. Instead, we need to read books that are difficult or unorthodox, that don’t go down easily. Books that force us to confront our self-serving beliefs and make us aware that 'I’m not racist' is a slogan of denial."

— Ibram X. Kendi, professor and director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University and author of How to Be Antiracist

We know books have the power to educate, to inspire, to change minds, and to change the world. That is why we've rounded up some suggestions of books for adults, teens, and children that deal with racism, prejudice, and bigotry in America. We hope the books on this list can serve as a starting place for your conversations around antiracism, and, more importantly, inspire you to act.

Below, you will find a few of our favorite staff suggestions for antiracist reading. Click on the links for Adult and Children & YA books to see all of our recommendations.

We also encourage you to support out Black bookselling colleagues by patronizing their stores. Find a list with links to their online shops here

Please note: Because of the high demand for certain antiracist titles, we are out of stock of several important books, and awaiting reprints from the publishers. But you don't have to wait! Order antiracist audiobooks from Libro.fm, or purchase an ebook  version today and read immediately!

How to Be an Antiracist By Ibram X. Kendi Cover Image
$27.00
ISBN: 9780525509288
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: One World - August 13th, 2019

So You Want to Talk About Race By Ijeoma Oluo Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781580058827
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Seal Press - September 24th, 2019

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America By Ibram X. Kendi Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781568585987
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Bold Type Books - August 15th, 2017

Staff Pick Badge
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide By Carol Anderson Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9781632864130
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Bloomsbury USA - September 5th, 2017

Staff Pick Badge
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work (Empower the Future #1) By Tiffany Jewell, Aurelia Durand (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Tiffany Jewell, Aurelia Durand (Illustrator)
$14.99
ISBN: 9780711245211
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Frances Lincoln Children's Books - January 7th, 2020

Every Day in the USA: 30 Black Moments By Anika Nailah, C. Andrew Williams (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Anika Nailah, C. Andrew Williams (Illustrator)
$23.50
ISBN: 9780692167694
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Dale Thomas - October 15th, 2018

Say Her Name By Zetta Elliott, Loveis Wise (Illustrator), Loveis Wise (Cover design or artwork by) Cover Image
By Zetta Elliott, Loveis Wise (Illustrator), Loveis Wise (Cover design or artwork by)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781368045247
Availability: Not in Stock - Backordered
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - January 14th, 2020