Hi, friends.

My reading goal update: 12/30. !!! By June, I’ll be halfway done with my goal of reading 30 books in 2020.

I realize I have been silent on racism (on the blog) for far too long. A few weeks ago, the murder of George Floyd rocked the nation—moreover, set off the world. I am sorry and embarrassed for staying silent for so long. As a white woman, I recognize my privilege. I vow to do better in the future, to be a better ally and to educate further with books.

That being said, in addition to my May book round-up, I am providing a list of anti-racism books. If you don’t have the funds to purchase books right now, there are tons of other FREE resources that you can learn from. Podcasts, YouTube videos, Instagram graphics, and articles have been extremely useful. One of my favorite lifestyle bloggers, Gabby Whiten of Gabby in the City, posted this blog post on how to confront systemic oppression and she includes resources that you can use to educate yourself.

ANTI-RACISM BOOK LIST:

Disclaimer: summaries are from Bookshop.org. The links come from Bookshop.org.

These books come from Bookshop.org. You can support local bookstores by buying from Bookshop.org. HOWEVER, I suggest buying from black-owned bookstores. I am adding a list of black-owned bookstores from all over the country. Most of these do curbside pickup (COVID-19 friendly) and delivery.

And, I found some of these books from this @theeverygirl article and this @buzzfeed article and Instagram influencers such as: @idealbookshelf, @thestackspod, @nicolettemason, and @rachel.cargle.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

Praised by Harvard Law professor Lani Guinier as "brave and bold," this book directly challenges the notion that the election of Barack Obama signals a new era of colorblindness. With dazzling candor, legal scholar Michelle Alexander argues that "we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it."

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

And any other book by Toni Morrison: Beloved, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, The Bluest Eye

Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl, prays every day for beauty. Mocked by other children for the dark skin, curly hair, and brown eyes that set her apart, she yearns for normalcy, for the blond hair and blue eyes that she believes will allow her to finally fit in. Yet as her dream grows more fervent, her life slowly starts to disintegrate in the face of adversity and strife.

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

In “So You Want to Talk About Race,” Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life.”

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison

A leading advocate for racial reconciliation offers a clarion call for Christians to move toward relationship and deeper understanding in the midst of a divisive culture.

Highly recommend following Latasha Morrison on Instagram (@latashamorrison). So much truth.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi

In “How to Be an Antiracist,” Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas-—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities-—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.

Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.

For more books, please visit Buzzfeed’s article (I’ll link it here again) and The Everygirl. Again, there are more videos, articles, and podcasts out there if you don’t have the luxury to buy books. I am trying to read and listen and read as many as resources out there so that I can stay educated.

More Books:

• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

• Beloved by Toni Morrison

And now, here’s what I read in May, in addition to what I’m currently reading:

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

Okay. Let me dive into this one. I originally first ordered this because I saw it’s written in the POV of the wife of Jesus, if Jesus had a wife. This is historical fiction, but the plot also includes Jesus’s ministry beautifully. On a personal level, this brought me closer to Jesus (I am a Christian). I love how the author (Sue Monk Kidd) portrayed the character traits of Jesus and how he loved others and how he cared for his family. Sue Monk Kidd, took eight years to write this book and it was heavily researched. In this New York Times article, Sue Monk Kidd describes her research as “tedious and wondrous.” It says she dived into books about Jesus and Palestine, and about philosophers in Alexandria, Egypt. An ancient manuscript sparked her imagination, and frankly, I think that’s wonderful. As a believer in God as my Lord and Savior, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The wife of Jesus, Ana, was raised in a wealthy family in Sepphoris. Trapped in an arranged marriage, Ana longed for something more. She reads and writes, something very unusual (in fact rare) in biblical times. Forced to marry an old widower, she then comes to meet 18-year-old Jesus in a chance encounter, which changes everything. I think a work of historical fiction like this that has ties with Christianity is the perfect read for this quarantine.

Rating: 5/5

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

This was a widely popular book amongst the YA world. I was pretty excited to read this, especially after hearing great things of Sally Thorne! Personally, I could not get into it. I generally liked the characters and the plot separately, but couldn’t put my finger on what was going on—or more importantly, the “end goal,” or the resolution. I’m still struggling to get through this, and have 100 pages left, but it just might be a DNF. I did enjoy that it was set in the publishing world.

Rating: 3/5

This Will Only Hurt A Little by Busy Philipps

A big surprise, but I could not put this book down!! For the pop culture lovers, you’ll surely love this autobiography by Busy Philipps! She talks about her childhood and rough teenage years, days as a struggling actress, and time on “Dawson’s Creek” as well as other shows and movies. An interesting tidbit I did not know about her: she originally thought of the idea behind “Blades of Glory” movie starring Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell. Her ex-boyfriend and his brother took the idea, but ultimately gave her screenwriter credits in the movie. Her book features many interesting stories like this one and “tell-alls” so make sure you grab a copy of this one! (She’s also BFFs with her Dawson’s co-star, Michelle Williams, who’s like, my favorite.)

Currently Reading:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book Five) by J.K. Rowling

I read about over 100 pages a day in this book. Over Memorial Day weekend, I could not put this book down! I’m anticipating finishing this in the early days of June so I can pick something light up!!

Book Wishlist:

The Sweet Magnolia Book Series by Sheryl Woods

I watched the entire first season on Netflix in two days and became obsessed. I need to know what happens, especially after only one season. I’m linking to Amazon, but my grandma actually has the entire series so I’m going to visit her (social distancing rules applied) and pick them up.