9 Powerful Stories About People of Color
Reading is a great way to learn about a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. Unfortunately, works by white authors often dominate everything from best-seller lists to English class curricula. If you want to add some diversity to your personal library, try picking up one of the works we've gathered here. These non-fiction books tell compelling stories about everything from being a Black doctor in America to working undercover in a North Korean university. When you click links from this website, we may receive advertising revenue to support our research. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
9 Powerful Stories About Real People of Color
| Title | Author | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Good Daughter | Jasmin Darznik | The multigenerational story of an Iranian-American family |
| 2. | Black Man in a White Coat | Damon Tweedy M.D. | A doctor's reflections on race and medicine |
| 3. | Without You, There Is No Us | Suki Kim | One woman's experience at a North Korean university |
| 4. | This Will Be My Undoing | Morgan Jerkins | Thoughts on intersectional feminism |
| 5. | The Newcomers | Helen Thope | Refugee teenagers' experiences in American high school |
| 6. | Americanized | Sara Saedi | The memoir of a woman who grew up in America as an undocumented immigrant |
| 7. | Everything's Trash, But It's Okay | Phoebe Robinson | An essay collection about race, dating, and more |
| 8. | Reading with Patrick | Michelle Kuo | A teacher, a student, and a life-changing friendship |
| 9. | A Long Way Home | Saroo Brierley | One boy's journey from India to Australia and back again |
Why Diversity Matters
In Depth
The world is a diverse place full of all kinds of people. But that diversity isn't always reflected in our media, where white men all too often dominate the spotlight. If you want to read more about people of color, non-fiction books are a great place to start. In no particular order, here are nine works that tell powerful true stories.
Starting off at #1 is "The Good Daughter." The book begins after the death of author Jasmin Darznik's father, when she discovers a photo of her mother Lili as a young bride married to a strange man. This leads Jasmin to question her family's past. Her mom mails her cassette tapes that help unravel the truth behind the picture: their Iranian roots, Lili's struggles with her first marriage, abandoning her other daughter, and her determination to obtain a degree in obstetrics in a foreign country.
At #2 is "Black Man in a White Coat." Damon Tweedy talks about his first-hand experiences and observations throughout his internship at Duke University Medical School. He breaks down the issues that African-Americans face, both as doctors and patients. These include racial discrimination, the correlation between color and economic class, and the disturbing number of HIV cases associated with Black people.
He breaks down the issues that African-Americans face, both as doctors and patients.
Next, at #3 is "Without You, There Is No Us." Suki Kim recounts the events during her undercover work as a missionary and English language educator at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. She recalls how she was able to keep her private notes without being caught by North Korean guards, her encounters with the poor citizens in the rural areas, her relationship with her students, who came from elite families, and the young men's loyalty to their supreme leader, Kim Jong-il.
At #4 is "This Will Be My Undoing." In this collection of essays, Morgan Jerkins shares her opinions concerning controversial subjects, such as racism, feminism, misogyny, history, and pop culture. In addition, she praises women like Michelle Obama and Beyonce, whom she considers to be great role models. Jerkins also discusses how some Black women tame their thickly-curled manes by braiding or straightening them, because hair can be a source of power and sexuality.
Following at #5 is "The Newcomers." Helen Thorpe writes about the lives of twenty-two immigrant students who are gathered together in an English Language Acquisition class, created for them by Mr. Eddie Williams in Denver South High School. These pupils are either asylum seekers, trauma victims, or refugees. The book narrates the teenagers' struggles in adjusting to the new culture and surroundings, and looks at how they deal with overcoming their tough pasts.
Helen Thorpe writes about the lives of twenty-two immigrant students who are gathered together in an English Language Acquisition class, created for them by Mr. Eddie Williams in Denver South High School.
At #6 is "Americanized." Sara Saedi hilariously recollects her life as an undocumented Iranian girl living in the United States. She describes her anxieties and fear of being deported back to Tehran, a place she is not familiar with since her family moved to America when she was only 2 years old. Sara also discusses her more commonplace adolescent experiences, like suffering from bad acne breakouts, having a car, and getting a boyfriend.
Next, at #7 is "Everything's Trash, But It's Okay." Stand-up comedienne Phoebe Robinson gives readers her views on various topics, highlighting feminism, body image, overwork, and toxic masculinity. She also tackles subjects like debt, online dating, and meeting Bono. Robinson stresses that rubbish is everywhere, from impossible beauty standards to reality television.
At #8 is "Reading with Patrick." Taiwanese-American Michelle Kuo shares her experiences as a teacher in the rural areas of Arkansas, where she met fifteen-year-old Patrick Browning. After two years, Kuo went back home to pursue a degree in law. However, upon learning of Browning's imprisonment due to a criminal charge, the writer decided to return to the Mississippi Delta. Michelle served as the defendant's tutor and legal counsel to aid him during his days in jail, where they studied history, classic novels, and poetry.
After two years, Kuo went back home to pursue a degree in law.
Finally, at #9 is "A Long Way Home." Indian-born Saroo Brierley lives with his poverty-stricken kin in Khandwa. One day, he goes to work with his older brother Guddu. But after a series of unfortunate events, Saroo gets separated from his sibling and finds himself in a strange place. He is then brought to an orphanage, and is adopted by Australian couple Sue and John Brierley. Two decades later, the author is reminded of his family. With the suggestion of his friends, he makes up his mind to search for his hometown and reunite with his mom.
