Stamped

One of the most necessary books I have ever read. Even though this remix of the original version is written for teens, the writing style and the prose make it accessible to everyone. Powerful, searing, and eye opening; I wish everyone could read this book and open their hearts. So many ideas we have about race aren't ours and we've been lied to time and time again without us even knowing. It goes much deeper and farther back than we realize. We need to work hard at becoming antiracist, not just once, but every day. A punch to the gut, but absolutely necessary to wake you up to the history of racism and to the possibility of what the future could be without it.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

I can't give this book enough praise, it was truly an eye opening, enlightening, and powerful read. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't know much about Malcolm X except that he took the opposite stance from Dr. Martin Luther King on Civil Rights and was also assassinated, I knew nothing about the religion of the Nation of Islam or even Malcolm X's life. Starting with his early life, through his time hustling on the streets of Harlem to prison, then to his conversion to the Nation of Islam and his political beginnings his autobiography covers it all. Sad;y he never got to see it published but Alex Haley wrote a wonderful and fitting epilogue to his life that was cut too short. Not an easy read, but a necessary one.

Democracy in Black

A book that really makes you face the harsh realities of racism in this country and for me a perfect read for Black History Month. I knew I took my "white privilege" for granted before, but reading this made me ashamed to be a white American. This is one of those books that will light a fire under your ass and make you want to do something. Author, Eddie S. Glaude Jr. compiles a collection of essays; part memoir, history, and manifesto. This nonfiction book seeks to impassion readers to take action and abolish the value gap, that is the whites are valued more than blacks. He writes, "...we must close the value gap and uproot racial habits by doing democracy, once again, in black." He is very critical of President Obama and other black liberals and voices concern that there aren't more to carry on the power, the youth must take on the movement. An empowering read.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.