What if
you knew you could transform society?
What if
you knew you could transform society?
Selected Resources
The following are materials I have found particularly valuable in understanding systemic racism.
Books
Adams, M., Bell, L.A.,& Griffin, P. (2016) Teaching for diversity and social justice. Third Edition.New York: Routledge.
Considered an essential handbook for social justice educators, this teaching manual provides theoretical foundations, pedagogical and design frameworks as well as curriculum models for teaching about systems of oppression including racism, sexism, heterosexism, religious and transgender oppression.
Alexander, M. (2010) The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. New York: Pegasus
Indispensible text for understanding racism in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Anderson, C. (2016) White Rage: The unspoken truth of our racial divide. New York: Bloomsbury.
A Compelling explication of violent White reactions to Black progress throughout US history. Anderson provides a deeper understanding of racism by helping readers see the links between post Civil Rights Black codes, the rage after Obama’s election, and everything in between.
Banaji, M., & Greenwald, A. (2013) Blindspot: Hidden biases of good people. New York: Delacorte Press.
Informative compilation of twenty-five years of research on implicit bias. If you are short on time, Chapter 3 titled “Into the Blindspot” provides a particularly helpful summary.
Bonilla-Silva, E. (2018). Racism without Racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in America. Latham, Maryland: Rowan & Littlefield.
A classic text to understand the ways that colorblind ideology serves to justify racial inequality. Originally published in 2003, this fifth edition includes an updated analysis of Bonilla-Silva’s original research as well as commentary about the Obama presidency and Trump election.
DiAngelo, R. (2018) White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism. Boston: Becon Press.
A clear description of the ways that white racial socialization including the lack of understanding of the nature of systemic racism, limits White Americans ability to engage in productive conversations about race.
Irving, D. (2014 ) Waking up White: and finding myself in the story of race. Cambridge: Elephant Room Press.
An engaging personal story of how one white woman came to understand racism and her identity within the context of a racialized society. Her story is presented in short, easy to digest chapters that include discussion questions. Great to use for individual reflection or with a book group.
Kendi, I. (2019) How to be an Antiracist. New York: Random House.
Compelling analysis of the impact that internalized racism as on all people. I this timely book, Ibram Kendi challenges some of the conventional ways we currently talk and think about what it means to be antiracist.
Kendi, I. (2016) Stamped from the beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America. New York: Nation Books.
Winner of the 2016 National Book Award for non-fiction, this fascinating book provides an extensively detailed history of anti-black ideology and how that ideology serves as a justification for institutional inequality.
Michael, A. (2014) Raising race questions: Whiteness and inquiry in education. New York: Teacher’s College Press.
Written specifically to support white teachers in developing their racial proficiency. Helpful for any white teacher and would make a terrific professional development tool for a group.
Moore, E. Michael, A & Penick-Parks, M. (2018) The Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys. Thousand Oaks: Corwin.
Pollock, M. (2008) Everyday antiracism: Getting real about race in School. New York: The New Press.
This valuable anthology includes of the work of many leading race scholars that has been condensed into bite-sized pieces to help teachers and school administrators improve their practice. A wonderful resource for faculty development programs.
Takaki, R. (1993) A different mirror: A multicultural history of America. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
A fascinating and comprehensive history of the United States told through the lens of race.
Tatum, B. (2017) Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? And other conversations about race. Twentieth anniversary ed. New York: Basic Books.
If you have time to read only ONE book about race, this is the one I recommend!Tatum’s classic text outlines systemic racism and racial identity development theory in clear and relatable language. This 20thanniversary edition of Tatum’s seminal work includes a thoughtful new prologue with her analysis of how the conversations about race have changed, or not changed, in the last 20 years.
On-Line Articles
Michael, Ali & Bartoli, E. (2014). What white children need to know about Race. Independent School Magazine. Summer. 56-62.
This article provides a well-written and concise argument for the role that schools should play in positive white racial socialization. Includes a list of the skills and knowledge that schools should seek to nurture in students.
DiAngelo, R. (2012) . Nothing to Add: A Challenge to White Silence in Racial Discussions. Understanding and Dismantling Privilege February, 2012.
https://www.wpcjournal.com/article/view/10100
This article provides a well-written and concise argument for the role that schools should play in positive white racial socialization. Includes a list of the skills and knowledge that schools should seek to nurture in students.
Websites
Race: The Power of an Illusion
http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.html
This is a wonderfully informative and interactive website exploring the ways that race resides not in nature but in U.S. politics, economics, and culture. Interactive activities guide students to an understanding of the ways that race has been socially constructed throughout U.S. history and the ways institutionalized racism has led to current racial inequality. Includes printable class handouts.
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making us Sick
An interactive and informative website focusing on the ways that class status and wealth impact health. Site is a companion to terrific documentary films that are valuable teaching tools.
Teaching Tolerance
Terrific on-line resource for teachers that includes lesson plans, articles, resource lists and webinars. Teachers can also subscribe to the free print magazine and order free video teaching kits.
Podcast
Seeing White
https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/
Fascinating 14-part podcast tracing the history and power of whiteness in America. Incredibly well-produced and informative. Episodes range from 20 to 50 minutes in length and worth every minute.
Videos
Race: The Power of an Illusion
http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm
This excellent teaching tool is a three-part documentary series that examines racism in society, science and history. Each of the three 55 minute films “navigate through myths and misconceptions, making visible the social, economic, and political conditions that disproportionately channel advantages and opportunities to white people. The goal of the series is to shift the conversation from discussing diversity and respecting cultural difference to building a more just and equitable society.” PBS, (2003).
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making us sick?
https://unnaturalcauses.org/about_the_series.php
This video series includes a 56-minute film that presents an overview of the powerful links between wealth and health and six 30-minute films that narrow in on a specific related topic. An excellent teaching tool! California Newsreel, (2008).
Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
http://www.world-trust.org/videos/visible.html
This film features the experiences of white women and men who have worked to gain insight into what it means to challenge notions of racism and white supremacy in the United States. 50 minutes (2006) Shakti Butler
Tim Wise: On White Privilege
The author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Sonoffers a unique, inside-out view of race and racism in America. Expertly overcoming the defensiveness that often surrounds these issues, Wise provides a non-confrontational explanation of white privilege and the damage it does not only to people of color, but to white people as well. 50 minutes (2008) Media Education Foundation