Arlington Public Library has compiled a list of books, movies, podcasts, articles, and organizations where you can learn more about structural racism in the United States, how to engage with and act against anti-black racism, and what you can do to eradicate systematic racism and fight for justice in your community.
Those with the greatest privilege have the most power to make change. When you, your family, and the people around you understand how race, racism, and white privilege impact society, then you can more effectively engage in the fight against racism.
What does "Black Lives Matter" Mean?
How to be an Antiracist
Between the World and Me
Me and White Supremacy
The Fire This Time
Tears We Cannot Stop
Blindspot
They Can't Kill Us All
Stamped From The Beginning
You Can't Touch My Hair
Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Learn More from these Organizations
- Black Lives Matter - National Organization
- DMV Chapter of Black Lives Matter
- The Loveland Foundation - Focused on bringing mental health resources to women and girls of color
- NAACP - Focused on ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminating race-based discrimination
- Color of Change - Leads campaigns against racial injustice
Learn More from these Podcasts
- 1619, via The New York Times, examines the effects of structural racism on American society, starting when the first enslaved people African arrived in 1619. Read more about The 1619 Project by The New York Times Magazine.
- Scene on Radio: Seeing White- Host and producer John Biewen takes a deep dive into questions like “Where did the notion of 'whiteness' come from?" "What does it mean?" and "What is whiteness for?", in this fourteen-part documentary series.
- Code Switch (via NPR)
- About Race
Prison Reform
The New Jim Crow
Blood in the Water
Locked Up Our Own
Just Mercy
Understanding Mass Incarceration
Learn More
- The Bail Project - Organization that combats mass incarceration at the front end of the system, by disrupting the money bail system one person at a time.
Police Reform
The Black and the Blue
Chokehold: Policing Black Men
Invisible No More
Black and Blue: Inside the Divide Between Police and Black America
The End of Policing
Learn More from these Organizations
- Campaign Zero - Platform of research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.
- The National Police Accountability Project - Organization dedicated to ending law enforcement abuse through legal action and educational programming
Learn More from these Articles and Podcast
- "How To Actually Fix America's Police," Atlantic Magazine, June 3, 2020 - Article
- "Running From Cops," Headlong Media- Podcast
Parent Resources
For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
It's Time to Talk (And Listen)
So You Want to Talk about Race
White Fragility
Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
Stamped
Tell Me Who You Are
Let's Talk about Race
Raising White Kids
Learn More
- "Talking About Race" by The National Museum of African American History & Culture
- "Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent's Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice," Tolerance.org
- "Talking to Kids About Racism, Early and Often," New York Times, June 3, 2020
- "How to Talk to Your Children about Protests and Racism," CNN, June 2, 2020
- "How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids," Common Sense Media, May 29, 2020
- "Racism: How to discuss racism and tolerance with your kids. Try these ideas to start the conversation today," Parenting.org
- So Get Me: Alphabet Rockers- Podcast for families making change
We Recommend
Reading About Black Lives
American Spy: A Novel
The Color of Water
The Darkest Child
God Help the Child
Heads of the Colored People
Black Lives on Film
Dear White People
I Am Not Your Negro
Fruitvale Station
Selma
Whose Streets?
More to find online:
Lives of Black Women in America
Ain't I A Woman
Bad Feminist: Essays
A Bound Woman is a Dangerous Thing
Hidden Figures
Hood Feminism
Books for Kids & Teens
Black Lives Matter: Books to Start a Conversation
All American Boys
Black Brother Black Brother
Colorblind
Hands Up!
The Hate U Give
Picture Books
Bedtime Bonnet
The Big Bed
Black is a Rainbow Color
Don't Touch My Hair
Hair Love
Books for Elementary Grade Readers
As Brave As You
Blended
Brown Girl Dreaming
Not My idea: A Book about Whiteness
Ghost Boys
Books for Middle Grade Readers
8th Grade Superzero
Ghetto Cowboy
Elijah of Buxton
Clean Getaway
Betty Before X
Books for Teen Readers
After Tupac & D Foster
Black Enough
Black Girl Unlimited
The Boy in the Black Suit
Dear Martin
Black Lives Matter: Graphic Novels
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists
Big Black: Stand at Attica
Bingo Love
Black
Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence
More Resources
Organizations
- Color of Change
- Movement for Black Lives
- The Advocates for Human Rights
- National Urban League
-
BlkFreedom | Juneteenth Virtual Celebration- 6 Black museums join forces to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth.
Articles
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice (via Medium)
- Why We Need to Talk About Race (via Oprah)
- “Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” (via The Atlantic)
- Bear witness, record, de-escalate: How race may affect what bystanders are called to do in cases like George Floyd's (via Yahoo)
- "The Case for Reparations" (via The Atlantic)
