What is antiracism? Here's a curated list of reliable sources of information on race and racism in the workplace
Are you looking for reliable sources of information on race and racism in the workplace, your community organization, or among your friends?
To no one’s surprise, I have been getting an unusual number of requests about antiracism, diversity, and inclusion resources or training in the workplace. Thankfully, no one has come to me with the request, “teach me all you know about racism.” By now, many Whites know that the burden is on them to educate themselves. Many Blacks and other targeted groups are also formally educating themselves.
This blog is a partial response to those interested in curated resources. The question of what to read or which video to watch keeps coming up. I had been thinking about compiling a list and then, fortuitously, my daughter Dr. Dnika J. Travis of Catalyst Inc. sent me a hot off the presses resource list.
I will talk about the Catalyst list in a minute. First, though, I want to suggest my own preferred references for you to consider.
For those of you who are just beginning to think about doing your own reading, here are five books to get you started. They are virtually mandatory in these times if you want to be knowledgeable.
Many people only think of racism as a personal attitude. Structural racism (also known as institutional racism or systemic racism) is what allows personal racism to exist because it’s invisibly embedded in how our institutions are set up.
Two fantastic resources that will support your learning journey for quite a while are these:
Race, power, and policy: Dismantling structural racism.
If you are looking for a resource on how to promote racial justice, RacialEquityTools.org is a great place to start. Their toolkit on structural racism is exceptional, explaining both what it is as well as what to do about it. Are you looking for exercises? This toolkit has them.
Structural racism in America. The Urban Institute is a renowned research organization focusing on social and economic policy. They provide information to inform data-driven decisions. Their section on structural racism is superb, covering the plethora of dimensions that reduce life chances: (un)fair housing, Covid-19, unemployment, police-community trust, economic disadvantage, etc. If you want data-driven information, this is a good place to start.
Catalyst is a global nonprofit seeking to build workplaces that work for women.
The Catalyst resource list provides lesser-known articles and podcasts. The first set of articles by C is conveniently divided into informative categories:
The additional resources section contains articles on systemic racism and bias. These are divided into two groups – those that you can read in under 10 minutes and those that you can read in an hour.
My favorite resources in the Catalyst list
In the Catalyst-authored list, two are especially noteworthy.
Three additional resources on their list I recommend
Enjoy your reading and learning!
We are a leadership development firm that helps people and organizations create resilient, sustainable, multicultural, and inclusive settings. The ability to lead consciously can help you gain true awareness and earn the respect and trust of others.
It’s the assumptions we have about people’s lives that are the biggest obstacles to growth, awareness, and success. We help you understand how those assumptions are preventing you from becoming the best you can be as an organization, an inclusive leader, and a person.
