As a transracial adoptive mama, I’m always looking to learn. Always looking to try to understand my daughters and where they come from and what their future might hold. In this day and age, I feel like we are so fortunate to have essentially the world at our fingertips. From blogs to Instagram accounts to articles to documentaries. You can research and research and research and believe me, I’ve done plenty of that. But one of the greatest resources for me has been books.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am no professional but these are the 5 books I would add to your list.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
Also, if you don’t follow Austin Channing Brown on Instagram right now then run and do it. This one is beautiful and heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.
Between the World and Me
This one digs a little more into racial history in our country. While I was reading as he shares his fatherly concerns for his sons, I couldn’t help but think of my own girls. Ta-Nehisi also has a new book that just came out that I can’t wait to get from the library, The Water Dancer.
For Black Girls Like Me
This one falls into more of the young adult category. Written by a young black girl who was adopted into a white family, I feel like it gave me an insider’s look into some of the challenges we may face as a family in the future.
The New Jim Crow
When it comes to understanding criminal justice and race in America this is a must read. Be warned, it’s not an easy one but a necessity.
An American Marriage
There are so many other books I could have put in this spot. I’m actually going to list a couple more below with some great resources but since some of the other ones are pretty heavy hitters I wanted to throw in another novel. It’s a deeply personal look into the effects of wrongful convictions.
Maybe you aren’t a huge reader, all of these are also available as audiobooks. And even if you aren’t a transracial adoptive family, I would still encourage you to pick them up.
And 5 Instagram accounts you should start following now too:
@rachel.cargle
@theconsciouskid
@brownicity
@austinchanning
@littlebrownyoungreaders
Books I’m currently reading:
Raising White Kids
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
I hope you find these as helpful as I did! I am constantly learning and feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who are learning with me.
Lauren lives outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in Amery, Wisconsin. Wifey to John, stay at home mama to Luca and Jona, and their three fur babies, an Australian Shepherd mix, Roo and cat brothers, Coco and Lucky. She is a lover of coffee (almost always with cream) and Mexican food. A Northern girl through and through she loves spending time outside no matter the season. Currently, she is going back to school for another Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. She has a deep passion for adoption and the community she found through her own adoption process. She hopes this site will encourage, inspire and more than anything assure others they are not alone.
