The other day I went to turn on the TV… To the news like always. Right there I had to question, why am I continuing to watch the same things over and over again? How am I helping make things better by constantly listening to the rhetoric that news reporters are feeding me? So instead, I turned on the Netflix original documentary called 13th. I had done a podcast with RADBesty a while back for Our Liner Notes called Let’s Get Political featuring our favourite political albums, he picked Public Enemy and we discussed the American justice system and mass incarcerations. During the lead up to that episode I did quite a bit of research but watching 13th was like a lightbulb went on for me. I had always thought that after the Civil War, black people were liberated. However, 4 million black people were all of a sudden free and the south was in economic shambles. How would they get their free labour? By arresting black people for things like loitering and stealing, criminals became the “justice system’s” new free labourers. And when I say new I mean it was the same people, the same races, just a new name, no longer slaves but criminals instead. Mass incarceration wasn’t new to me but this thought-provoking documentary brought up so many historical facts about incarceration that I felt like not only did I learn something new but I was hungry to learn more.
I went directly to my bookshelf and picked up Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Ninja’s parents heard me talking about it a few years ago and got it for me for Christmas. I kept it in the van and I would read it a couple pages at a time. It is heavy. It is the story of 2 sisters living in Ghana in the 1770’s. They never met each other and started off on completely different paths but their fates were the same because of their colour. Once I picked it up again, I couldn’t put it down! The story started in Ghana in the 18th century and every chapter was the story of their descendants until the last chapter, present day. It was heartbreaking and fascinating and for me, it was a completely new take on this issue.
I have begun to realize that it is not enough to just be not racist. I want to be someone that knows the facts, knows the history, and knows what to say when confronted with ignorant Facebook idiots that post shit like, all lives matter. Of course all lives matter! But my family didn’t start their family tree by being kidnapped, put on a boat leaving Africa piled 10 high as feces and urine covered their bodies on the way to be sold to a master. Did yours?
I have the privilege to have gone through life saying, “I’m not racist” and leaving it at that. I have the privilege to leave it like that because every day prejudices and racism do not affect my life directly. Until now. Now, every day I wake up knowing that I am part of the problem and that has to change! I want to be part of the solution! As I said last week, one way to do that is discussion. However, I need to have a frame of reference to discuss these important topics. I realized that 1 movie and 1 book weren’t enough, not by a long shot! I realized that they were just the starting points of my education.
I decided to go on Google and search movies and books that are recommended by people of colour. Preferably books and movies written by people of colour. I went on my public library website to put some of the titles that I found on hold and to my great surprise and utter joy, there is a waiting list for almost all of them! I am not the only person in small-town Penticton that is trying to educate themselves on racial discrimination and what we can do to be better!
We have been adding things to our daily home learning that have gotten the Girls thinking about what they can do to make the world a better place for all humankind. So, I also looked up books for my Girls to read too!
I am really excited about some of these picks! Actually, I’m excited about every single one of them! I’ve made 3 lists in no particular order, of movies to watch, books to read and a short list of kid’s books. I would like to share them with you and hopefully they will inspire you too!
*The Cineplex Store is offering a TON of these movies and others like them to rent for FREE right now! Take advantage of this offer for yourselves.*
A 2019 legal drama starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, and Brie Larson. The film is based on the memoir of the same name, written by Bryan Stevenson.
A 2016 biographical romantic drama that tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, the plaintiffs in the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
Based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name. Starring Regina King. The movie follows a young woman who seeks to clear the name of her wrongly charged lover and prove his innocence before the birth of their child.
Books
Michelle Alexander was one of the speakers in 13th. I knew right away that it was going on my list! When my RADBesty started reading it, and he doesn’t read books LOL, I moved it to the top of my list.
In his 2015 cover story for Toronto Life magazine, Cole exposed the racist actions of the Toronto police force. This book pulls back the curtain on racism in Canada.
–They Call Me George: The Untold Story of The Black Train Porters by Cecil Foster
A descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee tells his story of growing up in the South and the moments that forced him to confront privilege and racism.
Looking at the history of the United States from the arrival of the English through to the present day. Tracing the histories of immigrant and indigenous groups, Treitler shows how each negotiates America’s racial hierarchy.
Looks at how beneath our present day conversation about race, there lies a full-blown arsenal of arguments, phrases, and stories that whites use to account for and justify racial inequalities.
Based on a viral article, it is the essential guide to understanding the Indian Act and its repercussion on generations of Indigenous peoples.
–Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester
–We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson
SBean loves meatballs! These are her favourite! I don’t make them that often because I don’t usually have pomegranate juice in my fridge. However, these are definitely worth buying it for and bonus then you have a delicious juice to add to summer time cocktails! We also baked more cookies this week! We better watch out because Daddy is getting way to used to having home baked cookies for his after dinner treat! These were chewy and delicious! They completely reminded me of toasted s’mores by the campfire.
Sticky Ginger Sesame Turkey Meatballs
Adapted from Half Baked Harvest
1 pound ground turkey
2 green onions, finely chopped, plus more for serving
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, minced or grated
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Preheat the oven to 450. Line a baking sheet with parchment or silicone baking pad.
Add the turkey, green onions, ginger, garlic, and a pinch of pepper to a bowl. Mix until just combined. Roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls placing them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are crisp and cooked through.
Meanwhile, combine the 1 tablespoon oil, the soy sauce, pomegranate juice, hoisin sauce, honey, vinegar, and crushed red pepper flakes in a medium saucepan. Set over medium-high heat and bring the sauce to a boil. Boil 5-8 minutes, until the sauce thickens and reduces by about 1/3. Remove from the heat.
Pour about half the sauce over the meatballs, tossing to combine. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce coats the meatballs.
Serve the meatballs and sauce over rice topped with additional green onions.
S’mores Cookies
Adapted from Baker By Nature
2 and 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs, very finely crushed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
2 sheets graham crackers, roughly chopped (about 1/2 cup)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer add the butter and both sugars; beat on medium-speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
Add the vanilla and beat smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add in the flour mixture.
Fold in chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers.
Roll 3 tablespoon sized portions of dough between your palms to form a ball (they should be big; almost a 1/4 cup we didn’t do that for the 1st batch and they were crispier and less chewy), then place on prepared sheet (make sure to leave 2″ between each cookie for inevitable spreading).
Continue this process until all the dough has been rolled. Place baking sheets in preheated oven, one at a time, and bake for 11 to 12 minutes, or until golden at the edges but still soft in the middle. Let cookies cool for 10 minutes on the sheet before transferring to a wire wrack to cool completely.
0 thoughts on “My Bucketlist of Books & Movies to Educate Myself on Racism and Sticky Ginger Sesame Turkey Meatballs & S’mores Cookies”
Wow! Thanks for all the info! I had to copy and paste the meatball recipe. I can't wait to try it!!