Anti-racism

“Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably.” – NAC International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity

Anti-racism

This is not a comprehensive curriculum on anti-racism, but rather a small, manageable set of anti-racism resources selected to get you started on this journey.  Click here for resources on anti-racist pedagogy.

What is racism?

5-Minute Film Festival: Talking About Race and Stereotypes | Edutopia. The most important conversations are often also the most difficult to have! Learn how to start a constructive dialogue about race in your classroom with these tips and tricks. Click here to learn more. (website, video playlist)

5 Things You Should Know About Racism | Decoded | MTV News. Racism is COMPLICATED! Which is why, understandably, talking about racism is not an easy task. It’s hard to know how to approach the subject no matter who you are. This video is a bit of a “Racism 101,” if you will. Click here to watch it. (6-min. video)

What is anti-racism?

Anti-Racism Defined – “Anti-racism examines the power imbalances between racialized people and non-racialized/white people.” Click here to read article. (article)

The difference between being “not racist” and antiracist – There is no such thing as being “not racist,” says author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. In this vital conversation, he defines the transformative concept of antiracism to help us more clearly recognize, take responsibility for and reject prejudices in our public policies, workplaces and personal beliefs. Learn how you can actively use this awareness to uproot injustice and inequality in the world — and replace it with love. Click here to watch this TED Talk. (video: 51 mins)

What does it mean to be anti-racist? – “ Ibram X. Kendi, author of “How to Be an Antiracist,” and Jennifer Harvey, who wrote “Raising White Kids,” say it’s important to define the term and recognize that change is uncomfortable.” Click here to watch video. (video: 6 mins)

How anti-racism is a treatment for the ‘cancer’ of racism – “The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have sparked a renewed dialogue on racism in America. Reform advocates want policy and institutional changes, but individuals are also asking how they can address their own inherent racism. Amna Nawaz talks to Ibram X. Kendi, author of “How to Be An Antiracist,” and Robin DiAngelo, author of “White Fragility.” Click here to watch video. (video: 9 mins)

Learn relevant terminology

The Language of Antiracism – “Whether you’re a seasoned racial justice activist in the front lines of every protest or someone who’s in the beginning steps of racial literacy, we can all take time to evaluate the terminology we use when talking about race.” Click here to read article. (article)

Racial Equity Resource Guide: Glossary – “In talking about issues of race, a common vocabulary is essential to avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Words often have different meanings to different people, based on their experiences. The purpose of this glossary, which is a work in progress, is to help avoid such misunderstandings.” Click here to read article (article)

The Evolving Language of DEI: POC vs. BIPOC– The language of DEI is ever evolving and this video discusses an emerging trend in the language of DEI: the use of the term BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color). Watch to learn about why BIPOC is becoming increasingly popular and why the term People of Color is being left behind by many people working for racial justice. Click here to watch video. (video: 7 mins)

Which is the correct term? Black vs. BIPOC vs. African American vs. POC vs. BAME – “In light of the heinous murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others have forced communities around the world to confront systemic racism. As a Black, American woman—albeit a multi-racial and lighter-skinned Black woman—I’ve felt called to use my privilege and my platform to speak out how I can, with what I know. One of the questions I’ve been asked the most often is what terminology non-Black allies should use. Is Black an offensive term? Is African American accurate for all Black Americans? What is BAME and where did the term pop up from?” Click here to read article (article)

BIPOC: What does it mean and where does it come from? – “The language used to describe racial minorities has fueled controversy in the United States for centuries. POC is widely used as an umbrella term for all people of color, but now a different acronym is suddenly gaining traction on the internet — BIPOC, which stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color.” Click here to read article. (article)

(Re)Learn American History

Racist timeline

Racist timeline
Racist timeline

What Is THE NEW JIM CROW? – “Since March 2016, the Multicultural Resource Center has convened a table of 30+ community organizations which developed a plan to study Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, and ultimately take action to locally confront mass incarceration, one of the United States’ most urgent and devastating social crises.” Click here to read webpage. (webpage)

From Slavery to Mass Incarceration: Rethinking the ‘race question’ in the US – “Not one but several ‘peculiar institutions’ have successively operated to define, confine, and control African-Americans in the history of the United States.” Click here to read article. (article)

13th – “Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay’s examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country’s history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.” Click here to watch video. (video)

Learn about Whiteness

What is Whiteness?

