Documentaries & Books

Environmental Movies

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
- Attenborough paints a stark picture of the planet's environmental systems in crisis, underscoring the swift decline in the variety of life and the escalating consequences of global warming. This movie offers a truthful insight of the state of our environment, but the ending shows a hopeful perspective
Kiss the Ground (2020)
- Focuses on regenerative agriculture; the movie profiles scientists, farmers and environmentalists as they explore the important role healthier soil plays in better human and planetary health.
Before the Flood (2016)
- This film covers the effects of climate change in various regions of the world and discusses climate change denial
The True Cost (2015)
- This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)
- The film explores the impacts of animal agriculture on the environment—examining environmental concerns as climate change, water use, deforestation, and ocean dead zones—and investigates the policies of several environmental organizations on the issue

We are the Weather - by Jonathon Safran Foer
- Explores the connection between our food choices and climate change. It encourages readers to adopt plant-based diets to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Why Vegan? - by Pete Singer
- A collection of essays by Peter Singer on veganism and animal rights, exploring the ethical considerations and consequences of eating animals.
Living Without Plastic - by Brigette Allen, Christine Wong
- An eye-opening guide on how to lessen one’s dependence on plastics
Earth Democracy - by Vandana Shiva
- Calls for a radical shift in the values that govern democracies, condemning the role that unrestricted capitalism has played in the destruction of environments and livelihoods
Climate Optimism -- by Anne Therese Gennari
- A book on reframing how we talk and think about the climate crisis. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, guilt, or despair, this is a guide that empowers us to see possibility, agency, and hope
Braiding Sweetgrass - by Robin Wall Kimerrer
- Explores reciprocal relationships between humans and the land, with a focus on the role of plants and botany in both Native American and Western European traditions

13th (2016)
- Explores the prison–industrial complex, and the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States
Selma (2015)
- Based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches which were initiated and directed by James Bevel and led by Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams, and John Lewis.
When They See Us (2019)
- based on events of the April 19, 1989, Central Park jogger case and explores the lives of the five suspects who were prosecuted on charges related to the sexual assault of a female victim, and of their families
Dear White People
- The film focuses on escalating racial tensions at a fictitious, prestigious Ivy League college from the perspective of several black students.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J.
- A chronicle of the incredible story of Madam CJ Walker, who was the first African American self-made millionaire

This Book is Anti-Racist - By Tiffany Jewel
- Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.
Hood Feminism - by Mikki Kendall
- A critical collection arguing that mainstream feminism fails to address the needs of poor and working-class women of color, emphasizing issues like hunger, education access, safety, living wages, and healthcare as essential feminist concerns
White Fragility - by Robin DeAngelo
- Examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively
The Fight for Black Liberation - by William T. Hoston
- The book argues that amid continued structural, institutional, and systemic barriers, Black people in America must establish political independence and demand a Black political agenda to chart a path toward a Black Liberation movement

Paris is Burning (1990)
- Dives into '80s transgender subculture, with the understated camera allowing this world to flourish and the people to speak (and dance) for themselves
Before Stonewall (1984)
- investigates national cultural perceptions of homosexuality before the event, looking back on previous decades, particularly in regard to conflicts with police and censorship
The Queen (1968)
- takes a look behind the scenes, transporting the viewer into rehearsals and dressing rooms as the drag queen subculture prepares for this big national beauty contest

I am still exploring books to recommend, but here is a link for a full collection of LGBTQ+ books - separated by categories https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/lgbtq/