What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMy Grandmother's Hands
Resmaa Menakem · Book · 2017
If you loved My Grandmother's Hands, start with Where Hands Touch (Amma Asante, 2018) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to My Grandmother's Hands across media.
If My Grandmother's Hands resonated with you, explore these stories that map the visceral, lingering impact of systemic trauma on the human body.
Films on the same thread
Mudbound
Dee Rees · Film · 2017
Explores: Racial Prejudice, Post-War Trauma, Class Conflict.
Like My Grandmother's Hands, this film examines how systemic racism and historical trauma manifest within the physical struggle for survival, mirroring the deep-seated tensions addressed in the book.
Where Hands Touch
Amma Asante · Film · 2018
Explores: Forbidden Love, Racial Identity, Nazi Germany.
This narrative reflects the somatic focus of My Grandmother's Hands by illustrating how racial identity and survival instincts create a constant, internal state of vigilance under oppressive regimes.
BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee · Film · 2018
Explores: Racial Injustice, Undercover Operation, Identity.
This film provides a sharp, satirical look at the systemic racism analyzed in My Grandmother's Hands, grounding the absurdity of white supremacy in the reality of undercover infiltration.
Get Out
Jordan Peele · Film · 2017
Explores: Racism, Gaslighting, Cultural Appropriation.
The psychological horror here mirrors the visceral, body-centered trauma discussed in My Grandmother's Hands, showing how gaslighting and cultural appropriation function as tools of systemic oppression and control.
Series on the same thread
Roots
Alex Haley · Series · 1977
Explores: Family Saga, Cultural Identity, Oppression and Resistance.
This epic saga aligns with the intergenerational trauma framework in My Grandmother's Hands, tracing the deep-rooted impact of historical oppression across the lived experiences of a single family.
Them
Little Marvin · Series · 2021
Explores: Systemic Racism, Racial Trauma, American Dream Nightmare.
This anthology captures the terror of systemic racism, echoing the somatic and psychological observations found in My Grandmother's Hands regarding how racial trauma haunts the American domestic experience.
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
Leah Remini · Series · 2016
Explores: Religious Trauma, Cults, Whistleblower.
Much like the healing journey in My Grandmother's Hands, this series utilizes personal accounts to expose how institutional power structures inflict long-term psychological and religious trauma on their members.
When They See Us
Ava DuVernay · Series · 2019
Explores: Racial injustice, Wrongful conviction, Systemic racism.
This drama mirrors the systemic critique in My Grandmother's Hands, highlighting how state-sanctioned injustice and police brutality force victims to navigate a world designed to undermine their physical safety.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Wood From The Trees
Podcast
Explores: mindfulness, well-being, introspection.
Building on the introspection encouraged in My Grandmother's Hands, this podcast offers a pathway toward the personal growth and mindfulness necessary for navigating complex, often overwhelming, external life stressors.
Relationships
Elijah Hamilton · Podcast · 2025
Explores: interpersonal relationships, emotional wellbeing, self-improvement.
This podcast complements the healing-centered approach of My Grandmother's Hands by providing practical guidance on emotional wellbeing, essential for those working to untangle the effects of past trauma.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary focus of My Grandmother's Hands?
My Grandmother's Hands examines white supremacy in America through the lens of body-centered psychology. The book addresses how racism and trauma are held within the human body, offering a somatic perspective on the systemic issues facing the country.
Is My Grandmother's Hands a book about psychology?
Yes, My Grandmother's Hands utilizes body-centered psychology to explore the impact of racism and trauma. The author, Resmaa Menakem, applies these psychological principles to analyze white supremacy in America, moving beyond traditional historical or sociological discussions of the subject.
Who wrote My Grandmother's Hands?
My Grandmother's Hands was written by Resmaa Menakem and published in 2017. The author uses his background in body-centered psychology to provide a unique framework for understanding how racialized trauma and white supremacy manifest in American society.
Does My Grandmother's Hands discuss American racism?
My Grandmother's Hands specifically addresses racism in America by examining it through the perspective of body-centered psychology. The book focuses on the somatic nature of trauma and white supremacy, providing a framework for understanding these issues within the American context.