America this is deadly serious.

Of the events of the last few days, there is nothing to say that hasn’t already been said in the news or on social media. And there is nothing that matters as much as Alton Sterling’s fifteen-year-old son calling out for his father. Or Philando Castile’s girlfriend praying that this is not how his life ends. Or knowing that one of the murdered Dallas police officers survived three tours in Iraq and had a two-year-old daughter named Lyncoln.

What I can say is this: Our best hope of stopping this shit is to better understand each other. And for that, everyone should read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. 

You should read his words about never feeling safe in his own body. You should read his thoughts on watching young white children roam the sidewalks, and knowing that he could never feel truly comfortable letting his own son do the same. You should read about living in a default state feeling threatened, even, or especially, by the people who are supposed to be there for your protection.

It is, as I said in a different post “one of the most humane and touching communications I have ever encountered.” I think that is what we could use right about now.

And it is one part of the story. If you have suggestions on other reading that will bring more understanding to the other parts, please share them in the comments or with us on Twitter.

Read more in our election year series “America This is Quite Serious.”