Where Do I Start?
...and how do I continue learning?
Over the past several years, many educators in Lexington Public Schools have devoted to educating themselves about issues of equity in our schools and changed their practice to better prepare all learners to be active, productive members of our larger world. This portion of our website provides some opportunities for self-reflection and learning that might help us all to engage with one another in as productive and respectful a manner as possible. For educators, these resources may prepare you to make curricular or pedagogical decisions that empower all learners to thrive; for community members, including students, these materials may provide you a clearer understanding for the district's commitment to equity.
Remember, we are all at different places in our understanding of identity and how it impacts learning, and we are all continuously learning!
Please note that many of these resources have not been explicitly vetted or endorsed by Lexington Public Schools. The materials here have been submitted by educators and community members; it is up to the individual to determine whether the resources is appropriate solely for self-reflection and learning or for use with students. If you have questions or concerns about any resources that appears on this page, please contact Johnny Cole, Director of Equity and Student Supports.
Thank you to LHS English teacher Robin Strizhak, along with colleagues in AREA-L, for creating the initial list of resources upon which this page was built.
Starting the Journey
If you are just beginning to explore the role aspects of identity plays in an individual's access to opportunity, these resources may be helpful starting points!
Teaching Tolerance: Don't Say Nothing
AntiRacist Diagram from VerbaltoVisual.com
Calm: How to use mindfulness to stand in solidarity with the Black Community
Psychology Today: Take a Knee and Feel the Pain of Others
Race & Racism Common Definitions
Vox: Why you should stop saying “all lives matter,” explained in 9 different ways
AntiRacist Checklist for Whites
Is Posting on Social Media a Valid Form of Activism?
First, Listen. Then, Learn: Antiracism Resources for White People
Solid Ground: Race & Social Justice
The Dynamic System of Power, Privilege & Oppression
11 Terms You Should Know to Better Understand Structural Racism
Tasha Ryals ' Anti Racism Resource Guide
“Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?”
Things You Can Do to End Racism
MTV Decoded: Stop Blaming Victims for Police Brutality
5 Common Microaggressions that Perpetuate Racist Stereotypes
Implicit Bias
Are you aware of your unconscious attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs, and are you aware of how these perpetuate marginalization? Check out these resources to learn more.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Articles
Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years
After Charlottesville, A Doctor Reflects On Hateful Patients And His Own Biases
Videos
Podcasts
Books
Other
Microaggressions
A term coined by Dr. Derald Wing Sue, microaggressions are the everyday verbal and non-verbal slights, snubs or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative messages to target persons based solely on their marginalized group membership. They often go against the stated values of the perpetrator and occur outside their awareness.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Articles
Videos
Podcasts
History & Context
The impact of explicit discrimination and exclusion throughout history has a direct impact on our current realities. Explore the link between the past and our present with these links.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Articles
Why the Asian-American Story Is Missing from many U.S. Classrooms
Slavery's Explosive Growth, in Charts: how 20 and Odd Became Millions
‘If There Is No Struggle…’: Teaching a People’s History of the Abolition Movement
Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, Explained
Black Lives Matter, the Killing of George Floyd, and the Long Fight for Racial Justice
Police Shootings are a Leading Cause of Death for Young American Men
The ‘Silent’ Protest That Kick-Started the Civil Rights Movement
Fresh Air: “A Forgotten History” Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America
For Students of Color with Disabilities, Equity Delayed Is Equity Denied
How Disability Rights Advocates Turned Back the Trump Administration’s Attack on Students of Color
Videos
Books
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America (2017)
The End of Policing (2017)
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America (2017)
"All the Real Indians Died Off" and 20 Other Myths About Native Americans (2016)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (2010)
Other
White Privilege
All identities operate within a dominate/subordinate framework; within the social construct of race in America, whiteness is dominant and affords its members certain privileges that others lack. Learn more with these resources.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Articles
Kirsten Gillibrand Delivers Powerful Explanation Of White Privilege
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism
I Wanted to Know What White Men Thought About Their Privilege. So I Asked.
