Black Lives Matter: Read, Watch & Listen
Over the past couple of weeks, I have come to face the fact that I know very little about the history of race in the United States. Even taking U.S. history in high school, like so many other students around the country have. I find that I have so many gaps in knowledge and that the story is told from a distinct perspective. Even while learning about slavery and racism during the Civil War Era and the Social Justice Movements of the twentieth century, a lot of what I was learning made it seem like issues of racism were a thing of the past. In school, they preached that the U.S. was a melting pot where “we don’t see color anymore”, when in fact, that is certainly not the case. If anything, claims like those come from a narrative formed by people with privilege. Just because slavery has been abolished and Jim Crow Laws have been banned, it does not mean that racism is no longer an issue in the country. As a result, I’ve taken it upon myself, like I’m sure many others, to try and begin to educate myself on the history of race in America.
I will be the first to call myself out on this: why am I only starting now to try to educate myself? Why isn’t this something I have made the effort to do before? And while I acknowledge that it did take a whole movement to push me to do this, I am no longer going to stay silent and rather will make an effort to be actively anti-racist. While I will never be able to understand, I most certainly stand. Before you jump into action, we recommend you take some time to learn, read, and watch.
Don’t know where to begin? We have compiled a list of resources to help you get started. While there is no right way to begin educating yourself, there is no wrong place to start. Whether its a podcast, or a movie, or even a link to a resource you found on an Instagram story–
Books
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
A vital novel from antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo in which she discusses the notion of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). I found this to be an essential text in terms of driving the fact that it is not enough to just “not be racist,” we need to be actively anti-racist. DiAngelo refers to the defensive shields that white people put up when challenges surrounding race arise. These shields are characterized by fear, anger, and guilt, which all lead to defensive behavior and often silence. Because of white fragility, racial structures remain difficult to break apart and prevent cross-racial dialogue. The book exposes issues as well as explores what we can all do to engage in conversations surrounding race in a much more constructive way.
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
A New York Times bestselling book
I’ve seen many people, especially white people, become uncomfortable when talking about race. Which is why I’d encourage them and anyone else to go onto the website of their local bookstore and purchase this book.
In her book, Ikeoma Oluo sheds light on race and racism and how they permeate almost every aspect of American society. She does this by encouraging honest conversation and providing the language, for white people and people of color, to engage in clear and constructive conversation with each other when discussing biases and prejudices. While widespread systemic change takes time to achieve, this book provides readers with tools to begin person to person. While you may not be able to single handedly fix the current corrupt criminal justice systems, you can start conversations with people and encourage others to begin talking about these topics they once thought of as “uncomfortable”
Podcasts
Code Switch
Code Switch is a weekly podcast from NPR and I have found it to be a great resource as I can just listen to it while I’m driving or doing grocery, but I’m still learning extremely valuable content. The podcast is based around “the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for.” It is hosted by journalists of color which brings marginalized voices into the spotlight and allows for a very personal insight. The content of the podcast tackles how race impacts every part of the society that we live in- politics and pop culture to history, sports, and everything in between.
Movies
13th
Academy Award Nominee film, available on Netflix. Eye-opening documentary movie that traces through history and exposes the entrenched racism in the criminal justice system and police. It presents the 13th Amendment as a foundation for the corruption and fractured political landscape. A necessary watch for those who want to understand the systems of oppression and inequality that operate in the U.S.
Directed by Ava DuVernay
Moonlight
Oscar-winner, Moonlight, is about a young African American man and his coming of age, presented as three stages in his life. The film is so powerful and gives us deep access to his thoughts and feelings in a way that really takes you on his journey with him. Along with a very important message, this film is also a classic example of A24 mastery and is a visually stunning piece. A must-watch.
TV-Series
When They See Us
Based on a true story, a group of teenage boys, later known as the Central Park Five, were accused of raping a white woman and then convicted although none of them were truly guilty of the crime. This series is heavy and it’s infuriating as Ava DuVernay exposes the struggles of innocent young Black men within a system that is designed to work against them.
These, of course, are just some of the many, many resources available over the internet. We hope that, like us, you feel encouraged to begin if you haven’t and to continue if you have. Don’t forget to check out our last post - “What You Can Do” on an extensive list of places you can donate to and ACT!