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Dismantling Racism Resources

The following are a selection of resources that members of the Dismantling Racism Team recommend as a starting point for those interested in understanding and responding to racism, white supremacy, and racial inequities today. We hope they will open the door to or further support you in your journey towards active anti-racism and transformative change. 

Open Wide Our Hearts: An Enduring Call to Love (2018)

Reconciled through Christ: On Reconciliation and Greater Collaboration between Hispanic American Catholics and African American Catholics (2013)

We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight: The Church’s Response to Racism in the Years Following Brothers and Sisters to Us (October 2004)

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: U.S. Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism (2001)

Brothers and Sisters to Us: Pastoral Letter on Racism (1979)

On Racial Harmony A Statement by the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (August 23, 1963)

Selected Quotes from Discrimination and Christian Conscience, a statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops (November 14, 1958)

Organizations Doing Anti-Racism Work Nationally

National Urban League: The National Urban League works to provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities, and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in America.

Southern Poverty Law Center: Fight Hate, Teach Tolerance, Seek Justice, Civil Rights Memorial

Equal Justice Initiative: The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting fundamental human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.

Black Lives Matter: The Black Lives Matter Global Network is a chapter-based, member-led organization; wanting to build local power, demanding the intervention in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

NAACP: The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

 

Organizations Doing Anti-Racism Work Locally (many national organizations have local chapters as well)

Greater Cincinnati Foundation Greater Cincinnati Foundation believes the greatest change happens when people come together—in partnership, collaboration, and generosity. Their role is to align the right players and coordinate their efforts and contributions to make the biggest impact.

IJPC (Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center)

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

  • https://www.freedomcenter.org/ 
  • The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum of conscience, an education center, a convener of dialogue, and a bea­con of light for inclusive freedom around the globe.

YWCA

AMOS Project/Amos Organizing Collaborative

  • https://theamosproject.org/ 
  • The AMOS Project/Amos Organizing Collaborative is a network of congregations organizing and mobilizing with the most vulnerable in our city.

(Film Links are for Trailers)

13th (2016) – available on Netflix

I Am Not Your Negro (2016) – available for purchase on YouTube, Prime, and I-Tunes

Selma (2014) – available for purchase on YouTube, Prime, and I-Tunes

Reconstruction: America after the Civil War (2019) with Henry Louis Gates – series available on PBS

More than a Word (2017) – available on the film’s website

The Lincoln School Story: A Battle for School Integration in Ohio (2017) – available on the film’s website

And Still I Rise: Black America Since MLK (2016), with Henry Louis Gates – series available on PBS

White Like Me with Tim Wise (2013) – available on Kanopy for free through the public library

Slavery by Another Name (2012) – available on PBS and Apple T.V.

Mirrors of Privilege (2010) – available on the film’s website

Race: The Power of an Illusion (2002) – 3-part documentary from PBS available for purchase on their website

The Color of Fear (1994) – available to purchase on Amazon Prime

Harriet (2019) – available for purchase on YouTube and Prime

Just Mercy (2019) – available for purchase on YouTube, Prime, and I-Tunes

Marshall (2017) – available for purchase on YouTube and Prime

Hidden Figures (2016) – available on Hulu and for purchase on YouTube, Prime, and I-Tunes

Loving (2016) – available on Hulu and for purchase on YouTube, Prime, and I-Tunes

Twelve Years a Slave (2013) – available for purchase on YouTube, Prime, and I-Tunes

Read by parishioners in Book Club

Nonfiction

Fiction

Color Blind or Color Brave? (TED Talk) by Mellody Hobson

What It Takes to be Racially Literate (TED Talk) by Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo

The Atlantic Slave Trade: What Too Few Textbooks Told You (TED Talk) by Anthony Hazard

The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman (TED-Ed Lesson) by Janell Hobson

The Symbols of Systemic Racism–And How to Take Away Their Power (TED Talk) by Paul Rucker

How to Raise a Black Son in America (TED Talk) by Clint Smith

Notes of a Native Son: The World according to James Baldwin (TED-Ed Lesson) by Christina Greer