What Is Whiteness? – “Should people be proud of membership in a group marked by power and privilege? Given the many current discussions on race and racism, I have been asked by well-intentioned White Americans if it is appropriate to be proud of having a White identity. This is a good question that deserves a good answer.” Click here to read article. (article)

It’s time to unpack White fragility – If we can’t acknowledge our racist conditioning, it’s going to be really hard to talk about racism in a meaningful way. And talking about it is the first step to dismantling it.  In this video, Dr. Robin DiAngelo unpacks her concept of “White Fragility”.” Click here to watch video. (video:  6 mins)

What it means to be white – BBC Stories – “Jack Waters, aka Jay0117, is a grime artist from Bristol. He wants to know what terms such as “whiteness, white privilege” and “white supremacy” mean for him and the people around him. He gets advice from writer Layla Saad, who ran a 28-day Instagram challenge called Me And White Supremacy that went viral. He then chats to his friends and fellow Bristolians about race, racism and what it means to be white.” Click here to watch video. (video)

What is White Privilege and why is it so hard to talk about?

What is white privilege & why is it so hard to talk about it? “As an organization advocating for the dignity of all people—and one with a predominantly white audience—we can’t sit out on the conversation around the systemic oppression that exists in the US. It’s worth repeating from our last post: we believe this work is central to our advocacy, as it’s important to understand our individual influence, platform, position, and voice.” Click here to read article. (article)

Kyla Lacey – “White Privilege” | (NPS ’16) – “All Def Poetry is a new channel brought to you by Russell Simmons – a world-renowned champion of the spoken word art form. Fresh, riveting, and featuring some of the best voices in the genre, All Def Poetry brings you the raw power of spoken word!” Click here to watch video. (video)

Explaining White Privilege To A Broke White Person – “After one reads McIntosh’s powerful essay, it’s impossible to deny that being born with white skin in America affords people certain unearned privileges in life that people of other skin colors simply are not afforded.” Click here to read article. (article)

Is This What It Means To Be White? – “In 1965, a white minister and civil rights organizer, James Reeb, was killed by a group of white men in Selma, Ala. Reeb’s death drew national outrage, but no one was ever held accountable. We spoke to two reporters — white Southerners of a younger generation — about the lies that kept this murder from being solved. “ Click here to listen to podcast. (podcast)

What is White Privilege? (PDF)

White Privilege Checklist (PDF)

Learn about Anti-Blackness

Black Americans in the Workplace | The Daily Social Distancing Show – “From code-switching to daily microaggressions, here’s a slice of what Black people go through in corporate America.” Click here to watch video. (video)

Being Black—but Not Too Black—in the Workplace – “Being a person of color at a predominantly white workplace creates its own special kinds of stress.” Click here to read article. (article)

Working While Black: Stories from black corporate America – “We asked black employees what they wanted their nonblack coworkers, supervisors, and executives to know about inclusivity in the workplace.” Click here to read article. (article)

Black Self / White World — lessons on internalized racism | Jabari Lyles | TEDxTysonsSalon – “Community leader, activist and educator Jabari Lyles discusses his personal journey to understanding and loving himself as a Black man, in spite of growing up among a predominantly white community. “ Click here to watch video. (video)

Let’s Talk About Anti-Blackness – “Uneasy about how to talk to your students about Anti-Black racism and related issues like colorism, U.S. history of slavery, and police brutality? Here are some resources to start the conversation. Click here to read article. (article)

How to Root Out Anti-Black Racism from Your School – “Educators, don’t proceed with business as usual. First and foremost, educators, even in this stay-at-home moment, you must address racism in America in your schools and classrooms. You must let students talk about what they feel, encourage them to write about their emotions, and create space for students to emote—even as all of that will have to be done virtually.” Click here to read article. (article)

Learn about institutional and structural racism.