"White Privilege & Male Privilege" & Some Notes for Facilitators
Gregg Popovich Posts Emotional Video About Race After George Floyd's Killing
Gregg Popovich: Don’t kid yourself, ‘we live in a racist country’
Gregg Popovich’s speech about white privilege felt like a personal rebuke. . .
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: What Sports Have Taught Me about Race in America
Imagine: Protest, Insurgency, and the Workings of White Privilege
10 Examples that Prove White Privilege Exists in Every Aspect Imaginable
Settler Fragility: Why Settler Privilege Is So Hard To Talk About
Videos
Books
Me & White Supremacy (2020)
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism (2018)
White Awake: An Honest Look at What It Means to Be White (2017)
Waking Up White (2014)
White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son (2011)
Other
Being A White Ally/Accomplice
Peruse these links to see what true allyship looks like when a member of the dominant group works to disrupt the cycle of oppression.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Articles
Black People Need Stronger White Allies--Here's How You Can Be One
Travis Jones: How Can White People Be Better Allies to People of Color
Other
Taking Action
Learning and self-reflection are necessary parts of the ongoing, lifelong work of promoting equity, and they must be coupled with concrete action steps. These links provide some examples and ideas.
Resources for Accountability & Actions for Black Lives (Immediate Action List; Updated Daily)
How to Contact Senators & How to Address Them, etc.
75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice
#31DaysIBPOC: Do Something Different with Dr. Kimberly N. Parker
How to Support BLM as a Non Black Person
Teen Vogue: Beyond the Hashtag
What can I do to be an ally for black people right now!?
6 Action Items for White People in the Workplace & Beyond
10 Ways Youth Can Engage in Activism
8 Ways to Meaningfully Support Social Justice Movements
Kid's Guide to Social Action (May be a little young but also has some good ideas)
Teen Vogue: Difference Between Non Racist & Anti Racist
How White People Can Hold Each Other Accountable
Undoing Racism: The Connection btwn Race & Poverty & What we can do about it
M4BL – Black like we never left: The Movement For Black Lives
How to Support the Struggle Against Police Brutality
What to do with your anger (a daughter of David Walsh’s friend wrote this & he sent it to us)
12 Ways You Can Be an Activist Without Going to a Protest
Doing Good Together: Tools to Raise an Anti-Racist Generation
Black Feminism
The individual aspects of our identity do not operate in isolation. Intersectionality is a huge component of who we are. Explore these resources on Black Feminism as an example of how different identities operate in tandem with one another.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Articles
Videos
Other
Antiracism
As Ibram X. Kendi says in his book How to Be an Antiracist, "There is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of ‘racist’ isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘antiracist.’" Learn more with these resources.
Embrace Race-- Resources & Webinars
Freedom English: Anti-Racist Resources
Calm: Mindfulness Leaders & Other Resources
Resources From Dismantle Racism
Boston Globe: A Playlist for Protestors
The Cinephiliac: Black Cinematic History
Resources and Lists from Robin DiAngelo
Understanding Systemic Anti-Black Racism in the United States: A Reference List
Shareable Anti-Racism Resource Guide
16 Books Every White Person Should Read
17 Books on Race Every White Person Needs to Read
“Reading for Racial Justice” on Manifold @uminnpress
Google Doc of "Black Revolutionary Txts"
NYT These Books Can Help Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids
University of Dayton: Resources for Antiracist Allies
Anti-racism Resources for White People
RECOMMENDED READINGS ON RACISM AND BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY2
Ibram Kendi: An Antiracist Reading List
13 Books You Should Read About Black Lives
White People Read: Reading List (From the A.R. T.)
Newton South High School Library Resources
Pima County Public Library: 100 11th & 12th Grade Level Books With African Americans
25 Amazing Books by African American Writers you Need to Read
Readings/Resources “Social Justice” Work
Blativity: 13 Books That Should Have Been on Your High School Syllabus
Rachel Ricketts' Anti Racism Resources
Nicole the Librarian: Anti-Racism Resources for all Ages
Vox: 11 movies that confront American racism
Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources
A Resource Guide for AntiRacism Being an Educated Ally
AntiRacist Starter Pack: 40 TV Series, Documentaries, Movies, TedTalks & Books to Add to Your List
Social Justice in Action: 100 Key Websites & Organizations
9 Black Activists Who Are Fighting Injustice in the US They’re shaping the future.
10 YOUNG RACIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW Meet the change-makers.
Teen Vogue: 5 Young Black Activists Making History Right Now
This ‘Equity’ picture is actually White Supremacy at work
Can We Stop Using the Box Graphic When We Talk about Racial Equity?
