Narrative justice is a framework for challenging systems of power by reclaiming narrative authority. Narrative justice isn’t just about amplifying the lived experiences of those fighting for justice on the frontlines. It’s also about shifting narrative authority to community organizers, culture workers, media makers, and independent journalists in the movement.
Narrative justice asks us to look beyond any single story, campaign, or publication and assess the larger ecosystem in which narratives are created, legitimized, distributed, and ultimately translated into action. It asks us to consider not only what stories are being told, but who has the power to tell them—and how we build the infrastructure for those stories to travel.
Below is a living archive of resources for better understanding narrative justice in practice. Although there are many incredible resources for learning how to challenge the status quo, this is just a short list of contributions from our immediate community—including Peace & Riot writers and A People’s Climate guests. This page is a companion to our field guide Change the Narrative. Change the World.
Books
- An Abolitionist’s Handbook by Patrisse Cullors
- An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays
- An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters, and the Fight for Seadrift Texas by Diane Wilson
- The Beginning Comes After the End by Rebecca Solnit
- Black Earth Wisdom by Leah Penniman
- Compassion in Crisis by Kate Rose Weiner and Kailea Rose Loften
- Farming While Black by Leah Penniman
- Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
- How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo
- How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa
- Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba
- Palestine by Hatem Bazian
- Rooted by Brea Baker
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
- The Sage Encyclopedia of Environmental Justice by Dorceta E. Taylor
- The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman
- The Water Remembers by Amy Bowers Cordalis
- The Wrong Complexion for Protection: How the Government Response to Disaster Endangers African American Communities by Robert D Bullard and Beverly Wright
- Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility by Dorceta E. Taylor
- We Make the World by Patrisse Cullors
Podcasts
- A People’s Climate by Counterstream Media
- Broken Ground by Southern Environmental Law Center
- Code Switch
- Contempt of Court by Elie Mystal
- First America by Rebecca Nagle
- LANDBACK For the People by NDN Collective
- Laura Flanders & Friends
- The Majority Report
- Movement Memos by Truthout
- On The Media
- People over Plastic by Counterstream Media
- The Dig with Daniel Denvir
- We’re Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends by Zeteo
- Who’s With Me? with W. Kamau Bell
- Why is This Happening? by Chris Hayes
Journals & Newsletters
- Elie v. US by Elie Mystal
- The Golden Hour by Karen Attiah
- Narrative Edit by Shilpi Chhotray
- The New York War Crimes by Writers Against the War on Gaza
- Organizing My Thoughts by Kelly Hayes
- PLANTCRAFT by Amirio Freeman
- The Sioux Chef by Sean Sherman
- The Stream by Julia Luz Betancourt
Movement Media
- Capital B
- Counterstream Media
- Democracy Now!
- The Empire Files
- Floodlight
- The Forge
- Hammer & Hope
- Jewish Currents
- Liberation Stories
- Lux Magazine
- MediaJustice
- The Nation
- Peace & Riot
- Possibilities
- Prism
- Scalawag
- Truthout
- Zeteo