Systemic Racism Explained – “Systemic racism affects every area of life in the US. From incarceration rates to predatory loans, and trying to solve these problems requires changes in major parts of our system. Here’s a closer look at what systemic racism is, and how we can solve it. “ Click here to watch video. (video)

Institutionalized Racism: A Syllabus – “This context seems vital for discussions both inside and outside the classroom. The following articles, published over the course of JSTOR Daily’s five years try to provide such context.” Click here to read article. (article)

11 Terms You Should Know to Better Understand Structural Racism – “Structural racism is not something that a few people or institutions choose to practice. Instead it has been part of the social, economic, and political systems in which we all exist. It is part of America’s past and its present. This glossary describes terms related to structural racism and terms used to promote racial equity analysis“ Click here to read blog. (blog)

Understanding structural racism | Luiza Lodder | TEDxYouth@EAB – “Luiza Lodder talks about how racism currently manifests itself in Western societies. Many people erroneously think that racism is a thing of the past. However, what these people don’t realize is those manifestations of racism change and adapt over time according to historical and social developments. She discusses how racism remains evident in the massive proportions of people of color in prison or killed by police. “ Click here to watch video. (video)

Being Well Podcast: Institutional Racism and Traumatic Stress with Dr. Alfiee – “Racism and racist structures place an enormous mental health burden on Black, Latinx, and indigenous communities, alongside other people of color. Dr. Alfiee joins Forrest to discuss the unique challenges faced by marginalized youth, disparities in access to mental health services, and the importance of “naming and claiming.” Click here to listen to podcast. (podcast)

Explainer: what is systemic racism and institutional racism? – “Systemic racism”, or “institutional racism”, refers to how ideas of white superiority are captured in everyday thinking at a systems level: taking in the big picture of how society operates, rather than looking at one-on-one interactions. “ Click here to read article. (article)

Definition & Analysis of Institutional Racism – “Solid Ground defines Institutional Racism as “the systematic distribution of resources, power and opportunity in our society to the benefit of people who are white and the exclusion of people of color.” Present-day racism was built on a long history of racially distributed resources and ideas that shape our view of ourselves and others.“ Click here to access pdf. (pdf)

Structural Racism (pdf)

Understand racism in academia.

How does anti-Black racism show up in academia? – “Here are resources specific to racism in all aspects of academia, from education, to admissions, to hiring.” Click here to access webpage. (webpage)

Academia Isn’t a Safe Haven for Conversations About Race and Racism – “We’re having hard conversations about racial justice in corporate America and academia right now. We have seen a flurry of company statements about diversity amid nationwide protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Will these conversations yield anything? “ Click here to read article. (article)

Learn about being an effective ally and advocate

Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist – “We talk about racial disparities, policy, and equality, but we really focus on How to Be an Antiracist, which is a groundbreaking approach to understanding uprooting racism and inequality in our society and in ourselves.” Click here to listen to podcast. (podcast)

Opportunities for White People in the Fight for Racial Justice – “The ideas captured on this website, very much a work in progress, have been developed to support White people to act for racial justice. It draws from ideas and resources developed mostly by Black, Brown and People of Color, and has been edited by Black, Brown, and People of Color.” Click here to read website. (website)

Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race – “If you’re nervous about talking about race with your kids, these books about racial diversity will give you an easy place to start destigmatizing difference & celebrating racial diversity.” Click here to read article. (article)

Rosa Clemente On Allyship And Confronting Anti-Blackness – “Afro-Puerto Rican activist, organizer, and scholar Rosa Clemente joined Latino USA to break down the systemic failures that led to these current protests. Clemente recently founded the Black-Latinx Organizing Project, a non-profit dedicated to combating anti-Blackness in the Latinx community.” Click here to listen to podcast. (podcast)

