RACIAL JUSTICE RESOURCES
Provided by St. Pauls Anti-Racism Cluster (SPARC)
How can we better understand the concepts and issues involved in addressing racism? What role can we play, individually and as a church, in facing historic harms and in transforming society to free us all? Consult the following lists and links for resources to join in the work of dismantling racism and white supremacy in our society, systems, institutions, and ourselves as we strive for a more just world.
ARTICLES
BOOKS
- In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation’s history and current crisis.
- Wilkerson rigorously defines eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, heredity, and dehumanization. She documents the parallels with two other hierarchies in history, those of India and of Nazi Germany, and no reader will be left without a greater understanding of the price we all pay in a society torn by artificial divisions.
- Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America--but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.
- The handbook for pursuing racial justice, with hands-on suggestions and real-world examples of change.
- A powerful true story about the Equal Justice Initiative, the people they represent, and the importance of confronting injustice.
- This workbook leads readers through a journey of understanding their white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on black, indigenous and people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.
- The 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones
- This epic compendium of articles, poems, and works of fiction reframes our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its continuing legacy at the center of our national narrative. Available in print, audio (e.g., podcast), and interactive format , it was released on the 400th anniversary of the first ship bearing slaves to the shores of our land.
- The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin
- In two autobiographical essays, the author confronts the racial issues and tensions that he believes corrupt and deform American life and the American dream. He believed White people and Black people must learn to love each other in order for society to improve.
- Alexander shows that, by targeting black men through the War on Drugs and decimating communities of color, the U.S. criminal justice system functions as a contemporary system of racial control, even as it formally adheres to the principle of colorblindness.
- McGhee marshals economic and sociological research to paint an irrefutable story of racism’s costs, but at the heart of the book are the humble stories of people yearning to be part of a better America, including white supremacy’s collateral victims: white people themselves.
- This epic story of the Great Migration tells how it changed the social, cultural and political landscape of the United States, with consequences that persist to the current day.
- White Fragility, Robin DeAngelo
- This unflinching work has become the best-known, best-selling resource for White people who want to understand structural racism and become more self-aware in their relationships with people of color.
MOVIES
- Though the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, it included the qualification “…except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been been duly convicted…” This documentary shows how that language has been manipulated to set up what amounts to an enduring system of slavery.
- Vatican documents issued by various popes during the fifteenth century created global patterns of domination, leading ultimately to the current ecological crisis and racial injustice. The wisdom teachings of original nations and peoples provide a way forward for the well-being of the planet and our future generations.
- I am Not Your Negro, Netflix
- This unforgettable 2016 documentary about James Baldwin was directed by Raoul Peck, based on an unfinished Baldwin manuscript called Remember This House and including ample film clips of Baldwin’s interviews.
- This online companion to California Newsreel’s award-winning documentary series discusses the origins, beliefs, and consequences of what we call race with an extensive collection of resources.
- This chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
PODCASTS
- Hosted by journalists of color, this NPR podcast tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor.
- If you want to understand what’s wrong with our public schools, you have to look at what is arguably the most powerful force in shaping them: white parents. A five-part series from the makers of Serial and The New York Times. Hosted by Chana Joffe-Walt.
- On Pod Save the People, DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with Kaya Henderson and De’Ara Balenger. They offer a unique take on the news, with a special focus on overlooked stories and topics that often impact people of color.
- This fourteen-part documentary series explores whiteness in America—where it came from, what it means, and how it works.
ORGANIZATIONS
- Empowering people and culture toward racial healing, equity, and reconciliation through a Christian perspective
- A global organization whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
- Designing campaigns powerful enough to end practices that unfairly hold Balck people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward.
- Member congregations-including St. Pauls-provide a moral voice, faithful witness and concerted action on social issues in Illinois.
- Working to disrupt inequality, dismantle racism, and accelerate change to make racial equity a reality.
- A national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial and economic justice.
- Striving to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment.
- Building a stronger, more equitable Chicago region.
- A great place to learn the basics about race.
UCC WEBSITES
- Council for Health and Human Service Ministries Resource List
- Social Justice News, Stories, and Resources
- Take advantage of the opportunities to engage in anti-racism workshops, teach-ins, educational webinars, and online resources offered by our denomination at the national level.