Guide for Racial Justice & Abolitionist Social and Emotional Learning
Antiracism in Education
Fighting systems racism in schools is a specific endeavor. Check out these resources to find out more.
Four Ways Schools Can Support Teachers to Become 'Actively AntiRacist'
C-SPAN: Ally vs. Co-Conspirator: What it means to be an Abolitionist Teacher
How to be an Anti Racist Educator ASCD
Affirming Black Lives in School: Teachers, Administrators, Students (Resources, Curriculum, Support)
An Instructor's Guide to Understanding Privilege
Incentivize Individual Agency to Achieve Upward Mobility
September 2020Practical Advice on Addressing Racial Justice in K-12 Schools
August 2020Anti-Racist Educator Self-Questionnaire and Rubric
Anti-Racist Student Self-Examination Questionnaire
Mind/Shift: 12 Ways Teachers Can Build Resilience So They Can Make Systemic Change
We Are Teachers: White Teachers Need to See Color
PBS Teacher's Lounge: A Call to Action for White Educators Who Seek to Be Anti-Racist
Greater Good Magazine: 4 Ways Teachers Can Reduce Implicit Bias
ASCD: Confronting Inequity / The Trauma We Don't See--Dena Simmons
Why We Can't Afford Whitewashed Social-Emotional Learning
Dena Simmons: Without Context , Social Emotional Learning Can Backfire
Medium: How Educators Can Respond to Charleston
James Baldwin-talk-to-teachers
PBS Learning Media Resources for Discourse
Teachers Pay Teachers: Teach for Justice
These are the four destructive stereotypes about black women:
Racial Equality Tools & Core Concepts
Black Girl Blues: Strategies to Combat Intra-racial Bullying
A Brief History of African American Literature
Considerations for Teaching LGBTQ+ students of color
Making Black Lives Matter in Classrooms: The Power of Teachers to Change the World
In Search of Our Brother's Gardens: Considering Literary Black Masculinities in the 21st Century
DeVos Revokes Obama Discipline Guidance Designed to Protect Students of Color
The American Nightmare- Ibram Kendi
How is Your School Community Talking About George Floyd?
My Year of Living Dangerously: Listening to James Baldwin
What White Colleagues Need to Understand
What white folks who teach in the hood get wrong about education
Teaching Tolerance: Teaching About Race, Racism, & Police Violence
How is Your School Community Talking About George Floyd?
State of Racial Diversity in the Educational Workforce
James Baldwin's Understanding of the Holocaust
SPAN: SafeHouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
Esther Brunat on Teaching and Creating for a Diverse Classroom
YES! Solutions Journalism--Education Uprising
TedX: Christopher Emdin on Reality Pedagogy
TED: Christopher Emdin Teach Teachers How to Create Magic
Schooltalk: Rethinking What We Say About and To Students Every Day (2017)
What’s Missing from the Conversation: The Growth Mindset in Cultural Competency
Having Difficult Conversations with Students
We must work consciously to create safe spaces for students to engage with one another about identity and other sensitive topics that involve elements of power and privilege. These links provide some ideas.
