Learn about Racial Justice
One of the first steps in fighting for racial justice is educating yourself and those around you about the issue. It’s time for everyone to understand American racism -- past and present -- so we can be part of building a more just and equitable country. An important part of the process is listening to the perspectives of Black family, friends, peers, and communities.
Here are some resources to help you learn and reflect:
Here are some resources to help you learn and reflect:
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We are all living in a society that was built on a history of racism as a legacy of slavery. Understanding this history helps explain current systems of inequity and structural racism.
When we understand how our systems are set up and who is advantaged or disadvantaged, it becomes easier to understand why things are the way they are today.
Additional Resources:
“We can’t recover from this history until we deal with it” – Bryan Stevenson
Historical Foundations of Race
Let's get to the root of racial injustice
The History of Policing in America
The History of Mass Incarceration in America
When we understand how our systems are set up and who is advantaged or disadvantaged, it becomes easier to understand why things are the way they are today.
Additional Resources:
“We can’t recover from this history until we deal with it” – Bryan Stevenson
Historical Foundations of Race
Let's get to the root of racial injustice
The History of Policing in America
The History of Mass Incarceration in America
Learn about privilege
Our society provides some groups of people with advantages because of certain aspects of their identity, like their skin color. This is called privilege.
You can have privilege whether you are aware of it or not. Privilege does not mean you have not faced hardships - it just means that you are not facing those hardships because of your skin color.
Here are some resources that explain white privilege and give examples:
Additional Resources:
Understanding White Privilege
Whiteness
What Is White Privilege, Really?
Use Your Everyday Privilege to Help Others
You can have privilege whether you are aware of it or not. Privilege does not mean you have not faced hardships - it just means that you are not facing those hardships because of your skin color.
Here are some resources that explain white privilege and give examples:
Additional Resources:
Understanding White Privilege
Whiteness
What Is White Privilege, Really?
Use Your Everyday Privilege to Help Others
Key terms to know
Learn some of the common terms you’ll hear related to the issues of race, racism, and inequity:
Equity
Racism
Structural racism
People of color
BIPOC
Privilege
Anti-racism
Racial injustice
Racial justice
White guilt
White supremacy
Equity
Racism
Structural racism
People of color
BIPOC
Privilege
Anti-racism
Racial injustice
Racial justice
White guilt
White supremacy
Educate yourself and others about the Black experience
Learning about Black history and culture will help you see the world through the Black perspective without putting the responsibility on your peers to educate you.
These two lists are a great starting point for books, movies, documentaries, and podcasts that will help you better understand the Black perspective:
Anti-Racism Resources
First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources For White People
These two lists are a great starting point for books, movies, documentaries, and podcasts that will help you better understand the Black perspective:
Anti-Racism Resources
First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources For White People
Listen to your Black peers and understand their perspectives
Listening to your Black family, friends, peers, neighbors and colleagues is critical to building a greater understanding of race in our country. When Black people in your life speak up about injustice, listen to what they have to say. Pay attention to their experiences. Elevate their voices.
While you’re listening, here are some things to avoid:
▪ Don’t ask to be educated on racism, or ask for their opinion on what is happening.
▪ Don’t take up space with how you are now “burdened” or “feel helpless.” It is not your time.
▪ Don’t ask if you have done anything racist or whether or not you are one of the “good ones.”
▪ Don’t force Black peers to share if they don’t want to. Not every Black person speaks for every other Black person. Some may want to share and others may not. Don’t force them to or look for them to do so.
Source:
5 thoughtful ways to approach discussing racism at work
While you’re listening, here are some things to avoid:
▪ Don’t ask to be educated on racism, or ask for their opinion on what is happening.
▪ Don’t take up space with how you are now “burdened” or “feel helpless.” It is not your time.
▪ Don’t ask if you have done anything racist or whether or not you are one of the “good ones.”
▪ Don’t force Black peers to share if they don’t want to. Not every Black person speaks for every other Black person. Some may want to share and others may not. Don’t force them to or look for them to do so.
Source:
5 thoughtful ways to approach discussing racism at work
How to be anti-racist
Not being racist isn’t enough. Racism is everyone’s problem, and we all have a role to play in stopping it.
These resources can help you be intentional about becoming anti-racist by taking action for racial justice:
Being Antiracist
6 ways to be antiracist, because being 'not racist' isn't enough
How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them.
These resources can help you be intentional about becoming anti-racist by taking action for racial justice:
Being Antiracist
6 ways to be antiracist, because being 'not racist' isn't enough
How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them.
About the Black Lives Matter movement
The Black Lives Matter movement aims to create a world free of Anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive and live without violence.
You can find out more about the Black Lives Matter movement in this Wikipedia page.
You can find out more about the Black Lives Matter movement in this Wikipedia page.
Why “All lives matter” is insensitive
“All lives matter “is a slogan that has come to be associated with criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement. The problem with this criticism is that it overlooks the systemic racism and injustice that affects the Black community.
The statement Black lives matter doesn’t mean that only Black lives matter, but rather that all lives can’t matter until Black lives do, too. We must come together to protect Black lives that are in danger, to achieve equity for all people.
In this article, you can find a few metaphors that explain why ‘All Lives Matter’ minimizes the experience of the black community.
The statement Black lives matter doesn’t mean that only Black lives matter, but rather that all lives can’t matter until Black lives do, too. We must come together to protect Black lives that are in danger, to achieve equity for all people.
In this article, you can find a few metaphors that explain why ‘All Lives Matter’ minimizes the experience of the black community.
Learn how to talk about race and racism
To help end racism, we have to actively talk about it with our families and our friends. Talking about race is a hard but necessary conversation for all of us to have.
Here are some guides for how to talk to family:
Talking to Kids about Race (Note: This ultimately requires you to sign in)
How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race | NPR
Teaching Your Child About Black History
4 Things We Should All Teach Kids About Racism Right Now
How to Talk About Racism With Your White Parents
Here are some examples of how to talk to peers, colleagues, and people in your community:
A Trip to the Grocery Store
How white people should discuss racism with black colleagues
Here are some guides for how to talk to family:
Talking to Kids about Race (Note: This ultimately requires you to sign in)
How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race | NPR
Teaching Your Child About Black History
4 Things We Should All Teach Kids About Racism Right Now
How to Talk About Racism With Your White Parents
Here are some examples of how to talk to peers, colleagues, and people in your community:
A Trip to the Grocery Store
How white people should discuss racism with black colleagues
Take action to help end racial injustice
Ending systemic racism will require a range of reforms and solutions—from personal actions to policy reforms and community solutions. Take action and connect with organizations that are at the forefront of creating a more just and equitable world.
Take Action