Today, we face unprecedented circumstances that have challenged us to pause, reflect, and address racial equity. We oppose racism - of any kind - and stand in solidarity with black communities and others who have been historically and continue to be under-represented and whose access to democracy has not been equal. Diversity and Inclusion are very much a core tenet of the YMCA.
We are committed to working collectively with our members, staff, and partners. Part of making change happen is participating in thought-provoking dialogue. As a leading non-profit in our community, we encourage all to continue to research, learn, listen, and challenge yourself to be an advocate of anti-racism work.
As you explore online, we ask you to remember:
- Look at websites ending in .org or .edu (versus .com).
- Vet news stories from two or more news outlets before sharing.
- Vet facts from two or more websites (independent before sharing).
- Be mindful of amplifying social media messages (Twitter, IG, Facebook, etc) without first vetting sources and looking into who initially shared the information/story.
Not sure where to start in your research? The following resources below are a good start:
Local Organizations:
- Austin Justice Coalition
- Communities of Color United: Coalition for Racial Justice
- Grassroots Leadership
- Undoing White Supremacy Austin
- Mana Sana Vibrant Women
Websites:
Videos to Watch:
- Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)
- Dr. Robin DiAngelo discusses ‘White Fragility’ (1:23:30)
- “How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion” | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
- The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Podcasts to Subscribe to:
- Seeing White
- 1619 (New York Times)
- About Race
- Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
- Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
- Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)
Books to Read:
- Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald
- Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
- Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
- Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
- How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- Ferguson Fault Lines: The Race Quack that Rocked a Nation by Kimberly Jade Norwood
- The Nature of Prejudice by Gordon W. Allport
- An Easy Burden by Andrew Young
- Deeply Divided: Racial Politics and Social Movements in Postwar America by Doug McAdam and Karina Kloos
Resources for Kids:
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