Let's Talk: Discussing Race, Racism and and Other Difficult Topics with Students
Why Students and Researchers Say Conversations on Race Should Begin with Humility
Making Space: Affinity Groups Offer a Platform for Voices often Relegated to the Margins
Teaching Tolerance Publication: Let's Talk! Discussing Race, Racism, and other difficult
Helping Students Discuss Race Openly
How to Talk "Taboo" Topics with Students
George Floyd, Racism, and Law Enforcement & Discussion Questions
Facing History: Reflecting on George Floyd's Death & Police Violence & Teacher Ideas for Discussion
Smithsonian: Talking About Race
Books
Lesson Plans
These links provide examples of lessons for use with students, including some developed by LPS educators.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
Culturally Responsive Curriculum Scorecard
Charles Willis' (LPS History Teacher) Letter to Parents & Families with Concrete Action Steps
LPS Middle School Lesson on Black Lives Matter from MK Kirigin
Disrupting and Dismantling Racism Text Database
Poem: “Allowables,” by Nikki Giovanni
Resources for PreK-8 Featuring Black History, Culture, and Experiences
Racial Justice and a Lesson on Privilege
Pulitzer Center Educational Programming: The 1619 Project
Lessons on the Civil Rights Movement
Project Ready module 13: Allies & Antiracism
Facing History: Resources for Black History Month
Developing Critical Consciousness Through The Hate You Give
The Fire Next Time Teacher's Guide (Baldwin)
The Rise of Black Pride--Teach Rock
Faculty/Staff Recommendations for Diversity/Equity/ Inclusion
How the #DisruptTexts Movement Can Help English Teachers be More Inclusive
Henry Louis Gates' Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
NYT: Teaching Ideas and Resources to Help Students Make Sense of the George Floyd Protests
Facing History & Ourselves: Eyes on the Prize Study Guide
PBS Eyes on the Prize: Then & Now
Elementary School Lesson Plans on American Indians
Facing History & Ourselves: Working for Justice, Equity and Civic Agency in Our Schools: A Conversation with Clint Smith (Facing History Account Needed)
Restorative Justice
These links provide information on the concept of Restorative Justice we employ in the Lexington Public Schools.
Black History Month Resources
The links below, compiled by LPS METCO Director Barbara Hamilton, outline and describe some of the many (and often unknown) contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.
Videos
In the News
Race, racism, and identity are everywhere in our news media, especially when we we're consciously looking for them. Here are many examples.
Organized by date
'Climate Change Is Racial Injustice': Students Speak Their Truth In Winning Podcast
June 17, 2020Effective Anti-Racist Education Requires More Diverse Teachers, More Training
July 8, 2020White woman who called police on a black man bird-watching in Central Park has been fired
May 26, 2020Crayola launches 'Colors of the World' skin tone-inspired crayon colors
May 21, 2020Vermont State Police investigating alleged bias-related incident
May 14, 2020What We Know about Ahmaud Arbery's Killing
May 12, 2020Diane Paulus-Directed 1776 Finds Its Cast: 'Their Resilience Has Infused Me with Hope'
April 16, 2020Land O'Lakes Removes American Indian Illustration from its Packaging
April 16, 2020Acton Parent Arrested During Incident at School
January 30, 2020How We Fail Black Patients in Pain
January 6, 2020She's a Barbie Girl, in A New World
December 23, 2019Nine Black Hermiones, and ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Still Won’t Talk Race
December 1, 2019America Is Failing Its Black Mothers
Winter 2019Is math racist? New course outlines prompt conversations about identity, race in Seattle classrooms
October 8, 2019Eric Garner’s Death Will Not Lead to Federal Charges for NYPD Officer
July 16, 2019Woman Required to Cover Up on American Airlines Flight Says Race Was a Factor
July 10, 2019A YouTube Employee Was Filmed Calling Police On A Black Man Waiting For A Friend
July 9, 2019A wrestler was forced to cut his dreadlocks before a match. His town is still looking for answers.
April 17, 2019MCAS Question About The Underground Railroad Thrown Out
April 4, 2019Are Arabs and Iranians white? Census says yes, but many disagree
March 28, 2019Newton Public Schools Equity Policy and Guidelines
March 18, 2019Veronica Miller Jamison On “A Computer Called Katherine”
March 9, 2019Meadows, Tlaib Cool Down After Fiery Exchange Over Racism at Cohen Hearing
February 28, 2019Mom, I’m Gay. Can My Friends Sleep Over?
February 7, 2019The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Insult to Angela Davis Has Boomeranged
January 15, 2019H&M faced backlash over its ‘monkey’ sweatshirt ad. It isn’t the company’s only controversy.
