Resources for Antiracism
Many people are asking, “What can I do to be a part of this important movement towards antiracism?” First, if you are White, please read our previous post on addressing your own racism. Then, create a plan on how you can intentionally and sustainably integrate antiracist events, behaviors, thoughts, learning, conversations, and actions into your everyday life. Below is a list of a few things you can include in this plan:
Things to Do
Small Business Repair – Contact the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce to help with cleanup and repair efforts.
Small Business Cleanup and Repair – My Block, My Hood, My City is coordinating efforts to help with graffiti removal, glass replacement, cleanup, and general construction of affected small businesses.
Donate to Small Business Relief Fund – My Block, My Hood, My City has developed a small business relief fund to help rebuild small businesses.
Participate in Peaceful Protests – Learn where to meet for protests at ProtestChicago.com.
Support Black Owned Businesses – Discover and connect with great Chicago-based black-owned businesses.
Support For George Floyd’s Family - This GoFundMe has been verified by multiple sources, including groups on this same list, as going direct to the family.
Sign a petition –
Books to Read
Overcoming our Racism by Derald Wing Sue – This is an excellent book for beginning to explore racism, prejudice, and developing a Nonracist White identity. I recommend you choose 2-5 people to work through this with and to create time to have conversation about this.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehesi Coates – This is a beautifully and painfully written letter from a Black father to his Black son. . . an easy, must-read book.
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson – This book thoughtfully exposes racism and whiteness.
Forgive Us: Confessions of a compromised faith by Mae Elise Cannon – This book is written for a Christian audience. It brings the reader through a confession and lament of sins that the Church has committed against various groups of people.
White Awake by Daniel Hill – This book is also written for a Christian audience, and is a good ingress into exploring what it means to be White and the impact of racism and oppression.
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi - This book explores the history of racism, the policy that sustains it, and ways to become antiracist.
How the Irish Became White by Noel Ignatiev - This book looks at the transition of the Irish from oppressed to oppressor and develops a deeper understanding of the sociological forces that create and solidify racism.
Stamped from the Beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi – This book provides a historical analysis of prejudice, racism, and discrimination in America.
American Apartheid: Segregation and the making of the underclass by Douglas Massey and Nancy Denton – This book gives a thoughtful analysis of how segregation has impacted (and continues to impact) black and brown communities.
White Racism: A Psychohistory by Joel Kovel – This offers a different approach to the conversation of racism. I would not recommend this as your entry into the conversation surrounding race, but this is great for those who are moved by theory, history, and the unconscious.
Articles and Podcasts to Read/Listen to
75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice by Corinnne Shutack – This article provides practical things you can begin to integrate into your life.
Seeing White podcast – Provides helpful commentary on many topics related to race and Whiteness.
Brene Brown with Ibram X. Kendi - This conversation between Brene Brown and Ibram X. Kendi is a vulnerable and thought-provoking one that examines racism and explores barriers to moving towards antiracism as well as how we can begin to move forward.
Videos to Watch
"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | - Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
Organizations to Follow on Social Media
Antiracism Center: Twitter
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Resources For Children and Parents
Books - Several book recommendations can be found at Semicolon Bookstore, a Chicago-based Black woman-owned independent bookstore, or at the Chicago Public Library. Additionally, check out the Coretta Scot King Book Award winners. This award is given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture.
Talking Race and Kids – This hour-long webinar on how children learn about Race helps parents know how to begin conversations about race.
How to Talk to Kids about Race – This short (3-minute) video gives quick tips for how to talk about race with your children.
Raising White Kids Podcast – Jennifer Harvey addresses raising white kids on the Integrated Schools podcast.
Talking Race with Young Children Podcast – this 20-minute podcast by NPR helps parents talk about race with young children.