A Reading List

This series is an attempt to distill my research into a resource that can help the human family rethink human diversity and create a more equitable world.

To facilitate a deeper understanding and exploration into the multifaceted dimensions of race, the following reading list is grouped by thematic focus, offering a structured approach to studying racial dynamics, history, science, and ideology. This is a living list that is updated as I learn. Drop me a line if you think something's missing.

Historical and Sociopolitical Analysis of Race

1. "Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi

• A comprehensive exploration of the evolution of racist ideas in America, tracing their development from historical roots to modern manifestations.

1. "Whiteness of a Different Color" by Matthew Frye Jacobson

• Investigates the shifting boundaries of racial identity and the assimilation of European immigrants into American whiteness, highlighting the fluid nature of racial categorizations.

1. "The History of White People" by Nell Irvin Painter

• Chronicles the concept of whiteness throughout history, examining how it has been constructed and redefined over time and its implications for racial identities.

1. "How the Jews Became White Folks and What That Says About Race in America" by Karen Brodkin

• Delves into the post-World War II socioeconomic changes that facilitated the assimilation of Jewish Americans into the construct of whiteness, exploring the complexities of racial assimilation and fluidity.

The Intersection of Science and Race

1. "Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century" by Dorothy Roberts

• Critically examines the resurgence of biological concepts of race within the context of modern genomic research, challenging the implications for racial identity and inequality.

1. "The Social Life of DNA: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation After the Genome" by Alondra Nelson

• Explores the use of DNA testing in contemporary society for addressing historical injustices, discussing the role of genetics in constructions of race and identity.

1. "Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past" by David Reich

• Provides insights into human genetic diversity and historical migrations through the study of ancient DNA, intersecting with discussions on race.

1. "How to Argue With a Racist" by Adam Rutherford

• Offers a scientific rebuttal to racial stereotypes and myths, providing evidence-based arguments to challenge racist beliefs and promote informed discussions about race.

Rhetorical and Philosophical Perspectives on Race

1. "A Grammar of Motives" by Kenneth Burke

• Presents a theory of symbolism and motivation, exploring how human identities and actions are expressed and shaped through language, relevant to understanding the construction of racial identities.

1. "Language as Symbolic Action" by Kenneth Burke

• A collection of essays examining the role of language in human experience and social order, pertinent to discussions on how language constructs and influences racial categorizations.

Social Construction and Ideology of Race

1. "Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America" by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

• Examines the paradox of racial inequality in an era of purported color-blindness, offering insights into contemporary mechanisms of racism.

1. "Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life" by Karen E. Fields and Barbara J. Fields

• Argues that the practice of "racecraft" perpetuates the illusion of race, examining its consequences for racial inequality in American society.

1. "Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do" by Jennifer L. Eberhardt

• Investigates the formation of racial biases and their impact on behavior and policy, offering insights into the underlying psychological mechanisms of racial perceptions.

1. "Orientalism" by Edward Said

• A critical analysis of the Western depiction of the East, exploring the power dynamics in the construction of the "Orient" and its implications for colonial and imperial policies.

1. "Tense Future: Modernism, Total War, Encyclopedic Form" by Paul K. Saint-Amour

• While focusing on literary analysis, offers a framework for understanding the layered nature of race and history, relevant to discussions on the construction of racial narratives.

1. "Race Traitor" edited by Noel Ignatiev and John Garvey

• Challenges the concept of race, urging white Americans to renounce racial privileges and dismantle white supremacy, including essays on the implications of rejecting racial identity.