Ashley is a passionate bibliophile, freelance writer, and global traveler. She learned to read when she was three and she hasn't stopped since. Ashley has traveled to over 30 countries, lived on four different continents, and studied archaeology, linguistics, and Egyptology. When she doesn't have her nose stuck in a book her interests include weightlifting, photography, and playing with her cat. Ashley currently resides in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband.
This post is especially for white people. We need to educate ourselves on what it means to be black in the US. Beyond listening to my POC (that's People of Color) friends when they speak about the injustices and prejudices they face, and following more POC on social media to gain a broader perspective, I also read as much as I can. These are six books I think are very helpful to understanding the history and reality of black people in the United States. Fiction 1) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Starr witnesses her unarmed friend get shot by a police officer and decides to speak out. I think this book should be required reading in all schools. 2) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Ifemelu moves to the US from Nigeria and learns for the first time what it means to be "black". 3) The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead In this book, the Underground Railroad is a literal thing that helps Cora escape from slavery in Georgia. But with a slave...