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Black Stories Matter



I've compiled a few different lists inspired by the recent Black Lives Matter protests and movement. This will not be my typical blog post where I give my opinion or explain my experience reading a book. I want to move away from my own white narrative and instead, highlight the voices and narratives of Black authors and content creators.


The first list is a book list that contains many of the books that have been shared countless times on the internet over the last few weeks. This list would not be possible without the diligent work of the Black and antiracist community. It is not the responsibility of Black people to educate white people on the incredible pain and suffering this country has caused them, but their work ---- through which they share valuable insights ---- is important and appreciated.


The two other book lists are ones I wanted to include to emphasize that Black stories and authors are not monolithic ---- they are as diverse and vibrant as the people who write them. While I believe it is important to read antiracist books and work to self-educate on many of the issues Black people face in this country and this world, I also want to celebrate the wonderfully entertaining and moving stories I have read by Black authors that inhabit every genre and all themes. The next time you go to read a book simply to fall into an incredible fictional story, I encourage you to pick up a book by a Black author.


The final list is one of Black bookstagrammers who I follow and absolutely love. Black content creators are often underappreciated and overlooked even though their voices are important and unique. I urge you to follow those accounts to diversify your reading ---- I am constantly inspired by their recommendations, especially because many of them feature talented authors of color that can be overlooked by the mainstream bookstagram community.


Antiracist Reading List


Fiction Reading List


My Fiction To-Read List


Black Bookstagrammers


I am lucky enough to work at the Smithsonian, and wanted to include the National Museum of African American History and Culture's new portal on race, linked here. It's an incredible resource for anyone looking to dive deeper into race conversations and discover how to ensure this is not a moment, but a movement.

 

As always, I am open to have a conversation. Feel free to email me at brianasbookshelf@gmail.com. If you want personalized recommendations, you can fill out a message form on the Personalized Recs page.


Stay safe, everyone.


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