Listen and learn
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests taking place around the world and the many tragic events that initiated them, it’s abundantly clear that as individuals and as a society, we have a lot of listening and learning to do.
There is a wealth of resources out there, including books, films, podcasts and more, to aid our education. Here is a list of just some of the works that the ME+EM team has been engaging with. Of course, there is so much more out there - this is just a start.
If you have any other resources that you’d like to share with us, then we’d love to hear from you.
READ | Fiction
Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi“This debut novel moves through the stories of descendants of the same family tree, starting with two sisters in 18th century West Africa through to the modern day. It explores how the impact of the slave trade reverberates through each successive generation, not just in western society but in African society. It was so engrossing and beautifully written that it was impossible not to become deeply emotionally invested in all its characters.”
Sabi, Content Manager
Read next:
Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams
Ordinary People, Diana Evans
An American Marriage, Tayari Jones
Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid
Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng
READ | Non-fiction
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge“I always lean towards non-fiction books, so am currently reading this incredible work by Reni Eddo-Lodge. I have already learned so much about Black history, and it is truly opening my eyes to the contemporary context.”
Steph, Creative Project Manager
Read next:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism,
Robin DiAngelo
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor,
Layla F Saad
Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging,
Afua Hirsch
Black and British: A Forgotten History,
David Olusoga
WATCH
Dear White People, Netflix“Although billed as a comedy and set on a college campus, this series deals with very real issues surrounding racism, and it definitely doesn't pull any punches. It aims to educate as well as entertain, and with short 25-minute episodes it is easy to digest at your own pace.”
Phoebe, Senior Marketing Manager
Watch next:
13th
When They See Us
Selma
If Beale Street Could Talk
Moonlight
LISTEN
We Need to Talk About the British Empire“I’m listening to Afua Hirsh’s Audible series. As the mother of two teenaged daughters, I’ve learned that we’re not educating our children about the right history to contextualise and understand the significance of this movement now. This has been so illuminating and valuable, and something that we can engage, share and discuss together as a family.”
Clare, Founder + CEO
Listen to next:
Slay In Your Lane: The Podcast
Momentum: A Race Forward
About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
Growing up with gal-dem