There are many stories and references, here are just a few – cycling and non-cycling.
Back in the Frame: How to get back on your bike, whatever life throws at you by Jools Walker
A touching memoir about a love of cycling, wellbeing and diversity in cycling.
The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World by Marshall W. “Major” Taylor
Published in 1928, Major Taylor wrote his autobiography “to solicit simple justice, equal rights, and a square deal for the posterity of my down-trodden but brave people, not only in athletic games and sports, but in every honourable game of human endeavour.”
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The bible. This global best seller is a challenging read that will make you think.
On Intersectionality: Essential Writings by Kimberlé Crenshaw
A collection of essays and articles that have defined the concept of intersectionality.
Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
Accompanying the four-part BBC television series of the same name (now available on the iPlayer), this is a comprehensive account of Black British history.
Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer
Published in 1984, this book inspired David Olusoga. The opening sentence reads: “There were Africans in Britain before the English came here.”
Black People in the British Empire by Peter Fryer
Foreword by Stella Dadzie. In this book Fryer details how racist ideology was constructed to justify slavery and the oppression of millions of Black and Brown people across the British Empire.
There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack by Paul Gilroy
It caused an immediate sensation when first published in 1987, but in many respects it still feels current. Over thirty years since it was published this book remains a must read classic.
Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
A beautifully written personal account describing her life a mixed race women in Britain, who often does not feel entirely British.
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
A personal memoir that connects the author’s lived experience and the experiences of his contemporaries with the broader structural and societal issues of racism.
Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the Movement by Kimberlé Crenshaw, Neil Gotanda, Garry Peller, Kendall Thomas, Cornel West.
As titled.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colourblindness by Michelle Alexander
First published in 2010, in the wake of President Obama’s historic election, this book remains a wake up call, shining a light on crisis of mass incarceration in the USA, later highlighted in the Netflix documentary 13TH.
What White People Can Do Next – From Allyship To Coalition by Emma Dabiri
Respected author and academic Emma Dabiri examines social activism and puts the focus on solidarity and coalition rather than ally ship.