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Resources for Learning About Injustice and Racism in America

Crowd in front of the Idaho State Capital building for a candle light vigil.
On June 2, a candlelight vigil was held on the Idaho State Capitol steps to honor and grieve the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others. Photo: Allison Corona

In light of current events, Boise State University released this statement: “Acts of racism, hate, and injustice have no place in our nation. We must do the work. We must be better. We acknowledge our responsibility, and we will address our commitments to this movement.”

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University agrees with the need to acknowledge our own responsibility—and we believe the first step is to educate ourselves.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather a starting point for those wanting to learn more about their own biases and the challenges that black Americans face every day. For more resources, visit the
Anti-Racism Resources For White People Google Doc.

Special thanks to the Boise State University Gender Equity Center and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno for providing a few of these resources.

Resources

Books

"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander

  • Michelle Alexander argues that “we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” This book focuses on the War on Drugs, the U.S. criminal justice system, and the idea of colorblindness.
  • Find The New Jim Crow on Amazon.com.

"The Diversity Paradox: Immigration and the Color Line in Twenty-First Century America" by Jennifer Lee and Frank D. Bean

  • Lee and Bean focus on the legacy of slavery and immigration to speculate whether today’s immigrants will become racial minorities like the black community or integrate into society like their European predecessors.
  • Find The Diversity Paradox on Amazon.com.

"Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America" by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

  • Eduardo Bonilla-Silva documents how, in the midst of our current-day conversations about race and equality, there is an entire list of arguments, phrases, and stories that white people use to account for racial inequalities.
  • Find Racism Without Racists on Amazon.com.

"Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi

"What Does it Mean to be White? Developing White Racial Literacy" by Robin DiAngelo

"The Children" by David Halberstam

  • Michelle Alexander argues that “we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” This book focuses on the War on Drugs, the U.S. criminal justice system, and the idea of colorblindness.
  • Find The New Jim Crow on Amazon.com.

Articles

"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander

  • Michelle Alexander argues that “we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” This book focuses on the War on Drugs, the U.S. criminal justice system, and the idea of colorblindness.
  • Find The New Jim Crow on Amazon.com.

"The Diversity Paradox: Immigration and the Color Line in Twenty-First Century America" by Jennifer Lee and Frank D. Bean

  • Lee and Bean focus on the legacy of slavery and immigration to speculate whether today’s immigrants will become racial minorities like the black community or integrate into society like their European predecessors.
  • Find The Diversity Paradox on Amazon.com.

"Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America" by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

  • Eduardo Bonilla-Silva documents how, in the midst of our current-day conversations about race and equality, there is an entire list of arguments, phrases, and stories that white people use to account for racial inequalities.
  • Find Racism Without Racists on Amazon.com.

"Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi

"What Does it Mean to be White? Developing White Racial Literacy" by Robin DiAngelo

"The Children" by David Halberstam

  • Michelle Alexander argues that “we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” This book focuses on the War on Drugs, the U.S. criminal justice system, and the idea of colorblindness.
  • Find The New Jim Crow on Amazon.com.

Videos and Lectures

"Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality"

  • Provided by the Boise State University Gender Equity Center, this video provides a background of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s work on intersectionality, the interconnected nature of race, class, and gender.
  • Click to view: “Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality“

"Race, the Party System, and Elite Incentives in American Elections" by Dr. Vincent L. Hutchings

"George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper" by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

  • Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, shares his thoughts on the killing of George Floyd, the protests in Minneapolis, the dominos of racial injustice and police brutality, and how the contract between society and black Americans has been broken time and time again.
  • Click to view: “George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper“

TED Talks to Help You Understand Racism in America

Other Resources

Interview: "Raising White Kids" Author on How White Parents Can Talk About Race

Podcast: Code Switch

  • NPR’s Code Switch is a race and culture podcast with “the fearless conversations about race that you’ve been waiting for!” Episodes focus on how race impacts every aspect of society and tackles the subject of race head-on.
  • Click to listen: Code Switch Podcast

Podcast: Pod For The Cause

  • The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights works toward the goal of a more open and just society. Pod For The Cause brings this mission to the microphone to spark conversation and activism on some of the most critical issues of today.
  • Click to listen: Pod For The Cause Podcast

Podcast: The 1619 Project

  • The 1619 Project began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. This podcast examines the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans to our society.
  • Click to listen: The 1619 Project podcast

Just Mercy Available for Free Until June 30

  • Just Mercy follows the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson. For the month of June, Warner Bros. Pictures has made Just Mercy available to rent for free across digital platforms. In a public statement, Warner Bros. Pictures explains their reason: “We believe in the power of story. Our film Just Mercy […] is one resource we can humbly offer to those who are interested in learning more about the systemic racism that plagues our society.”
  • Click to view: https://justmercy.eji.org

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