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

Tiffany Jewell

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, Jan 7, 2020 - Juvenile Nonfiction - 160 pages

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Featured by Oprah's Book Club on the Anti-Racist Books for Young Adults list curated by bestselling author Jacqueline Woodson

A USA TODAY Bestseller

Recommended by The Guardian, Time, Grazia, The Telegraph, Express, and The Sun

‘This is one for you, your neighbour, the children in your lives and especially that ‘only slightly’ racist colleague… A guide to the history of racism and a blueprint for change’ —The Guardian


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 chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. 20 activities get you thinking and help 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 Aurélia 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.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - ecataldi - LibraryThing

Not just for kids and teens - this easy to understand no-nonsense guide is fantastic to get adults on board/ up to speed, specifically white adults. Tiffany Jewell does a fantastic job of breaking ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - ewyatt - LibraryThing

A nonfiction guide that starts with an exploration of identity and gives many strategies to use to try to dismantle racism. A clear explanation of terms and concepts. Journaling activities for ...

Contents

• AUTHORS NOTE: 3
• UNDERSTANDING AND GROWING INTO MY IDENTITIES: 9
• MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLD: 45
• TAKING ACTION AND RESPONDING TO RACISM: 85
• WORKING IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST RACISM: 119
• Copyright: 160

About the author

Tiffany Jewell is a Black biracial writer and Anti-Racist Montessori educator and consultant. She spends her time baking bread and macarons, building LEGOS, watching British detective shows, and dreaming up how she can dismantle white supremacy. Tiffany currently lives in Western Massachusetts (on the occupied land of the Wabanaki and the Nipmuck) with her two young activists, her partner, and a turtle she's had since she was nine. This is her first book for children and young adults. Find her on instagram: @tiffanymjewell.

Aurélia Durand is a French illustrator based in Paris. Her work is dedicated to representing people of colour in society, and she uses bold art as a vivid demonstration. "I use vibrant colours and joyful music to spread good vibes to talk about diversity and open a conversation about why it matters to include more colour in our society." She wants to create more nuanced illustrative stories by portraying women of colour standing proudly and fiercely. Her work has been featured in advertising campaigns, galleries, and editorial magazines. Her clients include Apple, Refinery29, and Tinder. She shares her work online on different platforms, mainly Instagram, where she posts daily illustrations, live paintings, and animations. Find her on Instagram: @4ur3lia.

Bibliographic information

• Title: This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 lessons on how to wake up, take action, and do the work
• Author: Tiffany Jewell
• Illustrated by: Aurelia Durand
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2020
• ISBN: 0711245207, 9780711245204
• Length: 160 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Science / Politics & Government; Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Topics / Prejudice & Racism; Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance