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I don’t talk about books that often (aside from the occasional review) on my personal blog. I have other platforms I use to talk more about books. However, yesterday I realized something that broke my heart.

So far this year, I’ve read 70 books. I own over 270 books. I’m not currently home to go through my shelves, but I am absolutely sure that a majority of the books I read and own are by white authors. Now don’t get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with supporting white authors and buying their books. But something that I did realize is that I hardly ever buy or read books from Black authors. I never purposely avoided these books. . . it just kind of happened. I have realized that I need to do better about supporting Black authors and learning through them. There are so many amazing books out there that discuss racism, have Black main characters, etc., in a variety of different genres. I had never sought out these books with intent, and I wish I had. I wish I had realized earlier that I should consciously branch out more and support these amazing authors. But I didn’t.

So starting today, I will be working through reading a ton of these books alongside the books I am already reading. I want to learn. I want to support. Do I wish I had done this earlier? Of course. But I didn’t, so I’m starting now.

I starting reading When They Call You a Terrorist last night (photo above), and though I’ve only read a few chapters, I’m so heartbroken and moved. Also, I went to the bookstore yesterday and found Opposite of Always. This is a fiction romance novel that has Black main characters (photo below).

There are TONS and TONS of books out there written by Black authors, have Black main characters, and/or address the topic of racism in some way or another (whether through fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, etc.). In fact, I’m going to be sharing a short list I have started compiling, and if you’re reading this post right now, I HIGHLY recommend checking out one or more of these books. And don’t underestimate the power that fiction books can have. It is important to read memoirs and other non-fiction books, but fiction can teach amazing lessons as well.

Fiction (this list is longer for now simply because i generally read fiction and have a greater knowledge of fiction books that are out there):
- [ ] opposite of always by justin a. reynolds 
- [ ] the hate u give by angie thomas
 - [ ] on the come up by angie thomas
- [ ] i’m not dying with you tonight by gilly segal 
- [ ] watch us rise by renée watson & ellen hagan 
- [ ] allegedly by tiffany d. jackson 
- [ ] all american boys by brendan kiely, jason reynolds 
- [ ] everything everything by nicola yoon

Non-fiction:
- [ ] white rage by carol anderson
- [ ] stamped by jason reynolds, ibram x. kendi
- [ ] why i’m no longer talking to white people about race by reni eddo-lodge
- [ ] white fragility by robin diangelo
- [ ] this book is anti-racist by tiffany jewell, aurelia durand

Memoirs/Biographies/Autobiographies:
- [ ] when they call you a terrorist by patrisse khan-cullors, asha bandele
- [ ] becoming by michelle obama
- [ ] i know why the caged bird sings by maya angelou
- [ ] i’m still here: black dignity in a world made for whiteness by austin channing brown

There are numerous resources circulating at the moment, but this is what I am going to start with before finding even more books.

Please go branch out! Go read books! Go learn! Start conversations. Go sign petitions & donate if you can.
Here is a link with more resources: Resources 
I will also be sharing a ton of resources and recommendations on my bookstagram in the coming days and weeks: Escaping Through Novels
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