Against the Loveless World
The book narrates the life of Nahr, a woman confined to isolation in an Israeli prison. She spends her formative years in Kuwait, accompanied by her mother and grandmother, both of whom are Palestinian refugees. These women yearn for their homeland, which they were compelled to abandon, subsequently moving from one country to another in search of refuge.
All Quiet on the Western Front
In 1914, a classroom filled with young and idealistic German schoolboys is encouraged by their teacher to enlist in the “glorious war.” Fueled by their youthful vigor and patriotism, they eagerly join the military. What ensues is a poignant tale of a young “unknown soldier” named Paul Baumer as he encounters the horrors and disappointments of trench warfare.
Annihilation of Caste
Penned in 1936, the book represents a bold condemnation of Hinduism and its caste system. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar provides an erudite analysis of Hindu scriptures that endorse an inflexible and unjust social hierarchy.
Beloved
The book follows Sethe, who was born into slavery, but managed to escape to Ohio. However, eighteen years later, she remains far from liberated as she is still haunted by memories of Sweet Home, a once-beautiful farm where unspeakable atrocities occurred.
Biography of a Race 1868–1919
This extensive biography, meticulously researched and written over eight years, delves into the early and middle stages of a profound and enduring career. It focuses on a pivotal fifty-year period during which W.E.B Du Bois significantly and permanently altered America’s self-perception.
Black Boy
Wright’s acclaimed autobiography depicts the harshness of the Jim Crow South and the determination needed to survive as a young Black boy. Amid poverty, hunger, fear, abuse, and racism in Mississippi, Wright used deception and defiance, navigating a world where whites showed indifference or cruelty, and fellow Black individuals often resented those striving for a better life.
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People
Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald challenge the degree to which our subconscious perceptions of social groups influence our preferences, biases, and evaluations of people’s qualities, skills, and potential without our conscious awareness or control.
In the Name of Eugenics:
Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity
The author follows the evolution of eugenics, the science aimed at “enhancing” humanity through hereditary theories, from its beginnings in the late nineteenth century to its contemporary presence in genetic engineering. The book is abundant in anecdotes, focusing on human intricacies and accounts of rivalries among influential scientists in the field.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Trevor Noah’s autobiographical memoir recounts his experiences growing up in South Africa during the final years of apartheid and the tumultuous transition that followed. The title refers to the fact that Noah, the son of a black mother and a white father, was literally “born a crime” under apartheid laws. The book covers his childhood, his complex identity, and the challenges he faced due to his mixed-race heritage. With humor and insight, Noah explores themes of race, identity, and resilience, offering a unique perspective on South African history and his personal journey to becoming the host of “The Daily Show.”
Boundaries of Clan and Color:
Transnational Comparisons of Inter-Group Disparity
Economic inequality among ethnic and racial communities is common globally. The book covers these disparities which manifest in various forms, including differences in employment opportunities, wages, occupational positions, and overall wealth.
Breasts and Eggs: A Novel
This portrayal of modern Japanese women follows the personal journeys of three individuals as they grapple with societal norms and their own doubts while seeking inner peace and a future that aligns with their authentic selves.
A Career in Books
Written by a Filipina author, this graphic novel is aimed at individuals surprised by their initial income in the field and those who have strived for a literary career in spite of systemic racism, while also facing the distinctive obstacles associated with immigrant backgrounds.
Caste and Race: A Comparative Study
of B.R. Ambedkar and Martin Luther King
This book draws a comparison between racial discrimination in the United States and in India. While the progress achieved by Dalits in India surpasses that of African Americans in the United States, it is noted that the United States has put in significantly more effort to nurture the untapped potential of Black athletes, musicians, writers, and others.
Caste Matters
This powerful work confronts deeply ingrained notions about caste and delves into its complexities. The author recounts his emotionally difficult upbringing in a Dalit settlement, the numerous daily humiliations endured by Dalits, and the remarkable strength they draw from love and humor.
Caste, Class, and Race: A Study in Social Dynamics
Originally published in 1948, this groundbreaking book explores the origins of racism and the reasons for its enduring presence in the United States. It traces racial disparities back to the social and economic system responsible for perpetuating them.
“Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development”
In this paper, Ambedkar discusses a social phenomenon that arose from the Brahmins’ adoption of a highly exclusive matrimonial system, compelling other groups to follow suit in an attempt to imitate the self-declared elite.
Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir
Dutt shares her experience of carrying the heavy weight of a hidden identity of being lower caste in this memoir. She describes the immense sense of strength that welled up within her when she, at last, took a stand for herself and her community, shedding the false upper-caste persona she had been compelled to create.
Confronting Environmental Racism:
Voices from the Grassroots
This book discusses the “increasingly visible” social, economic and racial connections that have been negatively impacting people of color and the environment in which they live. Edited by Robert D. Bullard, known as the “Godfather of Environmental Racism,” this text continues to be relevant in its examination of the environmental inequalities communities of color face in the twenty-first century.
Contested Waters:
A Social History of Swimming Pools in America
In this historical exploration of swimming pools in the United States, Jeff Wiltse highlights how these pools have played various roles over time. While they’ve acted as refuges for the urban underprivileged and as recreational hubs, these pools have also been the settings for racial conflicts, serving as mirrors of the social tensions and transitions that have shaped modern America.
Convenience Store Woman
This novel is a heartwarming and unexpected tale centered around Keiko Furukura, a 36-year-old resident of Tokyo. Keiko has always felt like she doesn’t belong, be it within her family or at school. However, when she starts working at the Smile Mart in Hiiromachi at the age of eighteen, she discovers a sense of contentment and a clear sense of direction in her life.
Critical Race Theory:
The Key Writings That Formed the Movement
Edited by its primary founders and prominent theorists, this pioneering publication is a collection of essays pivotal to the movement. The seminal work features contributions from scholars like Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Patricia Williams, Dorothy Roberts, Lani Guinier, Duncan Kennedy, and more.
Dalit Literatures in India
This book pioneers an exploration of Dalit literature and encompasses a diverse array of genres, including novels, autobiographies, pamphlets, poetry, short stories and graphic novels. It features the insights of both established and emerging scholars, providing a critical analysis of Dalit literary creation and theory.
Dalit Middle Class: Mobility, Identity and Politics of Caste
This book offers a factual examination of the frequently discussed but sometimes misunderstood group of Dalits in India. It focuses on the evolving ideological shifts and identity patterns within the middle-class Dalit community, largely stemming from India’s post-independence reservation policies.
Dalit Phobia: Why Do They Hate Us?
In this book, the author questions how such a widespread phenomenon of exclusion could occur nationwide unless it were the result of a deliberate plan or collusion. The author proposes the idea of Dalit therapy and calls for international intervention to address this ailment, characterizing it as even more malevolent and pervasive than apartheid.
Dalit: The Black Untouchables of India
In this book, Rajshekar presents a unique perspective from the Dalit community, shedding light on the historical and ongoing reasons behind the severe oppression of the world’s largest minority, comprised of over 150 million people. It delves into a 3,000-year history marked by conquest, enslavement, apartheid and more.
Deep South:
A Social Anthropological Study of Caste and Class
Originally published in 1941, this book is the collaborative work of a group of social anthropologists aiming to record the economic, racial and cultural attributes of the Jim Crow South. They accomplish this by examining a typical rural community in Mississippi, which is intertwined with social and economic inequalities at the root of racial tensions.
Empire, Race, and the Politics of Anti-Caste
This book offers the first extensive account of Catherine Impey and her groundbreaking political magazine, Anti-Caste. Starting in 1888, and published monthly, Anti-Caste featured articles that unveiled and criticized racial bias throughout the British Empire and the United States.
God Among the Germans
Thoroughly exploring the historical context of church conflicts during the era of National Socialism in Germany, this book includes chapters on various aspects, such as the Folkic State, Alfred Rosenberg and his beliefs in racial mysticism, Christian Jews and youth organizing, all in relation to historical theology in Germany.
Hitler and America
One historian delves into Hitler’s perspective on the United States, the nation pivotal in Germany’s defeat. Fischer uncovers Hitler’s dual perception of America as both a feeble nation and an industrial giant worth emulating, revealing his contrasting view of the United States.
Hitler’s American Model:
The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law
By revealing the strong connection between American race laws and the formulation of Nazi policies in Germany, and by highlighting how the Nuremberg Laws were developed with a keen focus on the precedents set by American race laws, this book challenges and redefines our understanding of how America influenced racist practices on a global scale.
