7 essential books to read that will educate you and your kids on anti-racism

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Now more than ever it’s important that we, as a society, educate ourselves on the ongoing fight against racism. And while, you might not know where to start, learning about the history of segregation in America and what it means to be actively anti-racist, is just the beginning.

Unfortunately, many white Americans feel uncomfortable when it comes to speaking about racial issues which is why understanding the longevity of the problem is important. “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo is a book that examines how white fragility develops and what we can do to engage more constructively. The book defines White Fragility as “the inability of white people to tolerate racial stress” which leads to becoming “defensive when confronted with racial inequality and injustice.”

It is also crucial that we start cultivating these learnings early on in life. Having open conversations with your children is an effective way to combat prejudiced notions. According to research from a Harvard study, “children as young as three years old, when exposed to racism and prejudice, tend to embrace and accept it, even though they might not understand the feelings.”

Ahead, we’ve rounded up seven books that will hopefully help you and the children in your life to learn more about the racial injustices that have been happening around the world for so long, and how you can use your voice to speak up.

For the adults

Shop: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, $11.39

Credit: Amazon

Shop: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, $9.60

Credit: Amazon

Shop: The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein, $13.06

Credit: Amazon

Shop: How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, $15.33

Credit: Amazon

For the kids

Shop: The Color of Us by Karen Katz, $7.91

Credit: Amazon

Shop: The Skin I’m In by Pat Thomas, $7.99

Credit: Barnes and Noble

Shop: Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester, $7.54

Credit: Amazon

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