Young Readers

A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory
Yes, this really is a kids book about racism. Inside, you’ll find a clear description of what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens.

A is for Activist  by Innosanto Nagara
A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for.

Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy
A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this moving and powerful anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
This beautifully illustrated board book edition of instant bestseller Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History showcases women who changed the world and is the perfect goodnight book to inspire big dreams.

Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins; illustrated by Bryan Collier
This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
A heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone. There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it’s how you look or talk, or where you’re from; maybe it’s what you eat, or something just as random. It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Kadir Nelson
Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes.

We March by Shane W. Evans
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and the day he shared it with the world was a day of a remarkable protest. August, 28, 1963, saw more than 250,000 people gather at the nation’s capital to march. This book is an engaging introduction to the power and importance of protesting injustice.

We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice to young activists.

Middle Readers

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
Shayla’s a relatable character trying to make sense of her world and whose ideas of following the rules are challenged when she’s confronted with unjust rules, but the Black Lives Matter movement empowers her to stand up for her beliefs.

Colorblind: A Story of Racism (Zuiker Teen Topics) by Johnathan Harris, Anthony Zuiker, PhD
Johnathan, a fifteen-year-old African American from Long Beach, California, shares his story of being physically and verbally harassed because of his race, and of overcoming the discrimination to embrace all cultures, and then to be proud of his own.

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
After being killed by a white police officer, Jerome becomes a ghost. He soon crosses paths with Emmett Till — another Black boy from a different era who has a similar story. As Jerome witnesses the turmoil in his community, he discovers one living person can see him: the daughter of the white officer who shot him.

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Gilly Segal, Kimberly Jones
An NAACP Image Award Nominee, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight follows two teen girls–one black, one white–who have to confront their own assumptions about racial inequality as they rely on each other to get through the violent race riot that has set their city on fire with civil unrest.

This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell, Aurelia Durand
Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.

X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz, Kekla Magoon
Co-written by Malcolm X’s daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world.

YA Readers

Say Her Name (Poems to Empower) by Zetta Elliot
Inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists insisting that Black Lives Matter. Elliott engages poets from the past two centuries to create a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas–and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give is an important and timely novel that reflects the world today’s teens inhabit. Starr’s struggles create a complex character, and Thomas boldly tackles topics like racism, gangs, police violence, and interracial dating.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
The Voting Booth is a story of how two teens are thrown together for a day and do a world of good. Marva is a driven young woman who wants change and wants to help others realize their power in voting.