Green River LibGuides: One Book 2021-2022: So You Want to Talk about Race: Talking Is Great, but What Else Can I Do?

What can you do?

Chapter 17: Talking Is Great, But What Else Can I Do?

Becoming An Ally and Taking Action

Talk. Please talk and talk and talk some more. But also act. Act now, because people are dying now in this unjust system. How many lives have been ground up by racial prejudice and hate? How many opportunities have we already lost? Act and talk and learn and fuck up and learn some more and act again and do better. We have to do this all at once. We have to learn and fight at the same time. Because people have been waiting far too long for their chance to live as equals in this society.

Oluo continues with these suggestions:

Vote local.
Get in schools.
Bear witness.
Speak up in your unions.
Support POC-owned business.
Boycott banks that prey on people of color.
Give money to organizations working to fight racial oppression and support communities of color.
Boycott businesses that exploit workers of color.
Support music, film, television, art, and books created by people of color.
Support increases in minimum wage.
Push your mayor and city council for police reform.
Demand college diversity.
Vote for diverse government representatives.

- Adapted from "So You Want To Talk About Race," Chapter 16

Scholarly Articles

These are articles from scholarly/academic journals that are written by researchers and other experts in their fields to share the findings of their original research with others in the field.

Are You My Ally: Implications for Training on Bias-Related Incidents From the Journal of College and University Student Housing
The Proof Is in the Hovering: Disrupting Racism in White Spaces A 2021 article from Women's Studies in Communication
Reckoning: A Dialogue about Racism, AntiRacists, and Business & Human Rights a 2021 article from the Washington International Law Journal
Voices of Ambivalence: White Teachers’ Refections on Race Talk A 2019 article from.The Urban Review

Videos

Videos can be a great place to get information. Linked below are some featured - both from the library's streaming collection, as well as videos on the web.

3 Ways To Be A Better Ally In The Workplace A TED Talk by Melinda Epler
After The Protests: How To Be An Active Ally To The Black Community A video from Global News
Driving Change and Anti-Racism A 2020 video course in LinkedinLearning
A Guide to Lifelong Allyship A talk by Catherine Hernandez at TEDxToronto
Just Ask: Kwame Christian on Discussing Race A 2021 video course in LinkedinLearning
Racial Equality: Being an Ally Starts with Your Intention A video from VitalSmarts Video
Video: How to Be a Good Ally - Identity, Privilege, Resistance Streaming on YouTube by Ahsante the Artist

Websites

Linked below are websites for various organizations focused on creating real change.

#SayHerName Campaign
"The #SayHerName campaign brings awareness to the often invisible names and stories of Black women and girls who have been victimized by racist police violence, and provides support to their families."
The #TruthBeTold Campaign
From The African American Policy Forum, the campaign focuses on the fight to uphold critical race theory teaching in the US
Anguish And Action
Created by the Obama Foundation, this websites provides articles and other resources on how to be an advocate and make change.
Black Lives Matter (website)
"Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes."
Campaign Zero - Solutions
A topical list of articles and links to various studies and other resources aimed at activism
The Crown Act
"The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including braids, locs, twists or bantu knots."
Dismantling Racism Works
Founded in 2005, this organization works to promote anti-racist support resources. Search the cite by listed topics.
Equal Justice Initiative
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Families against Mandatory Minimums FAMM
"FAMM’s mission is to create a more fair and effective justice system that respects our American values of individual accountability and dignity while keeping our communities safe."
Innocence Project
A search result list of sources from Gale Virtual Reference Library
Law Enforcement Accountability Project
"The goal of LEAP is to elevate activist storytelling around police brutality and murder through funding short-term projects in film, theater, photography, fine art, music, poetry, literature, sculpture and dance. Change begins with the stories we tell each other about the police and Black people."
Learning For Justice
"Learning for Justice seeks to uphold the mission of the Southern Poverty Law Center: to be a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people."
more...less...
Find articles, videos, teaching resources, and more.
NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
"The NAACP's mission is to ensure the political, educational, equality of minority group citizens of States and eliminate race prejudice."
A New Way of Life
"A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides housing, case management, pro bono legal services, advocacy and leadership development for women rebuilding their lives after prison." Founded by Susan Burton.
Racial Equality Resource Guide
Created by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this online guide provides an array of resources aimed at Racial Equity
The Racial Equity Institute
"We are an alliance of trainers, organizers, and institutional leaders who have devoted ourselves to the work of creating racially equitable organizations and systems. We help individuals and organizations develop tools to challenge patterns of power and grow equity."
Southern Poverty Law Center
"The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people."
Stop Police Brutality Now
"The purpose of our STOP Police Brutality Now initiative is to gather reports of credible allegations of police misconduct so policymakers (and others) can make informed assessments regarding the nature and circumstances of police misconduct, and consider proposals that can minimize wrongdoing."
SURJ: Showing Up for Racial Justice
"A home for white people working for justice"

Related Guides

Continue Educating Yourself

The Holman Library has an abundance of resources about the history of racism, the struggle for civil rights, current systemic racism, and more. Access the guides linked below to find more resources in the library. Have questions about resources? Don't hesitate to talk to one of the GRC librarians!

Black Lives Matter Movement Resources
by Jody Segal Last Updated Aug 14, 2024 791 views this year
African American History
by Jody Segal Last Updated Sep 7, 2024 2274 views this year
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racist, Culturally Responsive Education
by Jody Segal Last Updated Sep 9, 2024 1552 views this year

Notable Figures and Authors

Learn more about the people listed below or read some of the books and articles some have written.

Angela Davis
bell hooks
Toni Morrison
Audre Lord
James Baldwin
Assata Shakur
Gwendolyn Brooks
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Kimberly Crenshaw
Rachel Cargle
Blair Imani
Ibram X. Kendi
Ijeoma Oluo
Layla F. Saad
Ericka Hart
Rachel Ricketts
DeRay Mckesson

One Book 2021-2022: So You Want to Talk about Race