10 Best Anti-Racism Books in 2022 (Ijeoma Oluo, Michelle Alexander, and More)

This book is a New York Times Bestseller and was named the book of the year by several publications. In the current worldwide conversation about racism, this book is often cited as the first one you should read! 

Author Ibram X. Kendi uses his own personal stories to illustrate the effects of racist policies. He describes the three ways people approach race: as segregationists, as assimilationists, or as antiracists. In addition to explaining oppression, he also introduces holistic ways to approach anti-racism work.

A few reviewers thought the book started a little slow, but the vast majority of readers found the pace ideal for slowly digesting challenging information.

Reviewers loved how clear and thorough the ideas are, and they say this book was incredibly eye-opening. Plus, many found that it helped them approach anti-racism work in a more meaningful way and provided them with a "big picture" understanding of racial injustice. 

This bestselling and award-winning book is a necessary read for any American. Author Ibram X. Kendi takes a deep dive into the history of America and racism. In particular, he focuses on anti-Black beliefs and policies. 

He negates the idea that racism sprang from ignorance and explains how racist policies were deliberately crafted to keep power in the hands of white Americans. He examines five famous American thinkers, such as Thomas Jefferson, to show how racism has deep ties in American culture. 

Reviewers say this is one of the best and most essential books they've ever read. They found it incredibly powerful and illuminating. Readers couldn't put this book down, as they learned more and more with every page.

Even readers who felt like they knew a lot about American history were blown away by how much they didn't know. They also appreciated that the wide scope of Kendi's analysis was easy to follow.

This book helps us talk about race, whether we're white or people of color. Ijeoma Oluo helps us understand a wide variety of concepts, like the "model minority" myth. 

You'll learn how to have honest and constructive conversations. This an incredibly useful skill! Are you unsure of how to talk to a friend about racist jokes or don't know how to explain white privilege to a family member? This book has got you covered.

Reviewers say this is a must-read for everyone! They like that the book does an excellent job of not dwelling on feelings, but instead focuses on injustice and action. Plus, many found it easy and quick to read.

Readers of all races and levels of privilege felt more educated about injustice after reading this book. Therefore, they also feel more empowered to have difficult conversations about race. Even people who are new to anti-racism work found this book accessible! 

This accessible book explains all the whos, whats, and whys regarding racial injustice. It's a hands-on guide that offers practical steps for doing anti-racist work. It even includes 20 activities to help you engage with the concepts!

This book is written for all races and ages, and the beautiful illustrations draw you into the ideas. You'll learn about everything from WWII Japanese internment camps to how to react to a microaggression. 

Reviewers loved the included activities and how the book was easy to understand for those new to anti-racist ideas. Many people recommend this book for educators in particular, as it's approachable enough for teens! Some readers even successfully used it with younger kids.

Reviewers also say that it's a good place to start to get a handle on all of the anti-racism basics. This book doesn't focus on one race or country, so it provides a great overall view of anti-racism work.

This book is another classic, as it was originally published in 1997. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is a well-known psychologist with expertise in race, and she explores how we develop our racial identities. This edition is updated as of 2017, and it includes a comparison of then versus now. 

She spends the first few chapters investigating white and Black identities, but she engages with other racial identities as well. Many reviewers found her analysis of kids' and teens' racial identities particularly interesting.

Many reviewers say this book would be great for high schoolers and college students, and educators confirm that they've found this book to be incredibly useful in the classroom.

Reviewers also liked that the updated version covers current events like presidential elections. They also found the author's writing style engaging and appreciate the insight on how to have conversations about race. 

This highly-praised book clearly dismisses the notion that racism is over because America elected a Black president. Author and law professor Michelle Alexander gives us powerful insight into how mass incarceration and the American legal system oppresses people of color.

Alexander illustrates how seemingly "colorblind" people and policies actually target people of color. She brings to light the horror of the thousands of people of color, especially Black people, who are continually mistreated under the guise of "criminal justice." 

Reviewers found the explanation of racial caste particularly eye-opening, and they appreciate the depth of the research. They say that the book provides a comprehensive view of the issues and leaves readers with clear takeaways on how the justice system is built to incarcerate people of color.

Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt explores how hidden racial biases affect every area of our lives, from the home to the workplace. She takes a psychological approach to explain how biases work in our brains and even offers ways to unlearn them.

Her research thoroughly digs into racial bias and negates the idea that humans can be "objective." She both explains the context of bias while also giving us direction on how to put what we've learned into action.

Reviewers love how Dr. Eberhardt balances stories with research and say the book was an engaging read. They like that she gives so much context to the concepts she explains.

They found her research on unconscious bias illuminating and easy to understand too. Readers felt more empowered to address their own biases after reading this book, with many reviewers saying it's a must-read!

Like many of the books on our top ten, this is also an award-winning and bestselling title! While American media often paints Black people as "angry," Dr. Carol Anderson argues that white people are often the ones expressing rage.

Dr. Anderson clearly illustrates how American history is full of white anger that has directly prevented or stopped the progress of Black Americans. She uses well-known points of tension in American history to show how white resentment and entitlement have shaped racist policies and beliefs.

Many reviewers say that every white American needs to read this book. Since it's a shorter book with plenty of footnotes, readers also say it's an excellent starting point for anti-racism work.

Reviewers also found Dr. Anderson's research to be thorough and appreciated how she backs everything up with fact. Readers also say that understanding the history of white rage and entitlement makes them feel more empowered to break the cycle and avoid repeating the same harmful mistakes. 

This picture book tells the story of a real-world--but lesser-known--instance of racial segregation in American history. The book follows Sylvia Mendez and her experience being segregated to a different school as a Mexican child. 

This was in 1947, which is seven years before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. The Mendez family helped to end segregation in Californian schools. The book even uses information from interviews with Sylvia Mendez!

Reviewers say this is an essential book for the classroom! Educators say children can easily relate to Sylvia, and they appreciate the lessons the story teaches to young minds. Even older children still found the book engaging. 

Even adults were surprised to learn that there was a desegregation victory before Brown v. Board of Education. They liked that this picture book teaches kids (and adults) about Latino-American history too.

Even little ones can get in on the anti-racism action! Young children aren't immune to the concept of racism, so it's vital to share anti-racist ideas at a young age. Plus, this sweet board book brings a positive can-do attitude.

Your child will hear affirmations like "There is no glass ceiling, there is no one to tell you no." Reviewers love that they're encouraging their babies to have confidence! Plus, Black parents love that their children can relate to the Black child in the story.

Reviewers love the illustration style and rhythmic narration. They like that the tone is empowering and fun. Their kiddos enjoy reading it and like the colorful pictures. Many say that this is their go-to gift for baby showers too.