Click Here to
VISIT OUR VIRTUAL OFFICE
M-Th 11am-3pm PT

Minister’s Library: Essential Books to Help Dismantle White Supremacy

Feb 2026

Here is my suggested list of essential books to help dismantle white supremacy. My hope is those working to expand their knowledge and allyship during Black History Month might explore understanding systemic racism, examining personal privilege, and taking action, by reading some of the seminal works listed below, including How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad, White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, and So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. These, along with historical and sociological texts, are crucial for anti-racist work. 

Top Recommended Books to Dismantle White Supremacy

  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi: A guide to understanding and uprooting racism in society and oneself.
  • Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad: A 28-day journaled guide for personal reflection on white privilege.
  • White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo: Explores the defensive behaviors white people exhibit when confronted with racial issues.
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo: Provides actionable insights for having productive, honest conversations about race.
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander: Examines how the US criminal justice system functions as a contemporary system of racial control.
  • White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson: Details the history of white backlash against black progress.
  • Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge: A British perspective on the structural, systemic nature of racism.
  • The Racial Healing Handbook by Anneliese A. Singh: Offers tools for challenging racism through systemic change.
  • Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice by Paul Kivel: A guide for white people to take action against racism in their communities.
  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: A profound exploration of the Black experience and the history of white supremacy in America. 

Key Themes and Context

  • Intersectionality: White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad analyzes how white feminism can reinforce white supremacy.
  • Historical Context: Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 by Eric Foner discusses the failed promise of equality.
  • Actionable Advice: This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell offers 20 lessons to help take action against racism.
  • Spiritual/Internal Work: Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out by Ruth King helps to heal the wounds of racism. 

Yours in the work,

Rev Gordon
Rev Gordon Clay Bailey
Minister
Sepulveda UU Society
818-724-4260

For more information and access to other events, sign our Guestbook!