January 1, 2019How a Crackdown on MS-13 Caught Up Innocent High School Students
December 27, 2018Cyntoia Brown Must Serve 51 Years Before She’s Eligible for Release, Tennessee Supreme Court Says
December 8, 2018Ballet has long excluded dancers of color. A broader range of “nude” pointe shoes signal change
November 9, 2018October 22, 2018'SNL' Skewers Vermont, Where 'the Leaves Change Colors But the People Never Do'
October 1, 2018Brookline Schools Plan Indigenous Peoples Day with New Lessons
September 26, 2018Black Candidate Wants to Know Who Called 911 as She Talked to Voters
September 21, 2018Rocked by Rally, Charlottesville Mayor Wants Conversations About Race
August 7, 2018Woman Calls the Police on A Black Representative Campaigning in Oregon
July 4, 2018California Woman Threatens to Call Police on Eight-Year-Old Black Girl for Selling Water
June 25, 2018A White Woman Called On Black People Barbecuing: This is How the Community Responded
May 22, 2018As Efforts to Promote Black Businesses Rise, So Do Growing Pains
April 30, 2018New Lynching Memorial Is A Space “To Talk About All of that Anguish”
April 26, 2018Student Diversity Push Upsets Some Parents at Upper West Side School
April 25, 2018Black Market Has a Powerful Message after “White Lives Matter” Vandalism
April 19, 2018Oakland Unified Initiative for African-American Girls Follows Years of Focus on the Boys
March 15, 2018After MLK, Jr Day Exercise, Wisconsin School Bans Non Curricular Discussions of White Privilege
March 14, 2018National Geographic Reckons With Its Past: “For Decades Our Coverage Was Racist”
March 12, 2018What Is an Inclusion Rider? Michael B. Jordan Is Taking on Frances McDormand’s Oscar Proposal
March 8, 2018Why Some Fans Are Frustrated the Latest “Star Wars” Announcement
March 8, 2018Dorchester Among Boston Neighborhoods with Lowest Crime Rate
March 6, 2018Get Ready for a “Party of Five” Reboot About Mexican-American Immigrants
January 18, 2018Facing Discrimination In Public Life, Latinos Stay Positive About Government
November 1, 2017Racism Is Literally Bad For Your Health
October 28, 2017Stress, Hostility Rising in American High Schools in Trump Era
October 26, 2017Groton Town Meeting Ends Debate: “All” Are Welcome
October 24, 2017Money May Not Shield Prominent Blacks from Bigotry, Survey Says
October 24, 2017Mother Claims Program Shaved Daughter’s Head Without Permission
October 19, 2017Education Company Under Fire for “Racist” Nursing Textbook
October 18, 2017Dove Apologizes for Ad Showing Black Woman Turning into White One
October 8, 2017If Your Teacher Looks Like You, You May Do Better in School
September 29, 2017How One Man Convinced 200 KKK Member to Give Up their Robes
August 20, 2017Diversity Concerns Prompt “Great Comet” Casting Shakeup
July 27, 2017Michael Vick’s Advice for Unemployed Colin Kaepernick: Cut Your Hair
July 18, 2017Program to Spur Low-Income Housing Is Keeping Cities Segregated
July 2, 20172 Years After S.C.’s Flag Came Down, Cities Grapple With Confederate Symbols
July 10, 2017Racial Slurs at Fenway Prompt Much-Needed Conversation
May 2, 2017Heineken Just Schooled Pepsi on Ads that Tackle Social Issues
April 27, 2017One Black Teacher Can Improve Outcomes for Black Students
April 5, 2017Economic Mobility in the South
April 4, 2017Girl Had a Perfect Response When Asked Why She Wanted a Black Doll
April 4, 2017St. Louis Pre-Teen Starts Club to Promote Literacy Among His Peers
March 15, 2017DeVos Calls HBCUs “Pioneers” of “School Choice”
February 28, 2017Northampton Police Stop “High Five” Program with Students
February 21, 2017Harvard Business School Makes a Case for Diversity
February 10, 2017Animated Movie ‘Sing’ Accused of Racism
December 28, 2016Mike Pence Saw "Hamilton." The Cast Had Something to Say.
