Our nation has awakened in a bigger way than ever to the urgent need to right the wrongs of social injustice and systemic racism that have plagued our country from its inception.
I believe each of us can be a Creator of Change.
We can each act, in small ways and bigger ways. And we can invite others to take action. Together we can create ripple effects!
I also believe we must continue to learn about the root causes of the problems that exist today, and the ways that change can turn the tide.
When we each bring commitment to learning and taking action — be it by donating to organizations doing meaningful work, protesting, volunteering our talents, services and time, engaging in focused conversations, creating new standards, or in any other way — we can be a powerful collective force for good.
What follows is a list of resources of many kinds, that has been growing over the last year.
Many thanks to all of the people who have shared resources for me to add to this page. I welcome additional suggestions.
Let’s celebrate!
We turned an important page with the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to lead our nation forward, with a focus on racial justice! And, there is huge work to be done. We need to stay committed to supporting the efforts on a national scale. We can each impact people and policies in countless ways. All of us working together — from conversations one-on-one to volunteering to contributing financially — will contribute to the speed of progress.
If you missed seeing Amanda Gorman brilliantly deliver the inaugural poem — or you want to have your heart opened by it again — you can watch it here.
The conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd was not a moment for celebration, but justice was served. This trial, and the conviction, may prove to be a turning point for more accountability.
Some replies for commonly heard troubling remarks
In recent conversations, a number of people I’ve spoken to mentioned that they heard remarks that troubled them, and felt unsure about how to respond. To help us all, I am suggesting possible responses I have heard from others, that you may want to use.
“All lives matter.”
Think about sharing this example if you hear someone say “All lives matter.” If a woman asked her husband if he loved her, and his reply was, “I love everyone,” that would be deeply hurtful.
And this video from CBS News provides an array of responses to “All lives matter” from many Black people.
“It’s horrible that an innocent black man was killed, but destroying property has to stop.”
This is an example of how white privilege sounds. If you hear it you can suggest replacing that statement with, “It’s horrible that property is being destroyed, but killing innocent black people has to stop.” (The first statement prioritizes the wrong issue.)
The White Fragility Reader’s Guide has extensive information related to patterns of white conversations and provides suggestions on how to moderate discussions.
Staying encouraged and motivated
The scope of change that is needed is so great that we can feel overwhelmed and lose hope. To help stay inspired, hopeful, and motivated, we can take note of — and celebrate — positive changes that we are witnessing as we continue to take action for bigger change.
Recent positive developments include:
We have elected a new president, who is committed to bringing this nation together and valuing everyone in our country. The new administration is committed to addressing racial injustice, and that promises a great path forward. And the diversity of appointees to top-level positions that are being announced every day is very exciting.
The number of Confederate statues that have been taken down.
The state of Mississippi has signed a bill to change its state flag. They will remove the Confederate battle flag from its imagery.
NASCAR has banned Confederate flags from being displayed at its events.
Important changes are being discussed, and made, concerning the roles for police.
Engaged conversations in business settings and social settings are focused on racial justice, for the first time.
Educational inequities are being discussed in earnest.
Washington DC painted “Black Lives Matter”on a major avenue, and New York and other cities are following suit.
Asheville, NC has approved funding for a reparations initiative.
The Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania announced that it will remove from view parts of its Morton Cranial Collection, which includes skulls of enslaved people. The decision marks a victory for UPenn students and local activists, who have formed the coalition Police Free Penn (PFP) to demand school-wide reforms and the removal and repatriation, but fails to address their full list of concerns and demands.
The Washington Post has named its first managing editor for diversity and inclusion, Krissah Thompson.
Resources for learning and taking action
Please share the resources that you explore and find helpful and/or especially informative, with others you know and on social media. This will expand the circle of people who will benefit from the awareness.
This quote, by American activist, documentary filmmaker, lawyer, educator, TED speaker and faith healer, Valarie Kaur, can change the frame for our thinking in a powerful way:
So the mother in me asks what if? What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb? What if our America is not dead but a country that is waiting to be born? What if the story of America is one long labor? What if all of our grandfathers and grandmothers are standing behind us now, those who survived occupation and genocide, slavery and Jim Crow, detentions and political assault? What if they are whispering in our ears “You are brave”? What if this is our nation’s greatest transition? What does the midwife tell us to do? Breathe. And then? Push. Because if we don’t push we will die. If we don’t push our nation will die. Tonight we will breathe. Tomorrow we will labor in love through love and your revolutionary love is the magic we will show our children.
And Valerie Kaur has created The People’s Inauguration, to help usher in the new Biden Harris era!
There is also a wonderful poster of Valerie Kaur, created by Shepard Fairey, that you may want to own. Your purchase will support the important work she is doing.
