Black Lives Matter: recommended reading for understanding race and racism

Many of us are feeling completely shocked and devastated by what’s going on in America right now, and most likely quite lost on how to help from across the pond. Although there are plenty of places that you can donate your money to right now - which we will share links to also - we really believe in the power of education. 

Many of the problems in this world stem from ignorance. We implore you over the next few weeks to take the opportunity to educate yourself on race, racism and inequality. 

FLO London is a place for education, learning and collective responsibility. We all have the power to make great change, so instead of doing nothing, why not order a few of these books and attempt to understand this widespread issue. It has gone too far now and has gone on for too long. Make time for personal change and growth. 

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of ten books. They’re a mix of fiction and non-fiction, so if you find fiction a bit challenging to read or vice versa then don’t worry, there’s something for you amongst this list.

Why I’m No Longer Talking About Race To White People by Reni Eddo-Lodge 

Eddo-Lodge’s book initially started as a post on her blog which read: ‘I can no longer engage with the gulf of an emotional disconnect that white people display when a person of colour articulates their experience’. The post was then developed into a book which explores racism and race in Britain and offers a new way of identifying and countering racism.

This book ultimately confronts everything that you previously thought - especially if you are someone that naively believes that racism is only a problem in America. You’ll be challenged and educated in a way that your school history classes never did. 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 

Homegoing follows a family across several generations starting with Effia and Esi in 18th century Ghana. Whilst Effia is married off to a white Englishman, Esi is kept as a slave and shipped off to America. The book follows the generations that come after these two sisters and clearly highlights the effects of British colonisation and the slave trade.

Although this is a work of fiction, readers can clearly see how America has treated black people throughout history. Through these characters you see and feel racism. You feel the pain that they feel. It’s a sweeping and emotional view of America and its ties to Africa. We recommend it to everyone.

Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann 

Black Tudors is the first comprehensive insight into the lives of Black people living in Tudor England. The book uncovers a rich array of peoples', how they lived, how they were treated and how they survived.  Kaufman's "untold stories" use testimonies, marriage records, baptism records, death records, financial accounts and even paintings, to uncover the truth about Britons relationship with Africa as far back as the 15thcentury. The tales of a trumpeter, a porter, a prince, a sailor, a prostitute and a silk weaver make up the untold stories and force us to reassess our misconceptions of when Black people arrived and built lives in Britain. In addition to this, it forces us to reassess the discourse that Black people were always slaves in Medieval England, which according to this new research, is far from the truth. Kaufman crosses classes, gender and geographical location to unearth those absent stories. Her work is vital in recognising that Britain has always been a diverse a multicultural society.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee 

 “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” - To Kill A Mockingbird 

Everyone has probably heard of To Kill A Mockingbird and many will have probably even read it at school. Even if you have, this is an excellent text to pick up to start educating yourself on race and racism.

Set in a small Southern town in America, Harper Lee’s novel is told from the perspective of Scout, a seven-year-old whose father defends a Black man after he is accused of raping a white woman. Told with humility and compassionate, this book has become an important text for understanding the dynamics of race and class in America.

 

The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla 

“How does it feel to be constantly regarded as a potential threat, strip-searched at every airport?...How does it feel to go ‘home’ to India when your home is really London?...How does it feel to always tick ‘Other’?”

Shukla’s collection of essays brings together the voices of individuals from minority communities to understand society’s negative assessment of non-white immigrants. Seeking answers to why white society sees people of colour as an ‘Other’, Shukla gives a voice to communities who are often silenced. Contributors include freelance journalist, Bim Adewumni, Himesh Patel (who played Tamwar in Eastenders) as well as Daniel York Loh, the playwright and actor.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Reading any Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie novel is excellent for understanding the issue of racism but Americanah is where we recommend starting. Americanah follows the stories of Ifemelu and Obinze, a young couple in Nigeria who part ways when Ifemelu goes to America to study. Although Obinze plans to travel to the States to join her, he is denied a visa in the wake of 9/11. The story starts many years after their split with Ifemelu still in America and Obinze in Nigeria. Adichie has a unique and accurate insight into the lives of immigrants in Western society making it not just a great love story but an exploration into the treatment of people of colour.

You can also listen to Caroline O’Donoghue and Candice Carty-Williams discuss the book on the Sentimental Garbage podcast to continue your learning.  

Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch 

This book should be considered an essential read for everyone in the UK. Hirsch shines a light on Britain’s heavy involvement with slavery and its historical, white-washed amnesia when it comes to its true history. We’re quick to celebrate that we ‘abolished’ slavery but even quicker to deny our part in it. Brit(ish) uncovers the truth behind our involvement and the ongoing institutional racism in academia, policing, housing, work and much more, that is still displayed towards Black British people in the UK. We encourage you to read this book and continue to educate yourself on issues that have and are continuing to effect Black British people. Racial discrimination and brutality against Black people isn’t a thing of the past. Educate yourself on racial injustice and use your voice to start conversations that will bring light to the truth.

 

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman 

“You’re a Nought and I’m a Cross and there’s nowhere for us to be, nowhere for us to go where we’d be left in peace.” – Noughts and Crosses

Blackman considers racism by completely flipping British society on its head - whereby Black people are the colonists and are in positions of power, whilst white people experience racism, oppression and abuse simply just because of the colour of their skin. The novel follows the story of Sephy, a Cross and therefore a member of the black ruling class, and Callum who is a Nought as a forbidden romance builds between them.

Although this book is targeted at young adults, it is still an eye opening read as an adult. Alternatively, if you prefer, it has also been adapted by the BBC and can be enjoyed on the screen. 

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad 

Layla Saad ran an Instagram challenge during 2018 in which people shared their racist behaviours with her. After collecting all of these stories, Saad developed a workbook about checking your white privilege which was downloaded by over 90,000 people. Since then, Syaad has expanded the workbook and added more history as well as other anecdotes and resources to help people become more aware of how they can combat racism and their own prejudices.

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo 

 Evaristo’s novel tells the stories of 12 different women across several generations. All are loosely linked together through friendships or family, providing fresh perspectives on what it is like to be a woman, a person of colour and a transgender person in Britain. Although Evaristo plays with form in her novel, it is an extremely accessible and a joy to read. Told with warmth, humility and humour, this novel is an insightful investigation into societal issues within Britain and a good starting point for understanding the experiences of those who have been marginalised.

Words by Emma Chadwick and Mollie Cohen