November 19, 2016Trump Victory Has Ireland Worried about Its Illegal Immigrants in the US
November 18, 2016Japanese American Internment is "Precedent" for National Muslim Registry
November 17, 2016A Professor Circled “Hence” On A Latina Student’s Paper and Wrote “This Is Not Your Word”
October 28, 2016How the Stress of Racism Affects Learning
October 11, 2016WBUR Edify: Mass Educators Look For New Ways to Teach the History of Race in America
September 19, 2016Is the National Anthem Racist? Beyond the Debate Over Colin Kaepernick
September 2, 2016The Challenge of Educational Inequality
May 19, 2016Marvel Responds to "Doctor Strange" "Whitewashing" Criticism Over Tilda Swinton Casting
April 27, 2016Gap Sorry for “Offensive” Ad that Made Young Black Girl Seem Like a Prop to Some
April 6, 2016Racial Bias Case Against Donald Trump's Company
January 23, 2016Mass Art Professor Says He Was Detained by Police Because “He Fit the Description”
December 8, 20158 Changes That Were Made to Richard Scarry Books to Keep Up with the Times
November 11, 2015Starting in Brookline, A Math Project Quickly Adds Up
October 27, 2015Texas Mother Teaches Textbook Company a Lesson on Accuracy
October 5, 2015The Reason This “Racist Soap Dispenser” Doesn’t Work on Black Skin
September 9, 2015A Study Reveals a Painful Truth Behind a Story about Chris Rock’s Neighbors
July 20, 2015July 1, 2015The Story of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”
February 15, 2012The Race Gap in High School Honors Classes
December 11, 2014Schools’ Discipline for Girls Differs by Race and Hue
December 10, 2014Is Beauty in the Eye(lid) of the Beholder?
November 17, 2014How Diversity Makes Us Smarter
October 1, 2014Dove Sells Summer Glow Lotion for “Normal to Dark Skin,” Outrage Ensues
August 28, 2014US Military Rolls Back Restrictions on Black Hairstyles
August 13, 2014As Demographics Shift, Kids’ Books Stay Stubbornly White
June 25, 2013Cheerios Commercial Featuring Mixed Racial Family Gets Racist Backlash
June 15, 2013Review Clears 3 Denver Police Officers in 2009 Beating of Alex Landau
April 5, 2013Manhattan School Apologizes After Assigning “Slavery Word Problems Homework” to Fourth Graders
February 21, 2013DC Comics Green Lantern Relaunched as Gay Superhero
June 1, 2012Police Handcuff 6-Year-Old Student In Georgia
April 17, 2012White Until Proven Black: Imagining Race in Hunger Games
March 30, 2012Before Dr. Seuss Was Famous, He Drew These Sad, Racist Ads
March 23, 2012Five Points from “Slavery Math Problems”
January 9, 2012Harvard Professor Jailed; Office Is Accused of Bias
July 20, 2009March 30, 2008April 25, 2005
Editorials & Essays
Explore the writing of these great thinkers to push our own understanding of how these concepts impact our personal and professional lives.
The Marshall Project: Rioting/Looting/Protests
“America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us”
“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?”
NYT: Of Course there are Protests. The State is Failing Black People.
NBC News:High School Wrestler Forced to Cut His Locks
LA Times: Texas Textbook Calls Slaves Immigrants
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reflects on George Floyd protests
IBM Calls for an End of Facial Recognition Technology Over Racial Profiling Fears
The Cut: The Great Awokening: What Happens to Culture in an Era of Identity Politics?
Vox: Corona Virus exacerbating vulnerabilities Native communities already face
NYT: Black AmericansFace Alarming Rates of Coronavirus Infection in Some States
The Atlantic: Stop Blaming Black People for Dying of the Corona Virus
The Atlantic: What the Racial Data Show The pandemic seems to be hitting people of color the hardest
The Atlantic:The Case for Reparations (Ta-Nehisi Coates)
Vice: Why Seeing Yourself on Screen is so Important
NYT Opinion: Remember, No One Is Coming to Save Us (Roxane Gay)
Guest column: Direct and indirect racism a burden blacks in America
Gregg Popovich: White Americans must first admit there is a racial problem
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says police need to ‘understand the problem’ facing black people
Abdul-Jabbar: Don't understand the protests?
