Books: summer reading for systemic change

As we seek moments of reflection and learning, Foundation ENAR is proud to share a curated reading list that embodies our commitment to building a systemically inclusive society. These works, authored and co-authored by members of our SPARK Communities, offer profound insights into the anti-racism movement while showcasing the intellectual contributions of racialised professionals across Europe.

At Foundation ENAR, we believe that systemic problems require systemic solutions. The books featured in this European summer reading collection reflect this philosophy, offering transformative frameworks for understanding and dismantling racial inequality. Each author represents the vibrant professional networks we cultivate through our SPARK Communities, spaces designed to counteract the social capital gap experienced by racialised individuals and amplify voices that have been historically marginalised.

Intersectionality and identity: celebrating diverse experiences

Women, Intersectionality & Europe by Tamara Makoni

Tamara Makoni, founder and former SPARK DEI Chair, and a driving force in our community building efforts, presents a compelling examination of how women across Europe navigate diverse challenges.

Combining research data, personal stories, and case studies, Makoni's work provides the evidence base necessary for creating more inclusive futures. Even more so, this type of comprehensive research informs Foundation ENAR’s approach and support of systemic change.

"It will engage your curiosity, deepen your awareness and inspire you to imagine a fairer, more equal future," Tamara Makoni said.

Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes by Briana Fitzsimons and Leon Diop

Briana Fitzsimons, founder and former Co-Chair of SPARK Teachers, co-authored this creative celebration of Black Irish identity. As the first book of its kind, it highlights inspirational figures including Ruth Negga, Gavin Bazunu, and Phil Lynott.

Fitzsimons' work pays attention to how representation and visibility can challenge systemic exclusion, which is a core component of building the inclusive society we envision.

Education and inclusion: transforming learning environments

Becoming a Totally Inclusive School - A Guide for Teachers and School Leaders by Angeline Aow, Sadie Hollins & Stephen Whitehead

Angeline Aow, a valued SPARK DEI member, co-authored this essential guide responding to the global call for institutions to address inequitable structures.

The book offers practical knowledge for educational professionals committed to becoming advocates for inclusivity, focusing on mindsets, behaviours, systems and structures.

Angeline Aow’s work also exemplifies the kind of proximity-based support Foundation ENAR champions, providing concrete tools for those working directly within educational communities.

Chapter on Culturally Responsive Learning Pedagogy by Mette Toft Nielsen

Our SPARK Teachers Chair, Mette Toft Nielsen’s contribution, featured in the anthology Anerkendelse i skolens læringsfællesskaber med en kulturelt dynamisk læringspædagogik, explores how Denmark’s increasingly diverse society shapes its educational institutions. Drawing on research and practical experience, the anthology addresses the challenges and opportunities that arise when working with ethnic, racialised, and gender diversity across all levels of education, from early childhood to higher education.

Mette’s chapter offers vital insights and actionable guidance for teachers, leaders, and professionals seeking to build recognition and inclusion in learning communities, while also examining the structural dynamics of racialisation and othering that persist throughout the Danish education system.

Love, language, and liberation: personal and political transformation

Amour - Révolutionner l'amour grâce à la sagesse arabe et/ou musulmane by Jamal Ouazzani

Jamal Ouazzani, a French-Moroccan Muslim writer and SPARK DEI member, offers a manifesto that combines political and poetic activism in his book "LOVE: Revolutionising Love Through Arab and/or Muslim Wisdom". Drawing from Arab-Muslim cultural wisdom, Ouazzani's work seeks to reinject joy and empathy to rebuild a world governed by Love.

We love this approach, it is also our understanding that dismantling racism requires not just structural changes, but transformation of how we relate to one another across differences.

"This book is an invitation to reconsider how we perceive and practice love in a society marked by deep and systemic divisions," said Jamal Ouazzani.

A Poetic Odyssey of Proclamations: 31 ways to sow, grow and flow goodness into your life by Peju Abuchi

Peju "The Spark" Abuchi brings her expertise in empowerment and community building to this exploration of the transformative power of words. As someone who has dedicated over 20 years to empowering individuals and communities, Abuchi's work wants to show how personal transformation connects to broader social change.

Peju's book serves as both inspiration and practical guide for sowing goodness in our daily interactions and communities.

"Start the journey. Join the odyssey. Discover the power to change your world, with your words," said Peju Abuchi.

Decolonising knowledge: academic and institutional transformation

Whiteness, Racial Trauma, and the University by Harshad Keval

Harshad Keval, SPARK Academia member and former Chair of SPARK Academia, delivers what was called "an inconvenient book" that examines the conceptual, historical, and material maintenance of race thinking. Keval's exploration of racial trauma as a system of violence enacted by white supremacist structures offers crucial insights for anyone working within or challenging institutional racism.

As Harshad himself notes, this book captures "the discussions that take place when whiteness leaves the room," providing the honest, experience-based dialogue essential for genuine institutional transformation.

Reimagining the Dream: Decolonising Academia by Putting the Last First by Nadira Omarjee

Nadira Omarjee, Chair of our SPARK Academia community, brings us this powerful examination of decolonising universities. Following the Rhodes Must Fall movements in Cape Town and the University of Colour demonstrations in Amsterdam, Omarjee argues that epistemic justice requires an unlearning and relearning of being.

Her work directly challenges the neoliberal university structure while centring historically marginalised voices, a mission that Foundation ENAR believes in and has a commitment to putting community voices at the forefront of systemic change.

We Belong to the Earth: towards a decolonial feminist pedagogy rooted in Uhuru and Ubuntu by Nadira Omarjee

Omarjee's second contribution explores how the personal is political in advancing decolonising scholarship. Through the lens of Fanonian theory and Freirian concepts of conscientisation, she shows how ubuntu and uhuru can serve as agentic strategies for reclaiming knowledge systems.

"Flipping the classroom to resist the coloniality of knowledge allows scholars to connect with community, encouraging engaged scholarship from the personal/political perspective, making the classroom a radical space for addressing trauma and healing whilst bridging art, activism and scholarship," said Nadira Omarjee.

Beyond traditional philanthropy: a call to action

These remarkable works by our SPARK Community members represent more than individual achievements, they reflect the proximity-based philanthropy that defines Foundation ENAR's approach. Each author brings lived experience and community connection to their writing, creating resources that can genuinely transform how we understand and challenge systemic racism.

As you engage with these texts this European summer, we invite you to consider how your learning can translate into action. Foundation ENAR mobilises people, ideas, and resources to build tomorrow's systemically inclusive society. We cannot do this work alone.

Support systemic change

For individuals: Consider how these readings might inform your own anti-racism practice, whether in educational settings, workplaces, or community spaces. Join the conversation by sharing insights from your reading journey and connecting with others committed to racial justice.

For organisations and funders: Foundation ENAR seeks like-minded partners to power up racialised initiatives across Europe. We particularly need support for:

• Expanding existing SPARK Communities and adding other professional sectors;

• Providing structural support to grassroots anti-racist organisations;

• Funding innovative projects that build systemic inclusion;

• Supporting ground-breaking research that informs movement building.

The future of racial justice funding is about and with the communities most affected by systemic racism. By supporting Foundation ENAR, you support proximity-based solutions that centre those with the deepest understanding of challenges and the most innovative approaches to change.

Take action today: Learn about funding opportunities with Foundation ENAR, explore our grant and community based programmes, and discover how your support can amplify the vital work happening across Europe's anti-racism movement.