I compiled below some books, websites and podcasts I found insightful on various topics. Each item includes a short reason why I liked them! I am continually seeking more resources, if you have recommendations I would love to hear them.
Books
- Deep Diversity by Shakil Choudhry. I enjoyed the Canadian context (I rarely heard about Hérouxville being discussed in anglophone media) and it also explains the cognitive psychology of resistance to EDDI work.
- Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall. This felt like a "practical feminist" book that counters so much of the "(white) academic feminism" discourse and encourages me to think about my feminism being also in service of all women, and centering poor, disabled, racialized and/or transgender women.
- The Skin We're In by Desmond Cole. As a newer Ontarian it helped me get a snapshot of some of the issues with police in Toronto. Also Desmond Cole is a fantastic journalist and activist worth following.
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad, specifically the journal/workbook. The prompts are often quite challenging which I think a lot of us can benefit from. I would love to have a discussion on some of the topics with others because I think it would help me push further.
- 21 Things You Should Know about the Indian Act by Bob Joseph. I have a copy of this book I lend to colleagues often. Bob Joseph is a corporate trainer, so his writing is direct and very practical. I also really enjoyed Indigenous Relations and Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples. The three together feels like a bit of a cultural competency crash course but of course would not teach you everything!
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. I really appreciated the perspective taken by the author: that white people also need to see anti-racism as "their business" as opposed to putting all the work on those directly harmed by white supremacy.
-
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. I want to plop this book on the desk of every person who engages in tone policing and whataboutism when it comes to equity work. It really lays out how systems of oppression hang on so tightly and insidiously (well, not that insidious if you look at the facts).
-
Policing Black Lives by Robyn Maynard. This book is definitely dense with legal talk, but again the Canadian context is what I appreciated. It's easy to see anti-Black policies as being more of an American problem but learning about the history of exclusionary practices and politics in Canada was insightful.
-
Until We Are Free by Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson and Syrus Marcus Ware. Again as a newer Ontarian, I liked learning about the history of BLM Toronto. I also really enjoyed the diversity of voices and styles represented in the book, some chapters may touch different readers more or less.
Websites
- Blog by Bob Joseph: https://www.ictinc.ca/blog
Many quick reads on issues affecting Indigenous populations. Usually if there are news items I don't understand the full context for, Bob Joseph will have something from which I can learn from band council systems to Indigenous consultation processes. - Yes, everything!: https://www.yeseverything.ca/
Posts on anti-Black racism and abolition with a Canadian context
Podcasts
- Thunder Bay from Canadaland (and the TV follow-up on Crave). Investigative journalism take on the Seven Fallen Feathers. I feel like this is a must listen for educators particularly because many of the youth who were attacked in Thunder Bay were displaced to pursue education.
- Media Indigena from Rick Harp. I loved to get to know Indigenous scholars in various disciplines. This podcast often reacts to recent news and follows issues past their time in the spotlight. They also manage to bring in the special kind of humour in Indigenous culture that makes listening very joyful at times.
- The Salmon People by Canada's National Observer. This story mixed ecology, citizen science, Indigenous rights and big business. As someone who always feels uncomfortable about both fishing and fish agriculture, I learned a lot!
- "We Need to Talk About the New York Times with Tuck Woodstock", episode from You're Wrong About. Discussion of transphobia in media at large after a letter from numerous contributors to the NYT called out the reporting on trans and queer issues.
Related: "A trans scholar and activist explains why trans rights are under attack", episode from Don't Call Me Resilient. - "No More Grind: How to Finally Rest with Tricia Hersey", episode from We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle. "Rest is Resistance" is still on my reading list, but I love the idea of how grindset keeps us from doing the equity and social justice work.