Stay Woke

The essential guide to understanding how racism and racial inequality shapes black lives—and a road-map for resistance for racial justice advocates.

"[Stay Woke] will prove useful to anyone interested in seeing America strive to live up to its purported values of equality, liberty, and justice. . . . Refreshingly direct, comprehensive, inspirational, and unapologetically antiracist." ―Political Science Quarterly

When #BlackLivesMatter went viral in 2013, it shed a light on the urgent, daily struggles of black Americans to combat racial injustice. The message resonated with millions across the country. Yet many of our political, social, and economic institutions are still embedded with racist policies and practices that devalue black lives. Stay Woke directly addresses these stark injustices and builds on the lessons of racial inequality and intersectionality the Black Lives Matter movement has challenged its fellow citizens to learn.

In this essential primer, university professors Tehama Lopez Bunyasi and Candis Watts Smith inspire readers to address the pressing issues of racial inequality, and provide a basic toolkit that will equip readers to become knowledgeable participants in public debate, activism, and politics.

This book offers a clear vision of a racially just society, and shows just how far we still need to go to achieve this reality. From activists to students to the average citizen, Stay Woke empowers all readers to work toward a better future for black Americans.

"Lays bare the common sense assumptions that both sustain and obscure racism. Makes it impossible for anyone to sleep on 'Black Lives Matter' and the ongoing struggle to end racism as we know