Pursuing racial justice beyond book lists

Over the past two weeks, thousands across the U.S. and the world marched in the streets to protest the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury, and countless other Black Americans at the hands of police. As a community seeking justice, Streetside Conversations is committed to uplifting and actively participating in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We know that many in our community are taking part in the struggle against racism in the United States and around the world — and a long march towards racial justice remains ahead. 

We believe that listening, paired with empathetic, honest, and productive dialogue, is critical for helping us to build a more just world. BIPOC communities must not be made to shoulder this work alone — white allies must fully commit to dismantle toxic white supremacy. 

Right now anti-racism books are skyrocketing in popularity — every book on the top 10 New York Times combined e-book and print nonfiction bestseller list this week is about anti-racism. Reading can’t replace the active work of breaking down racist systems, but when we look  at social movements in history, political book sales have sometimes signified an important cultural shift. Now it’s up to us to make it stick.

When it comes to systemic change, where do we start? There are many spaces — from the workplace, to schools, to government institutions, to neighborhoods, to dinner tables. Sometimes systemic change begins in spaces of internal reflection or with processing racial trauma before accelerating into action. 

This week we’re sharing resources to help all of us consider where and how we can actively create change and have constructive conversations about racism and racial justice. If you have resources of your own to suggest, add them in the comments below. Let’s do this work as a community.

A PLACE TO START

Eight Lessons for Talking about race, racism and racial justice 

So you want to talk about racism

An anti-racist reading list 

AT THE WORKPLACE

How to have more productive conversations about race in the workplace

The bias of “professionalism” standards

Science explains why unconscious bias training won’t reduce workplace racism. Here’s what will.

Workshop: Building an anti-racist company

Leadership workshop designed for women of color

IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

How to Advocate for Policy Change in Your City

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups

The Bail Project

Making the Justice System Work for Everyone

“Why is this happening?”: Understanding the history of police brutality

AT SCHOOLS

The Black Curriculum (specifically for British History) 

Showing up for racial justice: Political education course 

Teaching The Peoples’ History

A classroom lesson about social media activism

AT HOME

Talking with relatives across the political divide

How to have better conversations with your parents about racism

How to talk to your (white) kids about race 

Talking to kids about racial stereotypes

Talking to kids after racial violence

The Conscious Kid’s resources for parents: Instagram and Patreon

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Creating “Brave Spaces” in white groups

Be the Bridge training and consulting

Supporting Black-owned businesses

ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Color of Change

11 Anti-racism social media accounts worth following

IN ART

Black artists on work that inspires them 

Songs of protest and hope 

Songs of joy from Black artists 

A collection of poetry from Black poets

WITHIN YOURSELF

Implicit bias test

Internalized racism inventory

Anti-racism course from the Anti-racism Project

A wellness space for people of color

Resources especially for Black women and girls focused on opportunity, healing, and validation


Do you have other anti-racism resources for dialogue and action? Let us know below.


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