How the Irish Became White
Narrating the transformation of the oppressed into oppressors, this book describes how newly arrived Irish immigrants managed to gain acceptance among an initially unfriendly population by demonstrating a capacity for even more ruthless oppression of African Americans than the native residents.
Minor Detail
The book unfolds two parallel and unyielding narratives. One is drawn from a real incident involving an Israeli platoon’s sexual assault on a Bedouin girl in the Negev desert in 1949. The other narrative tracks a Palestinian woman’s persistent and clumsy attempts to probe this historical crime many years later. These two stories are linked by a seemingly insignificant detail, and the two tragedies ultimately intersect as the novel reaches its conclusion.
Ngā Kupu Wero
The collection of essays, articles, commentary and creative non-fiction delves into contemporary political, cultural and social issues. With topics ranging from colonization and identity to creativity and Māori knowledge, this anthology features the voices of more than 60 writers as they examine the impact and influence of language.
Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Referred to by the Zinn Education project as, “one of the foundational texts in the field of critical pedagogy,” this text not only addresses but seeks to provide steps to dismantle the dichotomy of the oppressor and the oppressed. With his focus on the educational system, Freire reveals that true liberation and self-determination can be obtained through dialogical education that involves the engagement of both student and teacher in the mutual act of dismantling roles of oppression.
Race Orthodoxy in the South:
And Other Aspects of the Negro Question
This book is an examination of the African-American experience in the Southern United States during the early 1900s. Topics covered include racial interactions, Southern culture, The Watchtower Club, Southern philanthropy, the African American community’s relationship with the Episcopal Church, educational institutions and various other aspects.
Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America
In Bonilla-Silva’s highly regarded work, he explores how, beneath the current discourse on race, there exists a comprehensive set of justifications, language and narratives employed by white individuals to explain and, in the end, validate racial disparities.
Slave Trading in the Old South
When this book was initially published in 1931, Frederic Bancroft challenged long-standing misconceptions about antebellum slavery by presenting a powerful set of factual evidence and analysis of the domestic slave trade.
Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black People in America from the Civil War to World War II
This revolutionary historical account reveals the forgotten narratives of enslaved individuals and their descendants who found their way to freedom following the Emancipation Proclamation, only to return to the grim reality of forced labor during the period known as “The Age of Neoslavery.”
Speculative Pedagogies:
Designing Equitable Educational Futures
Exploring approaches in education through speculative pedagogies, the book discusses how forward-thinking methods can contribute to creating more equitable and inclusive educational futures.
Stories Under Occupation:
And Other Plays from Palestine
This compilation of modern plays staged at Palestinian theaters, presented in English, features collaborative nonfiction pieces like The Gaza Monologues, which intertwines the narratives of 33 young individuals from Gaza and has been enacted by numerous students and theater troupes across the globe. Additionally, it contains the play Stories Under Occupation by Al-Kasaba Theatres, based in Jerusalem and Ramallah, which likewise shares personal stories from Palestine.
The Collective Silence:
German Identity and the Legacy of Shame
In an effort to uncover the reasons behind the lack of discourse about the Holocaust in Germany, the authors provide compelling stories, historical perspectives and personal experiences that shed light on how present-day Germans are still wrestling with the aftermath and implications of the Holocaust.
The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic
Hett delivers a captivating narrative detailing the rise to power of the Nazi Party and how the Weimar Republic’s shortcomings, coupled with the lack of foresight from German politicians, paved the downfall of German democracy.
The Half Has Never Been Told:
Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism
Using slave narratives, plantation records, newspapers and the voices of various figures, including politicians, entrepreneurs and escaped slaves, this book presents a fresh perspective on American history. It compels readers to confront the brutality that underpinned American dominance while also recognizing the resilience and opposition that eventually led to the abolition of slavery, shaping a culture that embodies America’s enduring aspirations for freedom.
The Handsome Jew
This novel tells the tale of Fatima, an educated Muslim woman and the daughter of a mufti. She experiences a deep romantic connection with a Jewish man named Salem, and after a clandestine relationship lasting seven years, characterized by the secretive exchange of letters and books, they eventually wed.