Netflix’s documentary, The 13th, comprehensively covers the history of the criminalization of African Americans, and the societal impact that has brought us to the all we are seeing now. Released in 2016, it is extraordinary in its scope and presentation. (Netflix also has a library of films and documentaries related to racial injustice. It includes many excellent offerings.)
Baratunde Thurston’s TED Talk explores the phenomenon of white Americans calling the police on black Americans who have committed the crimes of ... eating, walking or generally "living while black." In this profound, thought-provoking and often humorous talk, he reveals the power of language to change stories of trauma into stories of healing — while challenging us all to level up.
I highly recommend the Netflix docuseries, Amend, that takes a deep dive into the 14th Amendment. I was riveted, and am grateful to have learned so much in the powerful presentation of so much important history. Check out the trailer.
Watch this short documentary about Angela Davis.
This document includes extensive information and links to further resources. Its focus is the stages of white identity development on a path to being antiracist allies, and steps to take at each stage.
A terrific new book is available for pre-order (to ship in April 2021), titled Let’s Talk Race: A Guide for White People, by Boston authors Marlene Fine and Fern Johnson. The book has a long list of impressive reviews.
Read Barack Obama’s moving tribute to John Lewis — a hero we have lost, but whose unwavering quest for racial and social justice will continue to inspire us to stay committed to the cause. This article in The Atlantic details the history John Lewis made in his lifetime.
Check out this excellent list of 25 things white people can do for Racial Justice.
Brené Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us, is focused on the universal experience of being human.
- Her episode with Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist is outstanding.
- Also recommended is her episode with Austin Channing Brown, titled I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.
- And a recent episode, titled Brené on Shame and Accountability, is incredibly powerful. She helps us understand these forces as they relate to our focus on anti-racism, as well as to every aspect of our lives. An important take away is this reminder that Brené gives to herself often: “I’m here to get it right, not to be right.”
- The episode with Sonya Renee Taylor, when they discuss her book, The Body is Not an Apology, is also remarkable. The conversation spans body shame, radical self-love, and social justice.Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Many people have taken the Project Implicit Implicit Association Test (IAT) and found it to be revealing and helpful.
A related site, the Teaching Tolerance site, also allows you to test yourself on hidden bias. Psychologists at Harvard, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington created "Project Implicit" to develop Hidden Bias Tests—called Implicit Association Tests, or IATs, in the academic world—to measure unconscious bias.
[I am unsure if these two sites are offering the same test.]These are steps the Congress and the courts can take to address systemic racism. You can educate yourself and then advocate for these changes to be implemented.
The This American Life mini-series, Nice White Parents, is highly recommended. It documents what happened in one diverse Brooklyn public school when growing group of well-meaning white parents imposed their agenda on the school.
Check out the advice and resources in this Letter to White Parents: 8 Actions You Can Do to Make America Safe for Black Children.
This Instagram account is a great resource for anti-racism books.
The Coolidge Corner Theater’s list of anti-racist films to watch.
Brookline Booksmith’s post with ant-racist reading recommendations.
YW Boston is focused on eliminating racism and empowering women. Their blog post, How to Take Action Against Racism Right now includes many subcategories, and addresses issues in the workplace. While there may be some overlap with resources here, do look it over for both the extensive resources they include and fresh insights.
Check out this article about talking to children about race, and this one on the same topic, from National Geographic.
Read about how racism impacts the health of people of color.
This is an excellent 6 and a half-minute video from NPR’s CodeSwitch about the history of housing segregation and its far-reaching impact.
This beautifully-written opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquire is about The Talk. It was penned by a father of 3 children who lived through a pivotal moment of injustice in that city.
The 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge, from racial justice educator and author Debby Irving, offers a structure for taking one action each day to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity. The site is filled with excellent resources for reading, listening and watching (that are organized by length), plus prompts for things to notice and ways to connect, engage, act, reflect and stay inspired.
My colleague, Juliette C. Meyers, is a leader in Boston working for diversity and Inclusion in the business world. I recommend her excellent article that has many great suggestions and resources.
Listen to an excellent podcast: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.
Trevor Noah is doing great work talking about current issues. Follow him to keep up with what he is sharing.
PBS’ 4-part series, Reconstruction, America After the Civil War, by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is highly recommended.
Reverend Jeff Mello of St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Brookline, MA delivered an excellent sermon on Sunday, June 21.
The Anti-Racism Club, (ARC), that sends subscribers weekly curated programming designed specifically for no-black allies, was recommended as an addition to this list. I look forward to seeing what they provide.
The On Being podcast, with Krista Tippett, includes excellent interviews with Resmaa Menakem, Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence, and Eula Biss, Talking About Whiteness.
Betsy Hodges wrote an excellent opinion piece in the New York Times entitled, As Mayor of Minneapolis, I Saw How White Liberals Block Change.
