Knowledge is a privilege, but making a choice to remain ignorant (when obstacles are removed/not-existent) is no longer an option in today’s world. I am not silent about my beliefs and you shouldn’t be either. While I may not always get it right, it’s better to speak out than remain silent for fear of getting the words wrong.
And I encourage you to do the same. If you are not confident about your words, then here are some words that have bolstered me.
Giving a shit is cool. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
One hundred forehead kiss,
Samantha ❤
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Critical Race Theory & Anti-Racism
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Beyond the Pale: White Women, Racism, and History
Author:
Vron Ware
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Description:
Examines the complex role white women have played in the perpetuation of racism throughout history. Explores how white women’s identities and experiences are intertwined with racial hierarchies, revealing their complicity in systems of racial oppression while also considering possibilities for challenging these structures.
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How to Be an Antiracist
Author:
Ibram X. Kendi
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Offers a transformative approach to understanding and combating racism by challenging readers to actively confront and dismantle racist policies and ideas. Blends personal narrative, history, and social analysis to explore how individuals and societies can work toward racial equality.
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Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America
Author:
Ijeoma Oluo
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Critiques the dominance of white male power in shaping American society and its ongoing harmful effects. And examines how white men have historically maintained social, economic, and political privilege, and the ways this legacy continues to perpetuate inequality and injustice.
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Gender Studies (Intersectional Feminism)
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Abolish the Family: A Manifesto for Care and Liberation
Author:
Sophie Lewis
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Challenges the traditional institution of the family, arguing that it reinforces structures of inequality, patriarchy, and exploitation. Advocates for a re-imagining of care and kinship, proposing alternative systems that prioritize collective well-being, solidarity, and liberation over familial norms rooted in private ownership and capitalist dynamics.
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All About Love
Author:
bell hooks
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Explores the transformative power of love, arguing that love is an action and a choice that requires care, respect, and responsibility. Critiques societal misconceptions about love and advocates for a deeper, more inclusive understanding of love in all its forms.
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Eve’s Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West
Author:
John M. Riddle
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Traces the historical use of plants and herbal remedies for contraception and abortion in Western societies. Explores the cultural, medical, and political aspects of reproductive practices from ancient times to the modern era, revealing their impact on women’s autonomy and health.
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Feminist, Queer, Crip
Author:
Alison Kafer
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Examines the intersection of feminism, queer theory, and disability studies, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of disability. Challenges traditional notions of normalcy and highlights the importance of embracing diverse bodies and experiences in the fight for social justice.
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Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot
Author:
Mikki Kendall
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Highlights the ways in which mainstream feminism often overlooks issues affecting women of color, particularly those from marginalized communities. Emphasizes the importance of addressing economic inequality, access to healthcare, and other crucial issues in the fight for gender equality.
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Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights
Author:
Juno Mac and Molly Smith
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Examines the legal, social, and economic challenges faced by sex workers, advocating for their rights and dignity. Critiques the criminalization and stigmatization of sex work, while offering a powerful argument for labor rights, decriminalization, and the importance of a solidarity-based approach to improving the lives of sex workers.
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The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality
Author:
Angela Saini
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Explores the historical and cultural roots of patriarchy, examining how it has shaped societies across the globe. Delves into the science, politics, and social structures that have reinforced male dominance and its enduring impact on gender inequality.
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The Transgender Issue: Trans Justice is Justice for All
Author:
Shon Faye
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Argues that transgender rights are integral to broader social justice struggles. Explores how issues like inequality, discrimination, and violence faced by trans people intersect with wider systemic injustices, urging solidarity and collective action for equality.
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The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love
Author:
bell hooks
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Explores the toxic effects of traditional masculinity on men and their ability to love authentically. Calls for a cultural transformation where men embrace vulnerability and emotional openness to foster healthier relationships and self-awareness.
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Police / Gun Reform (ACAB)
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A World Without Police: How Strong Communities Make Cops Obsolete
Author:
Geo Maher
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Critically examines the role of policing within systems of systemic injustice and violence. Arguing for the dismantling of traditional law enforcement, proposing community-based models of safety and justice as alternatives to police institutions.
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Columbine
Author:
Dave Cullen
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A journalist’s investigation into the Columbine massacre, its aftermath, and its significance, providing a definitive account of the tragedy and its impact on subsequent “spectacle murders.”
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Police Wife: The Secret Epidemic of Police Domestic Violence
Author:
Alex Roslin
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Exposes the hidden prevalence of domestic abuse within police families, revealing how law enforcement officers often perpetrate violence against their spouses. Sheds light on the systemic issues, cultural barriers, and cover-ups that allow this dangerous epidemic to persist.
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Police: A Field Guide
Author:
David Correia and Tyler Wall
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Critically examines the history and role of policing in society, arguing that police forces serve to maintain and enforce systemic inequalities. Offers an analysis of the police as an institution, exploring its connections between law enforcement and social control.
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Policing the Planet: Why the Policing Crisis Led to Black Lives Matter
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Edited by Jordan T. Camp and Christina Heatherton
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Explores the global crisis of policing and its impact on marginalized communities, particularly Black people. The book examines the roots of state violence, the rise of Black Lives Matter, and the ways in which policing serves as a tool of racial and social control.
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The End of Policing
Author:
Alex S. Vitale
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Critically analyzes the role of police in perpetuating social inequalities and argues that reforming policing is insufficient to address the root causes of violence and injustice.
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Social & Political History/Theory
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Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us
Author:
Brian Klaas
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Examines the psychological, social, and institutional dynamics that predispose individuals in positions of power to engage in corrupt behavior. Drawing on a range of case studies and empirical research, it explores how individuals, once granted authority, are vulnerable to moral decay and the corrupting influence of power.
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Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
Author:
Amanda Montell
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Delves into the powerful role language plays in creating and sustaining cults, exploring how charismatic leaders use persuasive speech to manipulate followers. Examines various high-control groups and the techniques they use to shape beliefs and behaviors, revealing the psychology behind fanaticism.
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Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)
Author:
Dean Spade
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Explores the concept of mutual aid as a practical and ethical response to crisis situations, emphasizing the importance of collective action and solidarity. Argues that mutual aid networks, grounded in principles of care and interdependence, offer a transformative alternative to state and market-based solutions, fostering resilience and social justice in times of crisis.
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On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
Author:
Timothy Snyder
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Offers a powerful guide to recognizing and resisting the rise of authoritarianism, drawing lessons from historical events of the 20th century. Outlines twenty key actions that individuals can take to safeguard democracy and protect against the erosion of freedoms.
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Religion and the Rise of Capitalism
Author:
R. H. Tawney
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Explores the relationship between religious thought, particularly Christianity, and the development of capitalist society. Argues that religious ideas, especially Protestantism, played a significant role in shaping the values and structures that enabled the rise of capitalism in Western Europe.
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The Notion of Authority by Alexandre Kojève
Author:
Alexandre Kojève
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Written in the 1940s in Nazi-occupied France, analyzes the evolution of authority from ancient to modern times, focusing on its role in shaping social structures, human relationships, and political power, while considering its implications for freedom and individual autonomy.
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The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State
Author:
Friedrich Engels
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Examines the historical development of family structures, private property, and state institutions, arguing that they are deeply interconnected and rooted in the rise of class-based societies. Traces how the emergence of private property led to the subjugation of women and the establishment of patriarchal family systems, which helped solidify capitalist social orders.
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Samantha LaFountain 