April 2022
TV Series: Lovecraft Country written by Misha Green and others; based on a novel by Matt Ruff
This compelling fantasy-horror series tells a story of power, resistance and survival. The adventure centers on a core group of Black characters who strive to achieve their goals while navigating the constrictions of a dangerous society. It places us in a moment in time, with references to sundown towns, the Green Book, criminal medical experimentation and the Korean War. The real horrors of white supremacy and police brutality, still very much present in our country today, are woven into each chapter of this fantasy narrative and presented in graphic detail.
Disclaimer: Please be advised that this is a horror series which includes graphic violence and sexual content that is inappropriate for children.
Read more about this horror series.
Book: Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture & Identity by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi
Guo and Vulchi’s educational and accessible anthology features over five hundred personal stories from all fifty U.S. states, in which their interviewees shed light on their daily lives and intersectional identities. The authors are two young women activists of color who work to bring conversations about race in the U.S. to spaces in which there is silence. They promote racial literacy for leaders, students and educators. Written by students, this is an essential book for classroom or home libraries. Each chapter begins with a short essay with specific observations and advice for antiracist action.
Book for young readers: All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier
In this beautiful and empowering children’s book, Tami Charles connects all matter in the universe to Hossam, a Black child at the center of her story. Charles’ poetic words remind young readers that they are the embodiment of their ancestors’ dreams, with the strength and beauty of timeless natural elements. Charles’ writing celebrates this boy and does not shy away from the conflict and realities of our world; she discusses racist school incidents and the victims of police brutality, even as she finds ways to affirm the inherent worth of all human beings. This book is recommended for children ages 4 to 8.
Read more about this book by scrolling to the end of this page.
March 2022
Video series: The 5 Systems of Black Inequality by Durell Coleman
This educational resource presents five themes in accessible, short videos. Coleman discusses evidence of racism and inequality in the areas of housing, education, employment, health care, and criminal justice.
Each video in the series builds on the previous one, highlighting how profoundly linked various mechanisms of oppression are. It is designed for viewers who are developing an understanding of how racist systems and laws exist and persist in the U.S. Coleman invites us to seek further education and join him in his effort to work for change.
Watch the trailer for this series. Watch this series.
Book: Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
In this iconic collection of essays and stories, Lorde writes about her own struggles with racism, sexism and homophobia in literary and academic circles and in her daily life in the U.S. She makes space for her own creative voice and herself as a person in relation to a patriarchal and heterosexist society, while discussing the unique challenges of being a Black lesbian scholar in the U.S. Although her works were written several decades ago, they remain relevant and resonate with many readers; we see that the challenges she faced remain.
Read more about this book.
Book for young readers: Every Little Thing adapted by Cedella Marley, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Cedella Marley brings her father’s iconic reggae song, “Three Little Birds,” to life in this children’s book adaptation. Cedella’s book echoes the joy and hope in her father’s song, with cheerful illustrations that depict daily scenes of a child’s life and teach inclusivity and resilience. Parents and caregivers can sing Cedella’s lyrics to young children and play Bob Marley’s original song to introduce young children to reggae music. This book is appropriate for babies and the youngest readers.
Read more about this board book.
February 2022
Film series: Small Axe directed by Steve McQueen
McQueen’s anthology film series centers the stories of the West Indian immigrant community in the United Kingdom, highlighting struggles and successes of individuals and families over generations. We see this Black community continue to fight for rights and increased visibility, while actively shaping culture and politics around them. As we also continue to notice in the United States, racism and xenophobia are interwoven and weaponized against immigrants and their dreams: a policeman rising through the ranks faces his family’s disapproval, systemic barriers and his superior’s ignorance; a restaurant owner faces abuse and intimidation while fighting to protect a community refuge.
Read more about this film series.
