It's never too late to learn more about race, racism, and the history of systemic oppression of people of color in the United States. Here are three informational books, a documentary, and a mini-series that we can all use to educate ourselves on the issues finally being brought to the forefront.
1. The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
This book examines the history of segregation in the United States and explains how laws and policies are responsible for the segregation that still exists to this day.
2. 13th
This documentary on Netflix focuses on how a clause in the 13th Amendment is responsible for the mass incarceration of black people in the United States.
3. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
This book examines how the War on Drugs targets black men and communities of color, leading to mass incarceration as a new system of racial control to replace Jim Crow laws.
4. When They See Us
This Netflix mini-series tells the story of Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, and Yusef Salaam (also known as the Central Park Five or the Exonerated Five) and how they were profiled, coerced, and villainized for a crime they did not commit.
5. So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
This book covers multiple social justice issues and topics surrounding race in order to help prompt and promote honest discussions about race and racism in every day life.