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Pronoun, I, me, you, she, her, they, them

Equity-Centered Book & Movie Recommendations

This resource offers book and movie recommendations to help State of Colorado employees discover new perspectives. Enjoy them on your own or consider starting an equity-centered book or movie club! For help creating discussion questions, feel free to reach out to the Statewide Equity Office.

Please note, this list is for reference purposes only and does not serve as an endorsement of any particular book or movie. The content and effectiveness of these books and movies have not been fully examined by the Statewide Equity Office. If you are an equity leader, we encourage you to conduct your own research and assessment to determine which programs best meet your needs.

We highly recommend purchasing your books at a local bookstore. Check out the supplier diversity buyers page to learn about the importance of supporting local businesses and diversifying your supplier chains at work.

Books to Read

  • Ally Up: The Definitive Guide to Building More Inclusive, Innovative and Productive Teams by Di Ciruolo
  • Design Patterns: Coding Accessibility Into Web Design by Heydon Pickering
  • How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
  • Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization by Bernadette Smith
  • Inside Out: The Equity Leader’s Guide to Undoing Institutional Racism by Caprice D. Hollins
  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer
  • Lead Like an Ally by Julie Kratz
  • Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Rohini Anand
  • Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
  • No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu
  • No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement by Joseph Shapiro
  • Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol
  • Scott E. Page, The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies by Scott E. Page
  • Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County by Kristen Green
  • The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
  • The Inclusive Language Handbook by Jackie Ferguson and Roxanne Bellamy
  • The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
  • Toxic Inequality: How America's Wealth Gap Destroys Mobility, Deepens the Racial Divide, and Threatens Our Future by Thomas Shapiro
  • Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success by Donald Thompson
  • Uneasy Peace by Patrick Sharkey
  • Vivian Gussin Paley, White Teacher by Vivian Gussin Paley
  • We Can’t Talk About That at Work! by Mary-Frances Winters
  • What Works for Women at Work: Four Patterns Working Women Need to Know by Joan C. Williams and Rachel Dempsey
  • Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Claude M Steele
  • Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
  • Zachary R. Wood, Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America by Zachary R. Wood

Movies to Watch

  • 13th 
    This powerful documentary explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, named after the 13th Amendment.
     
  • When They See Us
    This miniseries delves into the true story of the Central Park Five, a group of young black men wrongly convicted of a brutal assault in New York City.
     
  • I Am Not Your Negro
    Based on James Baldwin's unfinished manuscript, this documentary explores the history of racism in the United States through Baldwin's observations and analysis.
     
  • Just Mercy
    Based on the true story of Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard graduate lawyer who heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation.
     
  • Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
    This documentary focuses on a groundbreaking summer camp for teens with disabilities, which played a pivotal role in the disability rights movement in the United States.
     
  • The Hate U Give
    A film adaptation of Angie Thomas's novel, it tells the story of a young girl who witnesses the police shooting of her best friend, exploring themes of race, police brutality, and activism.
     
  • Selma
    This historical drama chronicles the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.
     
  • American Son
    This film, based on the Broadway play of the same name, deals with a couple waiting for information about their missing son and explores themes of race, policing, and parental fear.
     
  • Do the Right Thing
    Directed by Spike Lee, this classic film examines racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year.
     
  • Stamped from the Beginning
    Based on the book by Ibram X. Kendi, this documentary explores the deep-rooted racism in American history and its continuing impact today.
     

Want to suggest a book or movie to add to this list? Email the Statewide Equity Office at dpa_statewideequityoffice@state.co.us.