Resources on Racial Justice
We’ve seen a lot of people looking for guidance on what they can do to show their solidarity with the black community. For those of us who want to contribute to the Black Lives Matter movement and to end racial violence and injustice, there are plenty of resources to choose from. It is an undue burden on our BIPOC colleagues and friends to teach us about racism and do the mental work for us.
There’s a lot of material out there, from articles and books, interviews and podcasts, documentaries and films, you won’t be short of options. If you are interested in getting more intentional about deepening anti-racism work, you’ll find that this is long-term work that requires coming to terms with one’s own privilege, sitting with discomfort, anger and guilt at times, and using it to support black communities.
Listen. Read. Act.
Below is a list of resources to get you started on your journey.
Article on Racial Justice
97 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
Books
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored by Jeffrey Boakye
Podcasts
Witness History: Witness Black History
BBC World Service
1619 (NY Times Podcast)
Documentaries
Death Of A Black Panther: Fred Hampton
13th (Netflix documentary) by Ava DuVernay
And finally, consider highlighting black artists, business people and change makers to use your platform to amplify black voices. In the words of Jeffrey C Alexander in The Drama of Social Life, “The more attention we can bring and awareness to it is great. It’s not a color issue, it’s a people issue. It’s a citizen issue.”
Photo credits: thanks to Metty @theeastlondonphotographer