An Artist’s Unflinching Look at Racial Violence (TED Talk) by Sanford Biggers

The Beauty of Human Skin in Every Color (TED Talk) by Angelica Dass  

How Racism Makes Us Sick (TED Talk) by David R. Williams

The Trauma of Systematic Racism Is Killing Black Women. A First Step toward Change (TED Talk) by T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison

How We Can Make Racism a Solvable Problem—and Improve Policing (TED Talk) by Phillip Atiba Goff

My Road Trip through the Whitest Towns in America (TED Talk) by Rich Benjamin

The Pride and Power of Representation in Film (TED Talk) by John Chu

Love in Action with John Lewis

How Can I Say This So We Can Stay in This Car Together? with Claudia Rankine

Where Does It Hurt? With Ruby Sales

The World Is Our Field of Practice with angel Kyodo Williams

More Beautiful with Imani Perry

Imagining a New America with Ta-Nahesi Coates

Self-Reflection and Social Evolution with Darnell Moore

Are We Actually Citizens Here? with Annette Gordon-Reed and Titus Kaphar

Community Organizing as a Spiritual Practice with Rami Nashashibi and Lucas Johnson

W.E.B. Du Bois and the American Soul with Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Alexander, and Arnold Rampersad

love is a language / Few practice, but all, or near all speak with Tracy K. Smith

The Freedom of Real Apologies with Layli Long Soldier

Let’s Talk about Whiteness with Eula Biss

The Mind is a Difference-Making Machine with Mahzarin Banaji

Open to the Question of Belonging with john a. Powell

The Heart is the Last Frontier with Isabel Wilkerson

Radical Hope is Our Best Weapon with Junot Diaz

The Spiritual Work of Black Lives Matter with Patrice Cullors + Robert Ross

Notice the Rage, Notice the Silence with Resmaa Menakem

We All Must Say ‘Black Lives Matter’ by Jamie Manson from National Catholic Reporter (June 2, 2020)

How Can Catholics Help Lead the Fight against Racism? by Olga Segura from America: The Jesuit Review (May 29, 2020)

Editorial: To Fight Racism, Catholics Must Hunger for Justice Like We Do for the Eucharist from America: The Jesuit Review (June 1, 2020)

The Holy Spirit Is Moving Us to Act against Racism by Fr. James Martin, S.J. from America: The Jesuit Review (June 1, 2020)

‘The Ink Has Run Dry on Writing Statements.’ Black Catholics Call for Action in Wake of George Floyd’s Killing by Michael J. O’Loughlin from America: The Jesuit Review (June 1, 2020)

The Assumptions of White Privilege and What We Can Do About It by Fr. Bryan Massingale from National Catholic Reporter (June 1, 2020)

Catholic Leaders Say Floyd’s Death, Demonstrations a ‘Wake-Up Call’ by Christopher White from Crux (June 1, 2020)

Editorial: What have you done? No Accounting for Deaths of Floyd, Taylor, and Arbery from National Catholic Reporter (May 29, 2020)

After George Floyd’s Suffocation: A Litany for Oxygen from a Black Jesuit by Patrick St-Jean, SJ from The Jesuit Post (May 29, 2020)

The Killing of George Floyd Exposes Blind Spot on Racism, Catholic Advocates Say by Christopher White from Crux (May 28, 2020)

What Black Lives Matter Can Teach Catholics about Racial Justice by Olga Segura from America: The Jesuit Review (February 1, 2019)

America Must Listen to Its Wounds. They Will Tell Us Where to Look for Hope by Rev. William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign from the Guardian (May 30, 2020)

Breonna Taylor Lived and Died in a Part of the U.S. Where Rights Do Not Matter by Joseph S. Flipper from America: The Jesuit Review (June 4, 2020)

An Open Letter to My Fellow White Americans by Matt Malone, SJ from America: The Jesuit Review (June 8, 2020)

An Examen for White Allies by Maddie Murphy from Ignatian Solidarity Network Blog (December 12, 2018)

An Interview with Bryan Massingale by Regina Munch from Commonweal Magazine (June 5, 2020)

When Will the U.S. Bishops Address the Evils of Systemic Racism Head-On by Daniel P. Horan from National Catholic Reporter (June 10, 2020)