The Heart of Man: Its Genius for Good and Evil
Fromm examines humanity’s potential for destruction, narcissism and harmful obsessions. Building on his previous works, he explores themes such as the nature of evil, the choices between good and evil and human capacity for aggression, violence and freedom.
The History of White People
Painter uncovers the origins of race in Western civilization, focusing on the creation and exploitation of “whiteness” for various gains. She highlights influential figures and events while challenging the fixed nature of race, asserting it as a human invention that has evolved over time.
The Indian Empire: Its People, History and Products
A comprehensive examination of nineteenth-century India, encompassing its people, history and resources, this book includes in-depth portrayals of the nation’s diverse regions and industries.
The Invention of the White Race
This work chronicles the development of the “white race” as a social control tool of America’s ruling classes that has served to perpetuate the notion of racial superiority, thereby playing a pivotal role in preserving the dominance of the ruling class over the working population — regardless of their racial backgrounds — throughout American history.
The Logic of Evil:
The Social Origins of the Nazi Party, 1925–1933
Brustein contends that the rise of the Nazi Party as Germany’s most popular political faction can be logically explained in this thought-provoking book. He attributes this largely to the party’s effective development of economic policies that catered to the material requirements of a broad spectrum of German citizens.
The Lottery of Birth: On Inherited Social Inequalities
Commencing with the poignant narratives of three authors, Arora delves into the beginnings, endurance and intricate nuances of inequalities that stem from the circumstances of one’s birth in India. These inequalities encompass aspects such as caste, class, gender, language, region and religion, and the ways in which they intersect and influence daily life.
The Nazi Connection:
Eugenics, American Racism, and German National Socialism
This book reveals the connections between the American eugenics movement and the Nazi regime’s racial hygiene agenda by illustrating that numerous American scientists were actively involved in supporting Hitler’s policies. He first highlights the resurgence of scientific racism and then traces the history of the eugenics movement, both in the United States and globally.
The New Jim Crow:
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
In this book, the legal scholar contends that racial caste in America hasn’t been eradicated but instead transformed. She asserts that the U.S. criminal justice system has become a present-day mechanism of racial subjugation by singling out Black men through the “war on drugs” and devastating communities of color. This system effectively consigns millions to a lasting second-class position, even while ostensibly upholding the principle of colorblindness.
The Parihaka Woman
A highly creative and unique work, this book combines reality and fiction, depicting the extraordinary life of Erenora within the backdrop of the dynamic and tumultuous events that unfolded in Parihaka between the 1870s and 1880s.
The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, from Womb to Grave, in the Building of a Nation
Historian Ramey Berry examines the entire “life cycle” of slavery, revealing the extensive measures that enslavers took to maximize their profits and safeguard their investments. She sheds light on the concept of “ghost values,” which were the prices assigned to deceased enslaved individuals, and investigates the less-known trade in cadavers within domestic settings.
The Problem of Caste
This book traces the varied responses of scholars from diverse fields to the issue of caste in post-independence India and underscores recent changes in their viewpoints.
The Radical in Ambedkar: Critical Reflections
This significant compilation positions B.R. Ambedkar as the foremost champion of equality and unity in contemporary India. Although the dynamic Dalit movement acknowledges Ambedkar as a catalyst for societal transformation and the intellectual elite hail him as the primary designer of the Indian Constitution, the political establishment often restricts his legacy to discussions about reservation policies.
The Rainbow Troops
Ikal is a student at the most impoverished village school located on the Indonesian island of Belitung. Graduating from the sixth grade is seen as an extraordinary achievement in this context. The Rainbow Troops, a group of friends to which Ikal belongs, confronts various challenges from multiple sources, including doubtful government authorities, profit-driven corporations, worsening poverty, deteriorating infrastructure and their own lack of self-esteem.
The Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
Childers illustrates how a young Adolf Hitler evolved into a fervent political figure with anti-Semitic beliefs, all while residing on the fringes of society. Motivated by anger over the harsh conditions imposed by the Versailles Treaty following World War I, he discovered his political voice and began to gather a following.
The Wandering
Exploring the ups and downs of living a nomadic life around the world, this book delves into the politics and advantages of travel and longing through a choose-your-own-adventure format and sheds light on the freedoms and constraints associated with the decisions we make.
