Dear Ones,
Here are some resources that we mentioned during last Sunday’s celebration. Please share others that you have found. If you’re interested in joining in a small circle to work through the book “My Grandmother’s Hands,” please contact me.
Blessings, Peace & Justice, Barbara Atkinson
Books/Authors
Resmaa Menakem: Inter-generational racial trauma as it affects Blacks, whites, and police officers. His book “My Grandmother’s Hands” includes readings and self-exploration exercises for each group. Introductory material offered in free on-line course: https://www.resmaa.com/
“Me and White Privilege” by Layla F Saad: book and companion journal for 28 days of writing about one’s own responses to the material.
“White Fragility” by Robin DeAngelo explains the concept of white fragility, how white people feel threatened, guilty, uncomfortable, etc, and how being defensive, apologetic, and/or explaining how they’re not racist are unproductive.
“Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson, explores caste in several international contexts.
Ta-Nehisi Coates: "Between the World and Me." Also article in the Atlantic on reparations: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/eparations:
“The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, on how the war on drugs followed a pattern consistent with slavery and original Jim Crow policies, with the resulting disproportionate incarceration of blacks in US prisons.
Bryan Stephenson – anything he writes. Stephenson is a Black attorney and professor based in Alabama who defends prisoners on death row and founded the Equal Justice Initiative.
From Larry Hall: "The White Ally Workbook"
From Rosalind Cauffman: Heather McGhee "The Sum of Us" details how white society tends to see any social benefit offered to all low-income people as a "zero sum game", whereby if THOSE PEOPLE get something it must mean they are taking it away from ME. The result is low income whites being against programs such as healthcare for all THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT THEM.
Radio recordings
"Seeing White", season 2 of Turning the Lens radio broadcasts - explores racism in America against Blacks, Native Americans and more.
http://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/
Films:
“13th” directed by Ava DuVernay, on the clause in the 13th amendment that outlawed slavery but allowed it prison labor. She also directed the film “Selma” about the civil rights movement and the march across the Selma Alabama bridge. Available free online.
“Just Mercy” based on Bryan Stephenson’s memoir entitled Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Available free online.
“Judas and the Black Messiah” on the Black Panthers in Chicago and the death of Panther Fred Hampton. Recently released, also on HBO.
“One Night in Miami,” a conversation between Dr Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders
Organizations
SURJ - Showing Up for Racial Justice - is a nationwide "white ally" organization, who offer trainings, web meetings, actions. (I haven't connected with the Phila chapter; they have a website.)
From Gary Schoenberg: Discrimination — no matter how subtle — has consequences. In 2017, the Center for Health Journalism explained that racism and microaggressions lead to worse health, and pointed out that discrimination can negatively influence everything from a target person’s eating habits to his or her trust in their physician, and trigger symptoms of trauma. A 2014 study of 405 young adults of color even found that experiencing microaggressions can lead to suicidal thoughts.
From Norm Danis: two organizations that are local and highly regarded are: Power.org, which empowers individuals to be active in contacting county and state representatives on issues like the inequality in educational funding --- Score.org which offers a mentoring program, esp for small businesses.
