Assata- Assata Shakur
This 1988 autobiography is a must-read for anyone trying to understand how systemic racism operates. Through this book, readers can delve into the experiences, both good and bad, of Black activism within America, and understand how much activism accomplished.
Between the World and Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates
This work by Ta-Nehisi Coates explores racism against Black people in America in a form of a letter to his son. This novel will have you reconsider what America stands for and what its ideals truly mean.
The Good Immigrant – Nikesh Shukla & Chimene Suleyman
The Good Immigrant is a collection of essays written by first and second-generation immigrants, digging into their experiences of living in America and finding their identities. This collection shares their stories of balancing different cultures and languages, culture appropriation, and their various emotions and feelings of living in a different country.
Why I’m No Longer Talking About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
This powerful novel brings attention to the structural racism that tends to be forgotten and undermined by the white community who fails to accept these realities. Emotional disconnect with racism is explored in this novel and puts into perspective the importance of not turning your head away from racism.
This Time Will Be Different – Misa Sugiura
This YA novel provides a new perspective on racism against Asian Americans through the model minority myth, racist history against Japanese-Americans, and social injustice. This novel takes a realistic approach to portraying being a teenager as well as to romance and sexuality.
Native Speaker- Chang-Rae Lee
Native Speaker addresses racism and cultural alienation through the eyes of Henry Park. Like many Asian Americans, Henry Park goes through an identity struggle of trying to “Americanize” and hide his Korean heritage. This is an extremely engaging read, exploring the importance of identity and family.
Minor Feelings – Cathy Park Hong
This book explores the radical consciousness of America in the author’s own eyes. She explores the reasons why she would feel “minor feelings” of shame and melancholy and the difficulty of being seen as a human within America as an Asian-American.
The Making of Asian American – Erika Lee
This is an incredibly insightful novel detailing the unknown and forgotten history of Asians in America. Erika Lee touches upon topics like the model minority myth, violence, and harmful government policies against Asian Americans. This novel gives a great perspective on the normalization of anti-Asian racism and how it is depicted among other races within the United States.
All You Can Ever Know- Nicole Chung
Nicole Chung speaks about her journey of losing and finding her roots in Asian culture as an adopted child of white parents. As she struggles to find out who she is and what she identifies with, she addresses prejudice she experiences as an Asian American as well as the unique family dynamics of growing up with parents who don’t understand the cultural differences between them.