This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell

 

Rarely do I find and read a book that teaches and explains complex issues as clearly and concisely as Tiffany Jewell does on the topic of racism. While written for middle and high school students, it is one that everyone needs to read. In fact, I feel this book is so important, it should form the basis of a required course on racism for all middle/high school students.

The topic is discussed in four sections: Waking Up: Understanding and Growing into my Identities, Opening the Window: Making Sense of the World, Choosing My Path: Taking Action and Responding to Racism, and Holding the Door Open: Working in Solidarity Against Racism. Interspersed throughout are activities that help the student process and learn about themselves, how they can grow, and how they can fit in and be active in the anti-racist movement.

What you will take away from the book depends on your own personal history and experience, but everyone will be more enlightened, more aware, and have a better understanding of racism, it's history, it's effects, and the world we are currently living in. This is not just about racism in America, but racism as it exists in many parts of the world. This book has made me more knowledgeable, thoughtful, understanding, and realize that one of my roles in the movement against racism is promoting books that enlighten, teach and open the eyes of our youth so they become a more tolerant and fair generation, a generation that moves towards ending racism.

Mark's Book Picks Score: No rating for non-fiction, but this book is very important.

Reading Level: 6.8 • Interest Level: 5-9 • AR Points: 3• Lexile Level: NA • Dewey: 303.385 Publisher: Francis Lincoln Quarto Books • Pages: 160 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-7112-4521-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding