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Research Guides

Recommended Reads for Equity: Autobiographies, Biographies & Memoirs

Biographies A - K

Recommended by: Soojin Oh Park, Faculty UW Seattle, College of Education

Recommended by: Dan Berger, Faculty UW Bothell, IAS

Assata: An Autobiography

Recommended by: Teddy Davenport, Student UW Seattle, Geography

" Assata Shakur wonderfully details her journey toward Black Radicalism, using a unique writing style to combine prose, poetry, and autobiography."

 

Recommended by: Angelina Miyar, Student UW Seattle, The Black Student Journal

" It's an amazing book that speaks truth to power. Assata Shakur is a revolutionary and writer. We have the opportunity and privilege to be able to read about her experience. It is not only strengthening but vital for the revolutionary youth to read this text."

 

Recommended by: Kate Orville, Staff UW Seattle, Center on Human Development and Disability

"This book helped me understand the systemic discrimination and cycle for poor people of color getting caught up by the legal system and then not being able to get out. The book details how it is particularly hard on women who have children and why it is so hard to get back on your feet. Despite the terrible stories, the book is engaging and ultimately empowering because the author was able to transcend her situation through some lucky chances and created new opportunities and living situations for women in similar circumstances."

The Best Minds

Recommended by: Dinah Aldrich, Staff UW Seattle, Family Medicine-Research

" Clearly articulates the tragedy of schizophrenia."

 

Recommended by: Anonymous

"I read the book to better understand issues of equity in America and why and how institutional racism still persists. Though this book did help me better understand racism in America, it also offered an unintended but cherished lesson...

The unintended lesson is why some parents who have suffered trauma, parent with destructive fear. My father is the product of a fascist regime and has parented as someone who fears the world. Black parents in America know a similar fear, a deeper fear, a more sinister and pervasive fear. I never understood my father's fear completely or his broken way of parenting as well as I have in reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' book, Between the World and Me.

I moved to America in 1991 with the belief that it was a Norman Rockwell painting not unlike The Golden Rule. I believed it was easier in America, than in other countries, to live in peace regardless of our race, religion or creed. The truth, for now, is different for some. Peace (equity) is not guaranteed. "Between the World and Me" explains that. I found it instructive and heartbreaking."

Recommended by: Hannah Wilson, Student UW Seattle, Environmental Science and Resource Management
"This book delves into the power structures in the U.S. and why work the way they do historically and contemporarily against people of color, especially black people. This book is empowering in that it gave me, a black and mixed race woman, the knowledge of my position in our society and how it has developed over time. It shows the beauty of people of color and how they have shown incredible resilience in the face of injustice."


Recommended by: Anonymous
"It explains a similar upbringing for a lot black people in America, the hardships, that still persist today, indignation of black bodies, the infallible strength, tenacity, spirit, wisdom and power that is black people; the black father/son dynamic, the truth and much more. Equity is knowing how important diversity is and knowing everyone benefits from it, thus allowing people to be more inclusive and be richer for it."


Recommended by: Teresa Ward, Faculty UW Seattle, Nursing
"Thoughtfully written book on race in America by Ta-Nehisi Coates. This book is written as a letter to his son on Coates experiences and the historical context of growing up in Baltimore, attending Howard University, living in Paris and New York. Insightful book."

Born A Crime

Recommended by: Anonymous, Staff UW Seattle, Landscape Architecture

" It deals with race issues in South Africa. Trevor Noah has a terrific sense of humor in discussing his growing up years, as a mixed race person."

Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur

"I feel changed by this memoire, written by a death doula in her experiences of being with people has they are dying. This book is a call for loving and accepting ourselves more deeply, and honoring changes and passings in life as way of living more fully and presently. This book also comes as an audiobook, which Alua reads, and feels so intimate."

But You Don't Look Arab: And Other Tales of Unbelonging

Recommended by: Marc-Albert Vandermeerssche, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

 

Recommended By: Deborah Pierce, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

"When we think of issues of equity, diversity and inclusion we often think about what is wrong with "x" or about the external actions we might take to "fix" something. Dr. Eger's book takes a different view, from someone who survived extreme exclusion, that is, a Holocaust survivor, and her journey to the internal search for healing and meaning. She inspires us to think about our own resilience and how to build a life that takes adversity and turns it into a gift for humanity.

Winner of the 2017 National Jewish Book Award and 2018 Christopher Award.

'Edith’s strength and courage are remarkable…her life and work are an incredible example of forgiveness, resilience, and generosity.'—Sheryl Sandberg"

Recommended by: Madeline, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

"I read this book in one weekend, not because it is a quick read but because I couldn't stop reading it and did nothing else all weekend. While it seems to be mostly marketed and reviewed as a memoir of "growing up Inupiaq,” it is just as much a memoir of Hensley’s integral part in the struggle for Indigenous land and cultural rights in Alaska. Hensley has an incredibly important and moving story to tell, and he is also a brilliant (and really funny) storyteller."

