The Black Lives Matter resource guide was designed as a starting point to spark necessary conversation, exploration and dissection of systemic racism, inequity, injustice, oppression, and discrimination. The resource guide is not meant to be comprehensive, rather a dynamic collection of literary material. It includes lists of books, ebooks, article databases, streaming videos and accessible online resources.
“When we do not actively include, we actively exclude.” – Liza Talusan
“I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do.” - James Baldwin
BLACK LIVES MATTER |
Once Black people were regarded and considered “property,” we fought for our humanity and we won. Once Black people were isolated, unable to participate freely in society, attend integrated schools, regulated to the back of the bus, and unable to visit libraries , we fought for our access and we won. Once Black people were denied basic human rights and did not have the right to vote, we fought for our rights and we won. The struggle for equal and fair treatment within the United States of America for Black people has never been easy, though we continue to face each challenge.
Society would prefer if Black people were seen as anything but equal or human. The weaponization of skin leading to senseless murders of Black people at the hands of police is not a recent occurrence. However, what is new is that the COVID-19 pandemic forced the nation to slow down, and in that slowing take notice of the treatment of Black people. COVID-19 removed all the distractions and barriers, then forced the nation to pay attention to the continuous systemic unwarranted degradation and the heartless murders of Black people at the hands of those sworn to protect. Individuals, wrapped in privilege and armed with the knowledge of police brutality against Black people maliciously call 911 to further place targets on Black peoples' lives, all while the nation watched. This is the harsh reality that Black people have faced for generations. The only difference between then and now is that the treatment and revolutions are televised, livestreamed, and posted on social media. The United States can no longer bury its head in the sand and pretend that there is not a systemic problem. It is time to wake up, stand up, and take action to end police brutality because Black Lives Matter.
People must understand that equity, diversity and inclusion are action words. The time has passed to remain silent and complicit as Black people are murdered. I encourage allies to educate themselves, engage in meaningful conversations and take action in dismantling systemic and institutional racism. Together we can fight for freedom and we can win!
-Librarian Shamika
From Flint: Voices of a Poisoned City
Banished: A History of African American Expulsion
Cruel and Unusual: Black Panthers Fighting for Justice in Prison
Langston League for Culturally Responsible and Decolonized Professional Development for Educators
Langston League's Lovecraft Country Syllabi
Black Lives Matter From Hashtag to Movement
16 Books About Race That Every White Person Should Read
Anti-Oppression Resources and Exercises
DRS's Black Lives Matter, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Recovery in the United States
Walking While Black by Garnette Cadogan - Literary Hub
White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo - International Journal of Critical Pedagogy
Peggy McIntosh White Privilege Papers - National Seed Project
Desegregating Libraries in the American South
For Our White Friends Desiring to be Allies - Sojourners
When Not to Call the Cops: A Plea to Protect Black Patrons - Library Journal
Reflections on Black Lives Matter from an Autism Therapist
#BlackLivesMatter Library Resource List
BCALA & GNCRT Black Lives Matter Graphic Novel Reading List
Jacobin's Racial Justice Reading List
Lynching in America podcast - Equal Justice Initiative
White Lies podcast - NPR
Interrupt The Systems': Robin DiAngelo On 'White Fragility' And Anti-Racism - NPR
Seeing White podcast - Scene On Radio
No Justice, No Peace podcast - On the Media, New York Public Radio
The Tightrope podcast - Cornel West and Tricia Rose
An Interview with the Founders of Black Lives Matter
How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion - Tedx Talks
Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi Keynote Conversation - School Library Journal
The Anti-Racism Experiment - OWN
Human Zoos: America's Forgotten History of Scientific Racism
13th (Full movie courtesy of Netflix)
More Than a Movement (Clip courtesy of Netflix)
Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives
How to Deconstruct Racism One Headline At a Time
The Segregation Myth: Richard Rothstein Debunks an American Lie
Black Lives Matter - Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Antiracism in Action Book Display - James Madison University
Black Lives Matter - Berkeley Library
Black Lives Matter, a Booklist - Chicago Public Library
Black Lives Matter Online Book Display - UNF Thomas G. Carpenter Library
Black Lives Matter Resources - University of Arizona Libraries
Black Lives Matter - Free Library of Philadelphia
Anti-racism Resources for All Ages - Dr. Nicole Cooke , University of South Carolina
Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi - Chicago Public Library
#BLM Book List - MIT Libraries