The 1619 Project reframes American history by centering the legacy of slavery and its lasting impact on contemporary society. Beginning with the arrival of enslaved Africans in Virginia in 1619, this book expands on The New York Times Magazine’s award-winning project, weaving together eighteen essays and thirty-six literary works that explore how slavery’s inheritance continues to shape politics, culture, economics, and democracy. By uncovering long-overlooked truths, it contextualizes the systems of race and caste that persist today, illustrating how the past remains deeply embedded in the present.

Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a modern classic that captures the joy and pain of childhood, the cruelty of bigotry, and the transformative power of words. In this deeply personal memoir, Angelou recounts her early years, from being sent to live with her grandmother in the segregated South to enduring trauma and prejudice before discovering self-love, resilience, and the liberating force of literature. Poetic and powerful, her story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to rise above oppression and find freedom.

Leonard Moore’s Teaching Black History to White People is an engaging and accessible guide that blends memoir, history, pedagogy, and practical advice to highlight the importance of understanding Black history. Drawing from decades of teaching experience, Moore explores why Black history remains controversial, challenges readers to embrace discomfort in discussions about race, and provides actionable steps toward racial healing and justice. With thought-provoking questions and a practical syllabus, this book encourages meaningful engagement beyond performative allyship, making it essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Black experience in America.

Jemar Tisby’s The Color of Compromise is a powerful and eye-opening exploration of the American church’s role in sustaining racist ideas and practices. Blending history, sociology, and theology, Tisby traces this complicity from colonial times through slavery, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and today’s racial justice efforts. Rather than a call to shame, this book offers a loving challenge to Christians of all backgrounds to confront historical injustices and take bold, concrete steps toward a racially inclusive and unified church.

In You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey, comedian Amber Ruffin and her sister Lacey share hilariously outrageous yet painfully real stories of everyday racism, told with their signature wit and sisterly banter. From bizarre encounters at donut shops to shocking cases of mistaken identity, Lacey’s experiences in Nebraska highlight the absurdity and persistence of modern racism. Equal parts eye-opening and laugh-out-loud funny, this book strikes a perfect balance between levity and gravity, offering a sharp, entertaining take on the realities of being Black in America.

Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning is a National Book Award-winning history that reveals how racist ideas were deliberately created, spread, and embedded in American society. Challenging the notion of a post-racial America, Kendi traces the evolution of anti-Black thought through the lives of five influential figures—Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Angela Davis—demonstrating that racism was not born of ignorance but designed to justify discrimination. Deeply researched and compelling, this book equips readers with the tools to recognize and dismantle racist thinking, offering both clarity and hope for the future.

Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race is a practical and accessible guide to having honest, transformative conversations about race in everyday life. Addressing topics like police brutality, cultural appropriation, and white privilege, Oluo provides clear, actionable advice for navigating difficult discussions, from confronting a boss’s racist jokes to explaining systemic injustice to skeptical friends and family. With urgency and clarity, this book empowers readers of all backgrounds to engage in meaningful dialogue and recognize how racism shapes every aspect of American life.

In season two of the Scene on Radio podcast, Seeing White, host John Biewen, alongside guest Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika and leading scholars, takes a deep dive into the origins, meaning, and purpose of whiteness. Through a fourteen-part documentary series, they explore the history and impact of white identity, unpacking systemic racial inequities in policing, politics, education, and beyond. By examining how whiteness was constructed and sustained, Seeing White challenges listeners to rethink racial narratives and confront the deep-rooted forces shaping American society today.

In this five-part series, pastors Bryan Loritts and Matt Chandler explore race, racism, and reconciliation through the lens of Ephesians 2:11–16, addressing a long-standing issue in American churches. Tackling tough questions and common objections, they challenge Christians to engage rather than avoid conversations about racial tensions. Through biblical teaching and honest dialogue, they confront America’s racial past and present while offering a path toward healing, justice, and multiethnic unity in the church, grounded in the hope of the gospel.