Home » HOW TO LEARN ABOUT RACISM AND SUPPORT THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

HOW TO LEARN ABOUT RACISM AND SUPPORT THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

It is our responsibility to become educated with Black history and current state of events. We can’t change what we don’t know, and we can’t expect our Black friends to educate us. The social injustice and racial inequality in our society needs to change. And for that, we need to educate. It is a privilege…

As I’m educating myself, my family and friends, I’m diving deep into the educational content available and taking notes. Today,  I’m sharing some of these resources with you, I compiled a list of organizations to look into/donate, influential people to follow, books to read and TV shows to watch. My plan for this week is watching 13 on Netflix, listening to THIS podcast episode with Brene Brown and Ibram X. Kendi, and reading. I’d love to know what you’re reading, watching, listening and how you’re taking action. If you have any additions to the lists below, please let me know.

DOCUMENTARIES / MOVIES / TV SHOWS

“13th” directed by Ava DuVernay (Netflix-original documentary): Based on the 13th Amendment // Scholars, activist and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.

“13th: A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey” (Netflix special): Winfrey and DuVernay sit down to talk about “13th,” historical cycles of oppression and the broken prison system.

“When They See Us” directed by Ava Duvernay: Based on true story // 5 teens from Harlem are falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park.

The Daily Show Youtube“: Trevor Noah on George Floyd, the Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper

Chris Cuomo IGTV”: America is a Tale of Two Cities

I Am Not Your Negro”: Based on James Baldwin’s unfished manuscript Remember This House

“Selma” directed by Ava Duvernay (need to rent): Historial drama based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” directed by Barry Jenkins (Hulu): Based on the novel by James Baldwin // Young couple fights for justice in the name of love and the promise of the American Dream.

“The Hate U Give” directed by George Tillman Jr. (Hulu with Cinemax): Based on the novel by Angie Thomas // Follows the fallout after a high school student witnesses a police shooting.

“American Son” directed by Kenny Leon (Netflix-original movie): Estranged interracial couple awaits news of their missing teen son.

“Dear White People” directed by Justin Simien (Netflix-original series with 3 seasons): Based on the film of the same name // Follows a group of Black students at a predominantly white Ivy League college as they’re faced with cultural bias, social injustice, misguided activism and slippery politics.

“See You Yesterday” directed by Stefon Bristol (Netflix-original movie): As 2 teen prodigies try to master the art of time travel, a tragic police shooting sends them on a series of dangerous trips to the past.

Black journalists, creators, media outlets, leaders, and activists to follow

 @rachel.cargle@ckyourprivilege@themanacho@laylafsaad@osopepatrisse@laylafsaad@theconsciouskid (an especially good resource for parents, according to Goop writers), @blklivesmatter@wearyourvoice@taranajaneen@colorofchange@shishi.rose@MsPackyetti@eji_org.

BOOKS TO READ

 White Fragility: Why It’s so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

 So You Want to Talk About Race by Iljeoma Oluo

Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander Freedom Is A Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race by Jesmyn Ward

Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt

Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde

The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America by Khalil Gibran Muhammad

America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis

Good Talk by Mira Jacob

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (also a movie)

Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out by Ruth King

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (also a movie listed below)

A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History by Jeanne Theoharis

BOOKS FOR KIDS

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History + Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine

 Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson

Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry

A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara

The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racism by Pat Thomas

Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester

Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

Lovely by Jess Hong

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

PODCASTS TO LISTEN

Brené Brown – with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist

Lewis Howes The School of Greatness – Reverend Michael Beckwith RACISM, WHITE PRIVILEGE, AND HEALING AMERICA

Goop Podcast – Stepping Out of PrivilegeIn The Thick – The Legacy of Redlining

Wellness Resources Serving Black People Right Now (via GOOP)

Dive in Well, founded by holistic practitioner Maryam Ajayi, is an organization dedicated to diversity in the wellness industry. They’re offering digital wellness events, like classes on meditation on a donation basis. Holisticism is an online education platform that seeks to overcome barriers to access in wellness, including race, sex, class, and socioeconomic status. They’re providing free digital well-being workshops, from breathwork to body acceptance to navigating anxiety, as part of the Liminal Library, a catalog of classes that they have been releasing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While free access to the Liminal Library was set to expire May 31, Holisticism has extended access indefinitely. Inclusive Therapists is a database that connects anyone seeking culturally sensitive care to therapists with training for racial trauma. It also has a specific directory for those looking for reduced-fee teletherapy.
GROUPS TP RESEARCH AND SUPPORT

National organizations:

George Floyd’s family has started a GoFundMe [gofundme.com] to cover funeral and burial costs; counseling services; legal fees; and continued care for his children. There’s also a GoFundMe [gofundme.com] raising money for Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, donations to which will similarly fund the family’s legal battle.

The Movement for Black Lives – supports Back-led rapid response efforts and long-term strategy, policy and infrastructure investments in the movement ecosystem.https://secure.actblue.com/donate/movement-4-black-lives-1 [secure.actblue.com]

Organization founded by Colin Kaepernick founded this organization that holds education seminars across the country for black and brown youth.https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com [knowyourrightscamp.com]

Justice for Breonna Taylor is accepting donations to support Breonna Taylor’s loved ones as they pursue legal justice for her killing. You can sign the Justice for Breonna Taylor petition, which supports the filing of charges against the officers responsible for her death and the following cover-up. It also pressures Congress to address the constitutionality of no-knock warrants.

 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP): Mission is to secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to ensure a society where all individuals have equal rights without race-based discrimination.

Black Lives Matter: Further resources, education, and straight links to petitions.

The Sentencing Project: The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration.

 Black Visions Collective: A Black, trans and queer-led organization that’s committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the public narrative to create transformative, long-term change.

 LDF: Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.

ACLU:  The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

Color of Change: Nation’s largest online racial justice organization that lead campaigns to help people respond effectively to injustice in Black communities.

 Campaign Zero: Organization that uses research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in the U.S. 

National Police Accountability Project: The central mission of NPAP is to promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the Constitution and the laws of the United States.

The Innocence Project: They exonerate the innocent through DNA testing and work to reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

 Black Women’s Blueprint: Working toward a world where women and girls of African descent are fully empowered and where gender, race and other disparities are erased.

 The Bail Project, which is a jail fund that fights racial and economic inequalities in the jail system at a national level.

Reclaim the Block [reclaimtheblock.org] — donate here: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2 [secure.everyaction.com]

San Diego organizations:

Dede McClure Community Bail Fund [facebook.com] – Fighting the devastating effects of the cash bail system – donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-raise-funds-to-support-our-community [gofundme.com]

San Diego Black Nurses Association [sdblacknurses.org]– Decreasing health disparities; Scholarships for Black nurses – donate here: https://sdblacknurses.org/catalog.php?cat=1 [sdblacknurses.org]

Family Health Centers of San Diego [fhcsd.org] – Response efforts for COVID-19 with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons. Donate here: https://www.fhcsd.org/ways-to-help-covid-19-response/ [fhcsd.org]

March for Black Womxn San Diego [m4bwsd.com] – Mutual aid fund. Donate here: https://www.m4bwsd.com/home [m4bwsd.com]

We are in this together,

Nihan

Follow:

Looking for Something?