Book: All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
“We want to live in a culture where love can flourish,” bell hooks writes in the introduction to this written meditation. “We yearn to end the lovelessness that is so pervasive in our society.” In All About Love: New Visions, hooks challenges this culture of love-skepticism. Her philosophical and thoughtful book offers us hope and alternatives to this cynical approach rooted in patriarchal power.
She invites our optimism, while encouraging us to show up for ourselves and each other in healthier and more honest ways. This book is both a social critique and a guide: hooks examines the relationship to self and between individuals; the difference between love and care in families and communities; and the ways in which racism, power and patriarchy stand in the way of healthy love and true justice.
Listen to an interview with bell hooks in which she discusses her book.
Book for young readers: A Kids Book About Systemic Racism by Jordan Thierry
Thierry’s crystal clear educational book makes systemic racism visible and understandable for young learners of all backgrounds. This accessible introduction highlights ways in which racist laws and ideas shape and impact institutions and the everyday experiences of communities and individuals. He directly addresses young people, inviting them to continue the conversation with their caregivers and take action. It is recommended for children ages 6 and older.
January 2022
Documentary series: Asian Americans (PBS)
This is an excellent resource for educators and families wishing to understand more about the incredibly diverse group called Asian Americans–their histories, legacy, and unique challenges in the U.S. In just a few episodes, it tells the stories of individuals and communities impacted as much by racism and xenophobia as by their social, cultural and linguistic environments in the United States. We gain a more nuanced understanding of how Asian Americans actively shaped and contributed to the U.S. as we know it today. The series’ scope is ambitious, spanning centuries, and leaves viewers curious to learn more. Here are engaging supplemental lesson plans for social studies teachers.
Book: They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott (with art by Harmony Becker)
George Takei’s graphic novel memoir takes us on a journey–disorienting for some and all-too-familiar for others– as he recounts how his Japanese American family, once comfortable and safe in their own home, was forcibly incarcerated for years in U.S. prison camps at the start of World War II. Vivid illustrations communicate the vast range of emotions and reactions to internment life as families dealt with displacement and emerged from confinement to restart their lives–with no homes or property to return to.
Recent waves of anti-Asian violence remind us how long-standing othering and criminalization of AAPI folks in the U.S. continues to harm communities and individuals. This book provides teens and adults with insight into an often-ignored chapter of U.S. history, and is a tool for a broader discussion of the xenophobic criminalization that we also see in 2017 travel bans and the forced separation of immigrant families. As Takei shows, this education is key to maintaining a democracy that can serve us all.
Book for young readers: The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson (illustrated by Nikkolas Smith)
Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson tell the story of an African American student who is asked to represent her ancestry by drawing a single flag. What begins for her as confusion about an assignment that is not appropriate for all students becomes an exploration of her West Central African cultural heritage. The student learns about the capture and oppression of her enslaved ancestors, as well as Black resistance, pride, joy, resilience and a legacy of achievement in the U.S. The poetry and vivid illustrations fit together perfectly, and evoke the powerful emotions and themes of this book. This book is recommended for children ages 7-10.
December 2021
Film: John Lewis: Good Trouble directed by Dawn Porter
The late congressman and lifelong civil rights activist, John Lewis, famously stated, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” This film is a moving portrait of Lewis and his work, spanning decades of his leadership and political career. We see footage and hear first-hand accounts of his experiences and bravery on the front lines with other Black civil rights leaders. This is an uplifting tribute to a social justice warrior, which at once inspires viewers and challenges us to do more and do better.
Read more about this documentary here.
Book: Trace: Memory, History, Race and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy
In Trace, Lauret Savoy asks,“What if the [ecological] footprint [of our country] measured, over time, on whom and what the nation’s foot has trod--that is, who has paid for prosperity?” She deftly combines observations about U.S. history with accounts of her own Black and Native American family’s challenges, experiences of racism, and triumphs over the course of generations. Savoy’s narrative poetically describes ways in which the land and our relationship to it--and one another--change over time. She describes the power of place and the realities of forced displacement, and writes about both belonging and exclusion.