The article How You Can Be an Ally to the Black Lives Matter Movement includes many great resources, including links, to books, podcasts and more.
In this Boston Globe Magazine article, Growing up Black in All the Wrong Places, Jonathan Jackson shares what it was like growing up in New Hampshire and how it has impacted his life into adulthood.
Read this excellent article, Open Letter to White People. We all have the ability (and obligation) to follow these key steps, that are compelling laid out in the article: Feel. Act. Learn. Repeat. Never stop.
The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer prize for Commentary for the 1619 Project. And the 1619 podcast is excellent.
This is a timely article from Kaiser Health News. The Color of COVID: Will Vaccine Trials Reflect America’s Diversity? And, from The Commonwealth Fund: Why are More Black Americans Dying of COVID 19?
SHRM (The Society for Human Resource Management) has introduced Together Forward @Work, a call to action for racial justice in the workplace. The site includes original research, ways to take action, and excellent Conversation Starters.
Black Mental Health Matters is an excellent site with a broad array of information to help you learn about the far-reaching impact of this problem. It also provides links to many helpful resources, including sources for culturally competent mental health providers.
As well, RecoveryLocal.org is focused on making addiction and mental health resources as widely accessible as possible, to support people of color — who have historically been the most underserved population in our country. They shared The Summit Wellness Group’s useful guide to 61 mental health and substance-use resources for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community who are struggling with substance abuse.In this pre-election season, when voting is so important, you can access great resources and information about where to vote and what is on your local ballot at votesaveamerica.com.
Encourage people to vote when you are in public by wearing thevotemask.com. (Created by a colleague, 20% of profits in 2020 from The Vote Mask will support organizations committed to promoting high voter turnout and protecting voter rights.)
This outstanding video, Segregated by Design, shares the forgotten history of how our federal, state and local governments unconstitutionally segregated every major metropolitan area in America through law and policy. It’s incredibly well-made, and so important that we all know about this.
Inspiration
We all need inspiration, especially when the task ahead is so big and calls for ongoing commitment. While there are many inspiring entries elsewhere on this page, I have created this section of the list for “pure inspiration.” Please share your suggestions.
This powerful video, I love America, by Alfred Howard is one of the most moving artistic pieces of music and lyrics (poetry. really) that I have seen. Created in September 2020, it is a comprehensive and gut-wrenchingly compelling statement about the times we are living through. A must-watch.
A Change is Gonna Come is a classic by Sam Cook. This new cover, by Brian Owens and his father Thomas Owens is remarkable and especially moving.
Watch this Call to Unite, performed by the dancers of the Alvin Alley American Dance Theater as they treat us to Revelations in this time of social distancing. These three and a half incredible minutes of delight will light up your heart.
My friend, Ellery Eddy, has a curated playlist of tunes, mostly by black artists, that she thinks are important for these times. I am happy to share it here.
Looking for an inspiring anthem? Watch this powerful and moving music video: March March by the Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks), with its recurring lyric, “I’m an army of one.”
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes sang Wake Up Everybody in 1975. Sadly, we still need to heed his message. Let it inspire you today.
Organizations to support
This is a list of organizations that have been suggested to me or have come to my attention. I cannot vouch for their work, but I believe all of these are all worthy of your time to consider the work they are doing and if you want to support them.
NAACP Empowerment Programs and NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Bail Project and The Massachusetts Bail Fund
American Express has selected 100 “Founders of Change” — a great resource to discover, and support, enterprises owned by women of color.
Art and Literature
I must repeat the link to I love America, by Alfred Howard that is included earlier on this page of resources. Spend 6:56 unforgettable minutes of your day with it.
Until June 22, 2020, BroadwayHD streamed the Live From Lincoln Center production of Pipeline at no cost. This is a powerful play and a brilliant production. (If you missed it for free, I suggest you subscribe to see it.)
If you are not familiar with the remarkable work of artist Kara Walker, spend some time with it.
I highly recommend this article about the work of artist Mark Bradford, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Sebastian Smee. It includes an expansive review of the historic issues that inform Bradford’s brilliant work.
If you are looking for books to read with children, this Black Lives Matter Instructional Library is an outstanding resource (it was shared by my daughter-in-law, who is a school librarian). Organized into sections on Activism and Advocacy, Self-Love and Empowerment, Black History, and books in Spanish, each book has a link to a read-aloud video. Additional resources are included at the end.
Deborah Leipziger has written this moving poem, and another, that I am glad to share. I expect she will write more poems in response to this time, so check out more of her work on Amethyst Review.
You may find inspiration in the sculpture of Nari Ward.
Black-owned businesses to support
Frugal Bookstore in Boston is socially-conscious and has a great selection of excellent books, and you can order books from them online.
For those in Boston, this map, created by YW Boston, shows businesses owned by people of color that you can support.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