Dear anti-racist allies: Here’s how to respond to microaggressions – “The ability to even notice these instances requires educating yourself about the experiences of black people in America and the significance behind such remarks. Here’s a list of common microaggressions, the messages they send and what to say when you hear friends, family or colleagues say them.” Click here to read article. (article)

Guide to Allyship – “An open source starter guide to help you become a more thoughtful and effective ally. “ Click here to read webpage. (webpage)

5 Tips For Being An Ally – “An ally is someone who wants to fight for a marginalized group that they are not part of. We need your help building this house, but you probably should listen so you know what to do first. Click here to watch video. (video)

3 ways to be an ally in the workplace – “We’re taught to believe that hard work and dedication will lead to success, but that’s not always the case. Gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation are among the many factors that affect our chances, says writer and advocate Melinda Epler, and it’s up to each of us to be allies for those who face discrimination. In this actionable talk, Epler shares three ways to support people who are underrepresented in the workplace. “There’s no magic wand for correcting diversity and inclusion,” she says. “Change happens one person at a time, one act at a time, one word at a time.” Click here to watch video. (video)

Leading With Empathy And Allyship Series – “Join us weekly to learn how to be a better ally and advocate, and lead with empathy. Each week we’ll discuss a new topic: xenophobia and Asian identity, islamophobia and Muslim identity, mental health, indigenous power, Black intergenerational trauma, disability advocacy, trans and gender non-conforming allyship, Latinx leadership, LGBTQIA+ leadership and much more. “ Click here to listen to podcast. (podcast)

7 Examples of What Being an Ally at Work Really Looks Like – “Diverse and inclusive workplaces can be both difficult to find and hard to create. But if you care about making your own workplace truly inclusive, you have the ability to effect real change—as an ally. Here are a few roles that allies can choose to play to support colleagues from underrepresented groups in beneficial ways.” Click here to read article. (article)

A Conversation on BIPOC Allyship and Racism in Canada – “This episode is for people who don’t think there is racism in Canada, don’t understand systemic racism in Canada, or don’t know where to start. If you listen to this episode, you should ABSOLUTELY not stop here. You need to look at the references and resources we and others have posted, and continue learning!!” Click here to listen to podcast. (podcast)

Reading lists and collections

An Antiracist Reading List – “No one becomes “not racist,” despite a tendency by Americans to identify themselves that way. We can only strive to be “antiracist” on a daily basis, to continually rededicate ourselves to the lifelong task of overcoming our country’s racist heritage. To build a nation of equal opportunity for everyone, we need to dismantle this spurious legacy of our common upbringing. The reading list below is composed of just such books — a combination of classics, relatively obscure works and a few of recent vintage. Think of it as a stepladder to antiracism, each step addressing a different stage of the journey toward destroying racism’s insidious hold on all of us.” Click here to read article. (article)

Race and University Life: Readings for MU Faculty and Staff – “These narratives are either firsthand accounts of racism as it is experienced by racial minorities in the United States, or journalistic reports and editorials from popular media.“ Click here to access webpage. (webpage)

JPSE: The Inclusive Classroom Reading List – “This EducateJPSE collaboration brings together articles published in the Journal of Political Science Education that discuss classroom approaches related to teaching about race, racism, social justice and civic action. Our reading list offers a range of materials – from syllabi, reading lists to active learning assignments – that discuss classroom practices through the lens of identity, gender and power relations.” Click here to access webpage. (webpage)

Anti-racist Pedagogy

Anti-racist pedagogy model and  sample syllabus

Pedagogical Strategies to Acknowledge and Discuss Institutional Legacies of Racism – “For centuries, institutions of higher education across the nation have grappled with painful legacies of racism dating back to their foundation in the colonial era. In some cases, these histories have led universities to pay reparations to descendants of enslaved people. The present crisis invites us to reckon with our institutional past in powerful ways, and remind us of the importance of trauma-informed pedagogies. As students confront these painful and triggering legacies, it is imperative for faculty to engage in meaningful learning experiences that help them contextualize their reactions within robust historical and theoretical contexts that foster critical thinking. Here are six steps to help you get started:” Click here to access webpage. (webpage)