The Warmth of Other Suns:
The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration
In this book, Wilkerson draws parallels between this monumental migration and the migrations of various other groups throughout history. Featuring interviews with over a thousand individuals and access to new data and official records, this is an authoritative and vividly dramatic narrative detailing the progression of these American migrations, which transformed our cities, our nation and our own identities.
The Weeping Time:
Memory and the Largest Slave Auction in American History
By delving into the personal documents of the Butler family — who held the largest slave auction in American history — reports by journalists who witnessed the auction, genealogical records and oral histories, Bailey constructs a compelling narrative that breathes life into the auction. She showcases the enduring strength of African American families and incorporates interviews with contemporary descendants of those sold as slaves, illustrating how the legacy of slavery continues to impact their lives today.
The Wretched of the Earth
By the “psychiatrist, humanist, revolutionary” Fanon, this book examines the psychological effects of colonization within the context of the relationship between the “settler” and the “native,” emphasizing decolonization as a necessary means to restoring the dignity and autonomy of oppressed populations and dismantling the power structures imposed by the colonial forces of the “settlers.” Fanon’s work had a significant influence on postcolonial studies and anti-colonial movements, and continues to be relevant in discussions of colonialism and its enduring effects to this day.
They Called Us Enemy
They Called Us Enemy is a graphic memoir by George Takei that recounts his experiences as a Japanese American during World War II. The book reflects on Takei’s childhood years spent in internment camps, highlighting the unjust treatment of Japanese Americans by the U.S. government during wartime. It addresses themes of discrimination, resilience and the impact of such policies on individuals and families. The narrative sheds light on the broader issues of civil rights and social justice while offering a personal perspective on a dark chapter in American history.
They Were Her Property:
White Women as Slave Owners in the American South
Connecting the realms of women’s history, Southern history and African-American history, this book presents a compelling thesis regarding the involvement of white women in American slavery. Jones-Rogers utilizes diverse sources to demonstrate that women who owned slaves were adept economic participants who actively participated in and profited from the Southern slave trade.
This Earth of Mankind
Minke is a bright and aspiring Javanese student in the nineteenth century, navigating life amidst both the colonizers and the colonized people of Java. He confronts the limitations imposed by colonial rules, and his love for a woman named Annelies empowers him to embrace his complex reality. This is the first book of the the author’s Buru Quartet.
Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines
This book, by the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, explores the author’s journey and mission to safeguard human qualities in the age of artificial intelligence, coded bias and encoded discrimination. It delves into the ethical considerations, potential risks and impact of AI on our lives, emphasizing the need to preserve our humanity amidst advancing technology.
Weapons of Math Destruction:
How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
Exploring the dark side of big data and mathematical models, this book highlights how they can perpetuate inequality and undermine democracy. The book discusses instances where algorithms, intended to be neutral and objective, end up reinforcing biases and discrimination. O’Neil argues that these “weapons of math destruction” can have severe consequences, impacting areas such as education, employment and criminal justice. The book advocates for the ethical and responsible use of algorithms to mitigate negative impacts on society.
White by Law: The Legal Construction of Race
This book examines the legal arguments put forth by the courts to rationalize the classification of some individuals as white and others as non-white. He unveils the frequently arbitrary criteria used to establish whiteness and, consequently, citizenship.
White Fragility:
Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism
In her important and insightful work, the anti-racist educator sheds light on the concept of white fragility, demonstrating that racism is not confined to individuals deemed bad. White fragility refers to the defensive responses that white individuals exhibit when confronted with racial challenges. These reactions encompass emotions like anger, fear and guilt, as well as behaviors including arguments and silence.
White Rage:
The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
By skillfully connecting various historical moments in which African American social progress has faced calculated and shrewd opposition, the author reveals the hidden agenda behind actions taken in the guise of safeguarding democracy, financial prudence or preventing fraud. This exposé unveils the extensive history of white anger that has persisted over time.
Whitewashing Race: The Myth of a Color-Blind Society
Although acknowledging the economic progress made by Black Americans since the 1960s, this book relies on fresh and convincing research to highlight the enduring presence of racism and the impact of systemic racial privileges across numerous sectors in American society. These sectors include the job market, the welfare system, the criminal justice system and educational institutions.