 

Recommended by: Nichole Gustavsen, UW Botthell, UWB / Cascadia College Library

"A memoir by a First Nations woman who grew up on a BC reservation. This author is local to the PNW! This book gets into intersections between Indigenous identity, womanhood, mental illness, addiction, and generational trauma. Certainly a tough read, but a necessary one."

Recommended by: Jeffrey Hou, Faculty UW Seattle, Landscape Architecture

"This memoir by legendary community leader and organizer Bob Santos documents an important history and story of how communities of different cultural backgrounds united to fight for equity, diversity and inclusion in Seattle."

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body

Recommended by: Anonymous, Staff UW Seattle, Prospect Development

" This book covers many areas of intersectionality that aren't always addressed, especially body shaming, fat shaming, and being a sexual assault survivor, all from the perspective of a woman of color. It is shockingly honest and raw, and while it can be hard to read at times, it forces you to confront your own biases and opinions on these topics."

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

Recommended by: Anonymous, Student UW Seattle, Near Eastern Studies, Linguistics

" Austin Channing Brown's work is incredibly important because it emphasizes racism and anti-Blackness in institutions that tend to view themselves as being good, socially just, or working towards equity, particularly nonprofits, social work, and religious organizations. I would encourage anyone looking to work in these fields to read this book."

 
"This book gives a personal account of a lawyer working for those convicted unfairly and are now on death row. Bryan digs into the broader societal context as to why they are unjustly tried and the steps that are taken to rectify this issue. This book demonstrated how nuanced even the most tragic or fatal cases actually are. And regardless of guilt, there are contributing factors to that person (race, age) and the situation that were ignored, which demonstrates the injustice that was delivered."


Recommended by: Nandina Babic, Student UW Seattle, Law, Societies & Justice / Political Science
"The incredible work done by Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative is highlighted in this book, read as part of LSJ361 with Professor Megan Francis. Beautifully written and moving, the book forces one to confront deep-seated issues in the criminal justice system and how they impact certain groups of people in the United States."


Recommended by: Saul Clifaseli, Staff UW Seattle, School of Social Work

Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa

Recommended by: Anonymous, Student UW Seattle, UW Libraries

"Mark Mathabane’s autobiography would be a perfect addition to the Equity Reads collection because it captures the importance of equity and opportunity in life. Through his own story, he shows how a lack of equity in a society can negatively impact one’s life and make it harder to overcome challenges such as poverty and hunger. With South Africa’s apartheid, Mark Mathabane was born into a society where he was not equal and given the same opportunity as others. The inequalities he faced resulted in him having to fight for his education and tennis opportunities, unlike the white community in his city. As seen in the novel, the white children of the Smith family are born into opportunities, such as higher education, tennis, money, and other extracurriculars. At the same time, Mark had to work much harder to attain these same things. The story may not explicitly speak about the importance of equity, but it serves as significant evidence for the importance of it. If Mark Mathabane were born into an equitable society, he would not have faced the same hardships as he did due to apartheid and institutionalized racism. By adding this novel to the Equity Reads section, it would provide readers with an inspirational read and also educate and open the eyes of readers to the importance of equity in society to provide all people with opportunities and protect people from unjust hardships."

Biographies L - Z

"How do you be equitable, when the Jews needed a homeland after the Holocaust, but ended up literally throwing Palestinians out of their homes?"

Lessons of Love in Afghanistan: A Lifelong Commitment to the Afghan People

Recommended by: Anonymous, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

" A wonderful example of how we can cross cultural divides. "Often risky, sometimes dangerous, Suzanne Griffin's work in Afghanistan has been sustained by love. In 1968, she went to Afghanistan a neophyte. Romantic love had led her there as a newlywed, the wife of a Peace Corps Officer. Love for the Afghan people led her back thirty-four years later, a respected college dean and a widow who knew her heart and had the education, position, tenacity and grace to help Afghans improve maternal health and broaden access to education for women and girls. ...In this memoir, you will see that in traditional cultures that respect wisdom and age, older, educated, energetic foreign women can overcome barriers that stop younger foreign co-workers. You will meet Afghans whose sacrifices for love illustrate the strength of the human heart. You will understand how it is possible to survive widowhood or heartache by following a compelling call to serve others on a large scale. You will see how one woman helps overcome perceived cultural barriers by applying the simple principles of inclusiveness, respect, and power-based negotiation."

The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the border

Recommended by: Ann Birnbaum, UW Alumni

" Offers insight into the reality of the U.S.-Mexican border and those seeking to cross it, as well as those patrolling it."