The Guardian: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Op-Eds
Time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Political Incorrectness Is Just a Strategy
Bill Russell, activist for the ages The courage of the basketball legend continues to make an impact
The Rhino Press: THE LEGACY OF BILL RUSSELL ON RACE RELATIONS IN THE NBA
Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution
William "Bill" Russell National Visionary [Oral History Archive]
Charles M.Blow Opinions & Editorials
Just Walk on By: Black and Men and Public Space--Brent Staples
Miami Herald: Black activists of the 21st century are taking it beyond ‘takin’ it to the streets’
Vanity Fair: Now Streaming: Over 100 Years of Black Defiance at the Movies
The Atlantic: The Personal Cost of Black Success
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Discusses Trump's Racism on BBC
November 12, 2016Sally Hemings wasn’t Thomas Jefferson’s mistress. She was his property.
July 7, 2017May 21, 2020April 26, 2016
Blog Posts
These blog posts provide ongoing commentary and thought-provoking reflections.
Podcasts
Continue your learning while driving, exercising, or cooking dinner with these podcasts!
Small Doses with Amanda Seales Side Effects of White Women
NPR's Code Switch: A Decade of Watching Black People Die
Ep 30 BIAS: Well-meaning white people Smartest Person in the Room
NPR Interview w/Dr. Claude Steele: Whistling Vivaldi
Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
Still Processing: Colin Kaepernick
The Witness Podcast Network: Pass The Mic
How to Talk About Race and Racism
This American Life: House Rules
This American Life: Is This Working?
This American Life: The Problem We All Live With
This American Life: Cops See It Differently, Part I
This American Life: Cops See It Differently, Part 2
This American Life: Three Miles
Films, Television & Videos
These films extend the learning of the various categories above.
Documentaries
Feature Films
Television
Videos
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Nation's Divide--Carol Anderson speaks at Emory University
Paul Rucker TED Talk: The Symbols of Systemic Racism--and How to Take Away Their Power
Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola: 'How Do We Move In Love To Fix' Inequality?
Clint Smith TED Poem: Ode to the Only Black Kid in the Class
Claudia Rankine: On Whiteness at ArtsEmerson (March 24, 2017)
Citizen Speak: A Conversation with Claudia Rankine at ArtsEmerson
Trevor Noah: George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper
Trevor Noah: When is the Right Time for Black People to Protest?
Bloomberg and The Legacy of Stop-and-Frisk - Between the Scenes | The Daily Show
NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar defends nationwide protests in op-ed
The Negative Effects Of The 'Strong Black Woman' Stereotype | AJ+
Sister Citizen: Shame Stereotypes and Black Women in America
Black Female Voices: Who is Listening - A public dialogue between bell hooks + Melissa Harris-Perry
Emmanuel Acho: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man - Episode 2 with Matthew McConaughey
Other
Art/Creative Expression
These links provide additional ways to explore race, equity, and identity in the arts.
US Department of Arts & Culture Creative Responses
What to Send Up When It Goes Down: Living Memorial, Love Letters To Black People, Resources
Anna Deavere Smith:4 American Characters
Art Class Curator Lessons for Black History Month
Oree Originol: Artist Seeks Justice for Black and Brown Lives That Matter
Fractured Atlas: Post by Nina BermanBy Nina Berman on June 5th, 2020 Print/Save as PDF Anti-Racism
Resources for the Arts and Nonprofits
Washington Post: Visualizing Racism: Nine photographers take on the challenge of depicting bigotry
Raising Antiracist Children
Explore these links to learn more about talking to younger children about race and identity, including concepts of power, privilege, and oppression.
Where Do I Start?
