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13 eye-opening essays and articles from Black writers you should have already read to understand America's problems with race
13 eye-opening essays and articles from Black writers you should have already read to understand America's problems with race
Marguerite WardJun 14, 2020, 20:53 IST
Crystal M. Fleming, author and associate professor of sociology and Africana Studies at SUNY Stony Brook, recommended works by Ida B. Wells and James Baldwin.Crystal Fleming
In the wake of nationwide Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice and police brutality, many Americans are taking steps to educate themselves about racism in the US.
Business Insider asked Black sociology, history, and literature experts to share the most important nonfiction essays and works of journalism by Black authors on race and racism in America.
In the wake of the killings of Ahmaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, activists and thought leaders from the Black Lives Matter movement are calling on Americans to educate themselves on the history of race and racism in the US.
And people are listening. Right now, almost all of the books on The New York Times' nonfiction best-seller list are on race or white privilege. If you're looking for more to read to understand the history of racism and white privilege in America, or if you're not able to purchase a book at this time, consider reading works of journalism on race and oppression by Black authors.
Business Insider asked Black literary and historical experts to share their favorite works of journalism on race by Black authors. Here are the top pieces they recommended everyone read.
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"Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases" and "The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States" by Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells, pictured here in 1920.
Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Writer and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, testified about reparations for the descendants of slaves during a hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee in June 2019.
Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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"The Idea of America" by Nikole Hannah-Jones and the "1619 Project" by The New York Times
Reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones attends The 75th Annual Peabody Awards Ceremony in 2016.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Peabody Awards
"Many Thousands Gone" by James Baldwin
James Baldwin is best known for his works "Notes of a Native Son," "The Fire Next Time" and "Go Tell It on the Mountain."
Jean-Regis Rouston/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
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"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
Getty
"The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action" by Audre Lorde
African-American writer, feminist, poet and civil-rights activist Audre Lorde poses for a photograph during her 1983 residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
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"The First White President" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Coates is the author of several books including "Between the World and Me" and "The Water Dancer."
Associated Press
"Just Walk on By" by Brent Staples
Director Roger Ross Williams and New York Times writer Brent Staples speak in 2019 in Park City, Utah.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The New York Times
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"I Was Pregnant and in Crisis. All the Doctors and Nurses Saw Was an Incompetent Black Woman" by Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan Cottom at the 70th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner in November 2019.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
"A Report from Occupied Territory" by James Baldwin
James Baldwin lived from 1924 to 1987.
Ted Thai/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
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"I'm From Philly. 30 Years Later, I'm Still Trying To Make Sense Of The MOVE Bombing" by Gene Demby
Gene Demby pictured here with his colleague NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates in 2019.
JC Olivera/Getty Images