Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I N O. V § 2 M A R C H 8 , 2 0 2 1 30 Caste: The Origins of our Discontents / by Isabel Wilkerson This book is our No. 1 recommendation. We love that it puts issues of race and power in a global context. The author tells her own story and infuses history of the caste system in Nazi Germany, India and the U.S., making it personal and also historical. What we also think is great about this book is that it taps into our emotions, and helps us to transform...not just intellectually. Just Mercy / by Bryan Stevenson Written by a Harvard educated, Black law professor and the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, this book explores the injustices of our current justice system. The author also tells his story: reflecting on his experiences as a highly educated Black man and his interviews with people on death row. This book explains in detail what is corrupt and wrong in the American justice system, and the disproportionate impact seemingly neutral policies have on communities of color. My Grandmother's Hands / by Resmaa Menakem This book dives into the trauma of what it means to be black and also what it means to be white, essentially exploring how trauma is racialized and what the impact of this is on our lives. We love that it's like a workbook — encouraging us to practice and embody healing, and also not look away from the brutality that got us to this point and continues in this moment. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration / by Isabel Wilkerson Wilkerson, former Chicago bureau chief for the New York Times, in 2011 tackled the story of the decades-long migration of Black Americans from the South to northern and western cities, in search of a better life. — Peter Van Allen, Mainebiz editor Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People / by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald This book gently and clearly opens our eyes and minds to the hidden biases and preju- dices we carry with us. When a hidden bias becomes visible, it becomes a part of our awareness, which in turn becomes a part of what we consider and how we determine our approach. The power to counteract the unconscious mental processes related to race, age, sexual orientation, gender, eth- nicity is within our reach - and this book illuminates the positive gains we make by being aware of how we have been condi- tioned to view the world around us. It's easy to read, engaging and stimulating — and has opened my eyes in the very best way — allow- ing me to approach myself and others with expansiveness, awareness and a heightened sensitivity to the necessity of conversation and inclusion. — Isla Dickerson, Bangor Savings Bank Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism / by James Loewen Sociologist James Loewen looks at the his- tory of "sundown towns' — if you're Black, be out of town by sundown — and brings the reader through redlining, rural versus urban segregation and more. It connects the dots between the long history of nationwide discrimination (yes, in Maine, too) and the effects today on health care, income, edu- cation and more on the Black community. Seeing the connection is a big step toward undoing the inequities. — Maureen Milliken, Mainebiz senior writer How to Be an Antiracist / by Ibram X. Kendi It's no surprise that Kendi's primer hit No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list. "How to be an Antiracist" is a lucid, engag- ing look at what racism really is — where it comes from, how it is manifest — as well as what a future antiracist world might be. With references from pre-Colonial history to the author's own history, from Malcom X to Chris Rock, the book examines racism and antiracism as they pertain to culture, economics, sexuality and more. Kendi is a history professor and the founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. — William Hall, Mainebiz digital editor The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth About Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations / by Robert Livingston This book provides a compass for all those seeking to begin the work of anti-racism. Livingston addresses three simple questions: What is racism? Why should everyone be more concerned about it? What can we do to eradicate it? — Andrea Tetzlaff, Mainebiz director of sales OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS F U RT H E R R E A D I N G D I V E R S I T Y / E Q U I T Y / I N C L U S I O N F O C U S s business people look for ways to talk with bosses, employees and colleagues about diversity, equity and inclusion, here are some books that are recommended: A Recommendations from Liz Greason and Deb Breiting, co-founders of Maine Intercultural Communication Consultants Waking Up White / by Debbie Irving This is a great starting point for white people who are just beginning to think about race. Though this book has received some justifiable criticism, we love that it follows an upper middle class white woman through her journey of "waking up" to new information about the complexities of race in the United States. It's like she takes us on her journey of beginning to see the way in which racism is "baked into" various policies that many Americans were taught were fair, objective, and treated everybody equally. And there are writing/reflection prompts at the end of each chapter. Black Fatigue / by Mary-Frances Winters We've been a fan of Mary-Frances Winters for years and use her Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) case studies in our own trainings. We love how this book marries intercultural develop- ment theory and racial justice. She talks about 'the enduring negative impact of systemic racism on the health, economic, workplace, educational, and other social outcomes for Black people." And we love that she "offers strategies Black people can use to protect them- selves against Black fatigue and discusses how non-Black people can begin to actively dismantle the racists systems that cause it." Figuring Foreigners Out / by Craig Storti Though the name is a bit out-dated, the information contained in the book stands the test of time. It has been particularly helpful to our clients who work in international contexts or with New Mainers, those moving here from other countries or regions of the United States. We love that it explores something called "cultural general frameworks" (direct vs. indirect communication; emotionally expressive vs. emotionally responses to conflict, for example). Knowing these allows us to understand the complexities of human similarities and differences, and have a language to talk about them, and bridge effectively across differences. WHAT TO READ

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