Additional Resources for Further Reflection & Learning
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
Today: Path to Peace-- How to Talk to Kids About Racism with Jason Reynolds
Common Sense Media: Sites That Help Kids Appreciate Differences
The Conscious Kid/ Black Books Matter: Children's Books Celebrating Black Boys
Picture Books that Teach Children about Prejudice, Inclusion, and Kindness
How I explain Racism to My White Friends (So They Can Explain it to Their Kids)
Books to Teach White Children and Teens How to Undo Racism and White Supremacy
Barnes & Noble: 15 Empowering Middle Grade Novels for Kids Interested in Social Justice
Today's Parent: 30 books to help you talk to your kids about racism
Choosing Excellent Children's Books By And About American Indians
COVID-19 & Identity
COVID-19 has exacerbated systemic inequities that have existed for decades, and the pandemic has created new gaps, as well. These links include information and perspectives on these disparities.
"A Terrible Price": The Deadly Racial Disparities of COVID-19 in America
Why the Virus Is a Civil Rights Issue: ‘The Pain Will Not Be Shared Equally’
Stop Blaming Black People for Dying of the Coronavirus
The Stark Racial Imbalance in Coronavirus Infections, Visualized
A tale of two cities: how New York police enforce social distancing by the color of your skin
Organizations
These organizations are working to dismantle the systems of oppression in our greater society.
Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC)
Initiatives for Developing Equity & Achievement for Students (IDEAS)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
ACLU Tracking Boston Police Incidents
Reclaim the Block: List of Organizations in Need or Offer Essential Services
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
National Black Justice Coalition
Books
For more in-depth study and learning, check out these important books. (Additional books are listed under the other topics on this page.)
Where Do I Start?
How to Be An Antiracist (2019)
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (2nd ed. 2017)
Additional Books for Further Reflection & Learning
Nonfiction
Nice Racism (2021)
The Sum of Us (2021)
Me and White Supremacy (2020)
Being the Change (2018)
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness (2018)
Why I am No Longer Talking to White People About Race (2018)
Racism without Racists (2017)
The Fire This Time (2017)
Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race (2015)
Between the World and Me (2015)
Despite the Best Intentions: How Racial Inequality Thrives in Good Schools (2015)
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege In a Racially Divided America (2018)
Fiction Writers
Young Adult Authors
Other
Social Media
These social media accounts provide ongoing ideas and learning.
Nii Addo Abrahams: @_nickyflash_
Advancement Project: @advancementproject
Vera Ahiyya: @thetututeacher
ALOK: @alokvmenon
Rachel Cargle: @rachel.cargle
Center for Antiracist Research: @antiracismctr
Austin Channing Brown: @austinchanning
Check Your Privilege: @ckyourprivilege
The Conscious Kid: @theconsciouskid
Britt Hawthorne: @britthawthorne
Hey Queen, You Cute: @heyqueenyoucute
The I'm Tired Project: @theimtiredproject
Indya Moore: @indyamoore
No White Saviors: @nowhitesaviours
Jason Reynolds: @jasonreynolds83
Nic Stone: @nicstone
Angie Thomas: @angiethomas
Woke Brown Fem: @wokebrownfem
Wear Your Voice Magazine: @wearyourvoice
Nii Addo Abrahams: @_nickyflash_
Jamelle Bouie: @JBouie
Dr. Chanequa: @drchanequa
Clear the Air Edu: @ClearTheAirEdu
Ava DuVernay: @ava
Dina Gilio-Whitaker: @DinaGWhit
Eddie S. Glaude Jr.: @esglaude
Nikole Hannah Jones: @nhannahjones
Ally Henny: @thearmchaircom
Jemele Hill: @jemelehill
Ibram X. Kendi: @DrIbram
Jacqui Lewis: @RevJacquiLewis
Brittany Packnett Cunningham: @MsPackyetti
Yolanda Pierce: @YNPierce
Clint Smith: @clintsmithIII
Ijeoma Oluo: @IjeomaOluo
Keeanga-Yamahtta T.: @keeangayamahtta
Other Resources
This list includes even more resources to extend the learning.
21 LGBTQ+ Picture Books Every Kid Should Read
Beginner's Guide to Being An Ally for Trans People
Transploitation: The Reality of being a Black Trans Woman TedTalk
Black Trans *Lives Matter TedX
1968 East LA High School Walk Outs
Kimberle Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality?
ACLU Fighting for Black Trans Women This Pride & Beyond
Definitions to Help Understand Gender & Sexual Orientation for Educators and Parents/Guardians