These past few weeks have been hard and overwhelming, but we can be hopeful that these actions and outcries will lead to real and transformative change. To provide some information and support, we have compiled a diverse list of resources to re-educate, find community, and to spark change.
Also, these events can easily strain one's mental health. So please refer to our mental health resource page as needed!
Review the history:
While many of us learned about Black History in school, it may have been sugar-coated or biased depending on where we grew up. To understand the current events, it is helpful to review the history and the foundation for the current society and culture.
General:
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A People's History of the United States: Howard Zinn tells the story of America’s history from the points of view of women, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers (to name a few), covering from the arrival of Christopher Columbus to Bill Clinton’s first term.
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Khan Academy has compiled a list of their videos related to Black history in America
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Throughline: this NPR podcast focuses on using history to understand current events
Relevant recent episodes: Why 2020 Isn’t Quite 1968, American Police
Go deeper:
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Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America: Ibram X. Kendi explains how racist ideas were created and spread throughout the history of American society (Also, check out his book “How to be an Antiracist”, which provides ideas for how to uproot racism in society and ourselves or his feature on CBS, discussing how states teach black history differently)
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Freedom Riders: covers the six months in 1961 where over 400 black and white Americans protested Jim Crow laws by travelling on buses together
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The 1619 Project by the New York Times: details the history of slavery in America
Understanding Racial Justice Issues:
What are the causes for the racial injustices we are seeing today?
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So You Want to Talk about Race: in this work, Ijeoma Oluo strives to create open conversations about race in the US and how it affects every aspect of American life, with topics ranging from white supremacy, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and police brutality.
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Let's get to the root of racial injustice | Megan Ming Francis | TEDxRainier: UW professor, Megan Ming Francis addresses the root causes of current racial justice issues, shares personal stories, and calls out misconceptions of solutions.
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Code Switch: Podcast by NPR that explores the themes of race, ethnicity, and culture.
Notable recent episodes: Unmasking the ‘Outside Agitator’, A Decade of Watching Black People Die, Why The Coronavirus is Hitting Black Communities Hardest
Intersectionality Matters!: hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.
Notable recent episode: Under the Blacklight: The Fire This Time
“Under the Blacklight” is a series, partnering with the African American Policy Forum, about the intersectional vulnerabilities of COVID-19
Recognizing Privilege and Common Misconceptions:
To be better allies, it is important for White people to understand the privileges they have been given.
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White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism: by UW professor Robin DiAngelo
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Thinking Allowed - White Privilege: Lisa Kingstone, Senior Teaching Fellow in Race and Identiy at Kings College, London and Kalwant Bhopal, Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham discuss white privilege
Black Voices in Academia:
It is time to listen!
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White Academia: Do Better: Professor Jasmine Roberts discusses white supremacy in higher education and recommendation on how to make changes
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Cite Black Women Podcast: a podcast by the Cite Black Women movement, whose mission is to engage in a radical praxis of citation that honors the intellectual productions of Black women.
Social Media -
Follow the hashtag #BlackInTheIvory on Twitter to read personal stories of black academics
Building Community:
In ChemE -
Join the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Town Halls to help design a better future for the department
In STEM -
BLACKandSTEM: community of black students, professors, and professionals in STEM