This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 lessons on how to wake up, take action, and do the work: Volume 1

By Author / Illustrator

Tiffany Jewell, Aurelia Durand

Genre

Representation & Inclusion

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd

ISBN

9780711245204

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-01-2020

Synopsis

Recommended by Oprah's Book Club, The Guardian, TIME, Evening Standard, Grazia, The Telegraph, Express and The Sun

Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.

'In a racist society, it's not enough to be non-racist-we must be ANTI-RACIST.' -Angela Davis

Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing and give you the courage and power to undo it. Each lesson builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. An activity at the end of every chapter gets you thinking and helps you grow with the knowledge. All you need is a pen and paper.

Author Tiffany Jewell, an anti-bias, anti-racist educator and activist, builds solidarity beginning with the language she chooses - using gender neutral words to honour everyone who reads the book. Illustrator Aurelia Durand brings the stories and characters to life with kaleidoscopic vibrancy.

After examining the concepts of social identity, race, ethnicity and racism, learn about some of the ways people of different races have been oppressed, from indigenous Americans and Australians being sent to boarding school to be 'civilized' to a generation of Caribbean immigrants once welcomed to the UK being threatened with deportation by strict immigration laws.

Find hope in stories of strength, love, joy and revolution that are part of our history, too, with such figures as the former slave Toussaint Louverture, who led a rebellion against white planters that eventually led to Haiti's independence, and Yuri Kochiyama, who, after spending time in an internment camp for Japanese Americans during WWII, dedicated her life to supporting political prisoners and advocating reparations for those wrongfully interned.

Learn language and phrases to interrupt and disrupt racism. So, when you hear a microaggression or racial slur, you'll know how to act next time.

This book is written for EVERYONE who lives in this racialised society-including the young person who doesn't know how to speak up to the racist adults in their life, the kid who has lost themself at times trying to fit into the dominant culture, the children who have been harmed (physically and emotionally) because no one stood up for them or they couldn't stand up for themselves and also for their families, teachers and administrators.

With this book, be empowered to actively defy racism and xenophobia to create a community (large and small) that truly honours everyone.

Reviews

This Book is Anti-Racist is an inspirational book with a striking message. In today's modern world it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist. Through 20 chapters, this book highlights the importance of learning who we are, where our identity comes from and how we can all stand up and take action against racism. Tiffany Jewell (author) is a new and compassionate writer, clearly expressing her own views and identity throughout the book; it is very clear she is passionate about educating anti-racism.

The book is brightly coloured and laid out with headings and bright illustrations to break up the sometimes heavy narrative. One thing I particularly loved was the activities in each chapter, such as developing your own 'identity notebook' and adding to it as you read each chapter. The activities engage you to really think about WHO you are, where you come from and who you identify as.

This book is aimed at readers above 12 years as the language and ideas can be complex. However, there is a glossary in the back to explain new concepts and each idea is broken down to thoroughly explain in depth. Key words and concepts are in bold and underlined, supporting readers to check out the meaning of words in the glossary. Educators, particularly of CPSHE or religious teaching, might want to invest in this book to take extracts and teach key concepts in a student friendly way.

For teenagers who are all trying to suss out their identity, this book is fabulous for guiding that process and for helping identify as oneself rather than categorising ourselves into a 'social norm'. There are some lovely messages, 'We all deserve to be free' and 'when you know better, do better'. This book teaches not only social diversity but also the history of people and why we all share an identity, whilst also encompassing our own. This book is completely refreshing. It feels young, it feels exciting, it feels good to teach anti-racist ideas!

160 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Joanna Hewish, teacher