Book-Based Congregationally-Led Programs for Anti-Racist Multicultural Change

These books have been used and appreciated widely by Unitarian Universalist people and congregations engaged in anti-racist multicultural transformation. This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, and new books and resources are constantly emerging. When a discussion guide is available that is designed for Unitarian Universalist contexts, a link is provided. Links to secular discussion guides are provided in some cases.

Books are listed alphabetically by title. If you are looking for a particular topic, use the Find on Page function in your browser to search for keywords here that address your particular transformational goals.

Anti-Racist Multicultural Transformation Book List
Book and Author Topics Discussion Guide(s)
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer Indigenous Ways of Knowing; Collective Liberation, De-Colonization, Interdependent Living Several secular discussions guides are available.
Breathe: A Letter to My Sons, by Imani Perry Raising Black Children, Racism, Gender UU Breathe discussion guides (PDF) include a general one and a BIPOC one.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson Structural Oppression, Racism, Classism Foothills UU developed a UU guide to Caste (PDF) and publisher has a guide to Caste.
Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry, edited by Mitra Rahnema Unitarian Universalist BIPOC Experiences, Racism, Intersecting Oppressions UU discussion questions are built into the book.
Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture (2021 version), by Tema Okun White Supremacy, Microaggressions, Racism, Culture Characteristics and Antidotes (Google Drive) can be discussed in groups.
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, by adrienne maree brown Anti-Oppression, Systemic Thinking, Interdependent Living, Collective Liberation UU LeaderLab article
Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation, by adrienne maree brown Leadership for Intersectional Collective Liberation No guides available currently.
How to Be an Anti-Racist, by Ibram X. Kendi Anti-Racism, Creating Change De Ramos and Eisenberg developed this secular study guide (Google Drive).
An Indigenous People's History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz US History, Settler-Colonialism, Indigenous Peoples UUA-developed discussion guide (PDF)
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor, by Layla F. Saad Anti-Racism, Examining White Privilege. Written for people who hold white privilege. This secular guided journal is designed as a companion.
Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism, edited by Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin Unitarian Universalism, Anti-Racist/Multicultural Congregational Change UUA-developed discussion guide (PDF)
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem Embodiment, Trauma Healing, and Racism’s Effects on Black and White Bodies No, but book includes individual exercises and reflection prompts
Revisiting the Empowerment Controversy: Black Power and Unitarian Universalism, by Mark Morrison-Reed UU History (1960s), Anti-Racism, Black Power Author-developed discussion guide (PDF)
So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Olou Anti-Racism, White Supremacy, Microaggressions, Black Lives Matter Publisher-developed discussion guide (PDF)
The Arc of the Universe is Long: Unitarian Universalists, Anti-Racism, and the Journey from Calgary, by Leslie Takahashi, Chip Roush, and Leon Spencer UU History (1990s-2000s), Anti-Racism Author-developed discussion guide (PDF)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander Structural Racism in the US Criminal Justice System, US History UUA-developed discussion guide (PDF)
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo Whiteness, White Supremacy, Building white people’s capacity for anti-racism

UUA-developed discussion guide (PDF)

Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Changing Unitarian Universalism UUA-developed discussion guide

If you have experience with other books that have helped your congregation's transformation, you're invited to tell us about them by contacting us at multicultural@uua.org.