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Whether you want to get woke, or stay woke, we’ve got you covered with these audiobook suggestions.

Let’s face it; this year has been a rough one and the new year isn’t shaping up to be any better. For many who are already woke to the world of social inequality and injustice, that’s nothing new. While it could be argued that not much has changed in the United States regarding race, it could also be argued that much has, in fact, changed.

Regardless of where you stand on the issues, there is certainly room for conversation(s) about race and social injustice. And the fact that the Oxford Dictionary shortlisted “woke” as the “Word of the Year” means something. While it may seem like appropriation in a way, the reality is that where there is wokeness, there is a way forward.

For those who want to get woke (and let’s face it, we can all get more woke), but who may be short on time, audiobooks are the way to go. Whether you use a subscription service or the library, listening to audiobooks has really never been easier.

3 Must Listen to Audiobooks for Getting Woke

1. “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

In “Between the World and Me,” Coates shares a letter to his adolescent son–and his readers–looking at our nation’s past, present, and future and calling out the false construction of race we have created and continue to live by. It’s a compelling book which Toni Morrison calls “required reading”.

2. “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander

Author Michelle Alexander takes dead aim on the racial inequalities of our modern criminal justice system and illustrates just how broken that system is. It’s been called the “secular Bible of a new social movement” by some, including activist Cornel West. There are also companion study and organizational guides available on the book’s website for those who want to share their wokeness.

3. “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, through the story of a man falsely accused of a crime, shares the corruption, inequality, and racial disparity that is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. You will find yourself getting lost in this sad but true tale that explores justice and mercy, or the lack thereof of both.

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The post The 3 Best Audiobooks for Getting Woke in 2017 appeared first on EcoSalon.

I’ve always loved Urban Decay for multiple reasons. The company doesn’t test on animals, it has a vegan line, and it consistently releases insane colors the make my inner-makeup weirdo smile. And recently, the company announced it’s going to embark on a new campaign that makes me love these makeup slingers even more.

Vanity Fair reported that Urban Decay launched “The Ultraviolet Edge,” an appropriately named global initiative that will fund women’s-rights organizations. Wende Zomnir, Urban Decay’s chief creative officer and brand co-founder, formed this ambitious initiative to “empower women and bring women’s inequality issues to the forefront.”

To help get “The Edge” up and running, Urban Decay will donate $3 million to various causes over the next five years (and pledges to donate $500,00 in its first year) and will partner with the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund for its initial donation.

In addition to the brand’s generous donations, Urban Decay will also publicly recognize inspiring women who it feels are making a difference. The first woman the boisterous makeup makers are recognizing is a person who is as colorful as the makeup it sells: Gwen Stefani. This is the brand’s reasoning for making Stefani its first notable woman:

Gwen Stefani. Like us, she has a history of breaking down barriers and hails from Orange County, California. (Fun fact: She and Wende, our founder, met back in the early days of No Doubt and UD.) We dig Gwen’s innate ability to set trends and defy expectations. She also shares our passion for empowering women and will help give this initiative the attention it deserves.

If you’re an Urban Decay fan, you can get in on the ladylove action, too. All you have to do is purchase it’s limited-edition hue, Enigma. This eye shadow primer is priced at $20 and 100-percent of your money will go to Decay’s Ultraviolet Edge.

Related on EcoSalon

Empowering Women: Does Wearing Makeup Help Or Hurt?

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Animal Testing Banned in India’s Cosmetic Products, Household Cleaners Next

Image via Urban Decay Cosmetics’ Facebook page

The post Urban Decay Plans to Empower Women with ‘The Ultraviolet Edge’ appeared first on EcoSalon.