Read more about this book here.
Book for young readers: Separate Is Never Equal: Silvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
This book for elementary school students tells the story of the Mendez family’s brave legal fight against racist segregation, unequal and inequitable education. It provides young readers and their families with a beautiful and effective tool to continue conversations about justice and equity in education, and shows them ways in which families have and can advocate for meaningful change. A Mexican-American writer and illustrator, Tonatiuh’s illustration style draws on his family’s own roots, making a visual reference to ancient indigenous Mexican aesthetics. This book is recommended for children ages six to nine.
November 2021
Documentary series: Black in Latin America by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
In this four-part PBS television series released in 2011, Professor and award-winning filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr. travels across Latin America, tracing the roots and impact of African cultures. He teaches viewers about Afro-Latin history, and speaks with Latin Americans of African descent about their everyday experiences and communities. Gates’ scholarship and rich conversations reveal ways in which identities (sometimes hidden), attitudes toward race, and experiences of systemic racism can differ widely within and among Latin American communities, even on the same island (as is the case in Haiti and the Dominican Republic). This educational resource centers Afro-Latin voices, supporting classroom conversations about race in the Americas.
Read more about this series here.
Book: The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
How are racial resentment and the idea of a zero-sum game harming outcomes and daily life for everyone in the United States? How and why do some people decide to work against their own interests? How are these ideas connected, and how might we see beyond our current, fundamentally racist policies and financial and cultural practices?
McGhee, a strategist, commentator and writer who is an expert on the U.S. economy, reveals specific ways in which the concept of a zero-sum game directly contributes to perpetuating racist policies, ideas and practices. Attitudes promoted by white leaders for centuries continue to maintain--and mask--white supremacy, supporting the fallacious idea that true equity for all, particularly for Black Americans, would result in costs for white people. McGhee systematically analyzes how many sectors of the economy are tainted by these attitudes, including housing, education, banking, manufacturing and more.
Read more about this book here.
Book for young readers: Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal
Martinez-Neal’s vividly illustrated children’s book introduces children to the world of the Peruvian Amazon through the eyes of a child, Zonia, who is a member of the Asháninka people of that region. We celebrate Zonia’s joy and wonder as she greets each Amazonian animal friend, and follow her journey to discover challenges caused by deforestation. Readers are encouraged to learn about ways in which the environment and indigenous communities are impacted by exploitative resource extraction, and to actively question this practice. (This book is also available in Spanish with the title of La selva de Zonia.)
If you feel inspired to learn about local environmental justice efforts, click here to learn about the Portland NAACP chapter’s Environmental Justice Committee.
Read more about this book here.
October 2021
Film: Black Girl in Suburbia by Melissa Lowery
This film by Portland-born Melissa Lowery highlights the challenging and at times harrowing experiences of Black teenagers who attend predominantly white high schools in Oregon. Through interviews with the teenagers, we hear the girls recount stories of being othered, recall experiences of microaggression, and describe feeling alone and unsupported by the education system and their schools. This film is urgently important viewing for students, their families and educators in Oregon.
Read more about this film here.
Book: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
This moving and compelling book shows how three countries have been organized by cultural or racial caste systems: the United States, Germany during Hitler’s dictatorship, and India. Wilkerson expertly and often poetically makes her case, describing what she calls the “pillars of caste” in the U.S., showing readers precisely how the oppression of BIPOC individuals and groups, particularly Black people, has been systematically perpetuated and normalized by white supremacy, and enacted since this country’s founding. This book not only holds up a necessary mirror for those of us who live in the U.S., but is a call to action.
Read more about this book here.
Book for young readers: Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
This board book by a preeminent U.S. scholar on race introduces babies and toddlers to key concepts highlighted in Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist in an accessible way for the youngest learners. Colorful, bright illustrations help readers picture and connect emotionally with Kendi’s crucial ideas, while centering BIPOC individuals and families.
Read more about this book, and Ibram X. Kendi, here.