Book Review: Then They Came for Mine

In Then They Came for Mine, Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts shares powerful reflections and calls to action about our collective responsibility to confront and heal from racial trauma. A lifelong Christian, the author documents her awakening to the harsh realities of racial violence when a white supremacist murdered her cousin. Lewis-Giggetts offers a path that centers on truth-telling, vulnerability, and accountability. She challenges White Christians to face the harms of racism and contemplate what is required to achieve lasting and sustainable peace.

Lewis-Giggetts writes uncompromisingly, and I imagine this text may be difficult for some readers. Others may be quick to judge its tone as invoking white guilt. However it lands, one hopes that truth will jolt the reader out of complacency. Complicity and silence have allowed racist systems to continue. The ongoing threats to Black lives are damaging to all communities. We all need a deep commitment to understanding the causes and impacts of racist violence.

Reading the book from my lens as a Brown immigrant woman, I was deeply touched by Lewis-Giggetts’ accounts of the heart- and soul-breaking pain of racial violence. Trauma reverberates through communities and generations, repeating cycles of harm and violence. Healing through trauma requires different approaches among Black and white folks. Black joy and self-care must be amplified. White Christians can advance healing by reckoning by leaning on their faith and taking action toward justice and repair.

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Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...

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