A Natural Woman

Recommended by: Cass Hartnett, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

" Carole King's memoir is page-turning as she recalls American pop music culture of the 1950s - today and how she climbed to super stardom as a singer-songwriter. King explores the days of "race music" and the connections between Jewish songwriters and black entertainers, credits her longtime nanny Willa Mae Phillips for scaffolding her home life during the active years of Carole's career, making her success possible. King's only sibling, Richard, was deaf, developmentally disabled, and institutionalized when Carole was a young child. This and her parents' subsequent divorce kept King on a lifelong search for "home" and a centered life. Inclusion here means what a memoirist chooses to include in their life story, and King makes several key decisions in her telling: who are music's insiders and outsiders? Who are all the people who should be credited with the success of a pop song? How could a successful, strong woman end up isolated and in a physically abusive relationship? What is going on behind a stage performance that might be shocking to the audience? What troubles come with extreme privilege of maintaining homes in LA, New York, and Idaho? Who owns access to a private road in remote Idaho? In my view, King does not explore her privilege enough, but makes some beautiful inroads into it, and tells a fantastic story."

Redlined: a Memoir of Race, Change and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago

Recommended by: Anonymous, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

" Real life example of how Redlining has affected race and fracturing of communities of which many today are unaware."

Recommended by: Melissa, Staff UW Bothell, UWB Library

See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love

Recommended by: Anonymous, Faculty UW Seattle, Honors Program

" A fresh voice with the essence of solution badly needed at this time. The author, renowned Sikh activist, filmmaker, and civil rights lawyer – "declares that revolutionary love is the call of our time, a radical, joyful practice that extends in three directions: to others, to our opponents, and to ourselves. It enjoins us to see no stranger but instead look at others and say: You are a part of me I do not yet know. Starting from that place of wonder, the world begins to change: It is a practice that can transform a relationship, a community, a culture, even a nation."

Michelle Alexander, civil rights advocate and author of The New Jim Crow states that the book, "is rooted in radical honesty, vulnerability, and fierce commitment to building a world in which we all belong. Her powerful memoir offers a moral compass for our time." Other astute descriptions include "remarkable courage", "deep insight", "lighting the way through the darkness", "healing is necessary and possible", "a powerful weapon against intolerance and injustice", and an "unflinching approach to social justice." A Must read!"

Solito: A memoir

Recommended by: Ann Birnbaum, UW Alumni

 

Song in a Weary Throat, Memoir of an American Pilgrimag

Recommended by: Marisa Brunelli, Student UW Seattle

" Pauli Murray was a genderqueer Civil Rights activist whose legal strategies influenced both late Justices Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This book shows why it is crucial to maintain an intersectional perspective in social movements and the various forms of mass protest and legal challenges we can apply today."

Recommended by: Anne Davis, Staff UW Seattle, UW Libraries

Recommended by: Mary Whisner, Staff UW Seattle, Law Library

"Moving memoir by a black man wrongly convicted and sentenced to death row who was finally exonerated almost two decades later."

 
 
"Michael Bennett, a former Seahawk, provides a compelling story of his engagement with life and sports. He gives a football player's view of the inside of the protest actions by players in the NFL."

Tomorrow Will Be Different

Recommended by: Anonymous, Student UW Seattle, Electrical Engineering

" This book is a memoir by Sarah McBride in which she talks about her experience in coming out as transgender, as well as her journey as an unwavering advocate for the transgender community. McBride does an amazing job connecting with the reader, while also providing insight into the discrimination against the transgender community. This book is a must read for all individuals, as it will likely resonate with the reader, while also imparting on them a new view of the world."

 

"Great to understand how stories shape our world views."

Troubled: a memoir of foster care, family, and social class

Recommended by: Anonymous, Student UW Seattle, School of Public Health

"In the spirit of bringing some viewpoint diversity to the collection."

"This book is a great historical background of how the Conquistadors came to South America and wiped out a mighty culture (mostly with disease). Mark Adams is a travel writer for the New York Times and has written a hilarious book over a traumatic event in the past. His respect for all the ironies of history and respect for Inca architecture and his use of the Catholic priests accounts of their conquests, is an amazing look at human beings expansion into other's worlds. We will be like this in our space travel."
 

Recommended by:  Malcolm Murrell-Byrd, Student UW Seattle,  Library and Information Science

" This is a very powerful book on the empowerment of marginalized and oppressed people in the United States. Linda Sarsour, co-organizer of the Women’s March, shares an “unforgettable memoir” about how growing up Palestinian Muslim American, feminist, and empowered moved her to become a globally recognized activist on behalf of marginalized communities across the country. It's important that other people read this book because Islamophobia has increased since post 9/11 and Muslim Americans are routinely marginalized, threatened, and treated less than second-class citizens."

"This book outlines the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement from the perspective of Patrisse Khan-Cullors. It's an indepth memoir of Patrisse's life as a black woman born into poverty and battling with white supremacy. It's a moving, painful story that will give everyone a better perspective of real experiences of black people in America."
 
Recommended by: Chloe Horning, Library Staff, UW Bothell

Think something is missing? Recommend a Book!