After Reading These Books You Will Want to Go Vote
Civic Engagement and Public Health Go Hand in Hand
Civic engagement is considered a social determinant of health. According to Grantmakers in Health “systemic change is needed to achieve a just, equitable, and healthy society and such change requires meaningful reforms across multiple public policy domains, including health care, housing, education, employment, criminal justice, environmental protections, and economic development.” Voting allows us to elect people who have our best interest at heart and that includes our values around health equity and access.
Civic engagement has been important to me for a very long time. I won my first presidential election in 7th grade. I campaigned to end homework. I didn’t fully come through on my promise but I did make some substantial changes to the student workload. Voting is incredibly important and I’m sharing my favorite reads around civic engagement.
After reading these books you will want to go vote.
Say it Louder! Black Voters, White Narratives and Saving Our Democracy
This book was a real treat because it educates on politics but from the cable news network point of view. Spoiler alert—whitewashed politics are yet again at play. The author, Tiffany Cross, has worked in journalism for over three decades and held positions a CNN, BET, and even started her own online news platform. She shares some of her ugly experiences of racism and micro-aggressions in the industry including being underpaid, undervalued, and then undermined once she began to advance in her career. What stood out to me in the book was when she shared that black female political pundits or contributors would need to be extremely educated with a ton of experience before being invited to debate significantly less qualified white men or women AND even then they might not have been compensated for their contribution. It’s stifling but the gem is that she and others are changing the game. Also, there’s tons of data to reinforce her claims around civic engagement.
The End of White Politics: How to End Our Liberal Divide
I discovered this book by following the author, Zerlina Maxwell, on Instagram. I was introduced to the author’s platform during the Clinton campaign when she was brought on to the campaign team as a digital strategist. Since that time she’s appeared as a political pundit on MSNBC and I’m always here for black girl magic in politics. I wanted to read the book because I’ve had a secret desire to run for office but was unsure how a person like me could be successful. Despite having 15 years of experience in public policy and advocacy, I never saw my lived experience as having a value in political spaces. Talk about embodying the tolls of white supremacy. #Embarrassing. This book dismantled the fallacies associated with white people and politics and highlights the magnitude of depth that black women bring to elected leadership roles. She also dispels the myth of “the black vote” and other gaslighting we know so well. The book is eye-opening and a must-read for anybody black—whether you actively engage in politics or not. It’s very entertaining and a quick read.
She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man’s World
The book is centered around an egalitarian society where women are not afforded the exact same privileges, dignity, and respect as their male counterparts. I’m all for that! The author quotes suffragettes and praises other women pioneers. In my opinion, the author didn’t take time to be more inclusive in terms of race but valid points are made throughout the text.
What reads during this election cycle got you ready to cast your ballot?
xoxo
Ar’Sheill Monsanto