Day: June 24, 2020

Social media are awash with reading guides, videos, podcasts and trainings for white people seeking to educate themselves about racial justice, anti-racism, the Movement for Black Lives, abolition, settler-colonialism, white supremacy, white privilege, intersectionality, and generally concepts around race, ethnicity, and racism that we all will benefit from studying more carefully. Before going on: one small but important thing you can do if you’re not already is start following more BIPOC people on social media (note: following and listening! Not arguing with or asking to help you be a better you). With that in mind, we thought it might be helpful for SURJ Worcester members to start sharing just a few suggestions here of places to start — there are many more to continue with — and hopefully find a group of people to share and discuss with through SURJ.

• How to be an Antiracist by Ibam X. Kendi [BOOK]
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo [BOOK]
• Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad [BOOK]
• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• Abolition Can’t Wait: An Online Teach-In with #8toAbolition [WEBINAR: Premiers June 25th] (Haymarket is also making available many excellent teach-ins via their youtube channel, such as The Fire This Time with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Marc Lamont Hill)
• “Why Now, White People?” by Gene Demby, NPR’s Codeswitch [PODCAST] (see also their list of places to start)
• Is Prison Necessary? Ruth Wilson Gilmore Might Change Your Mind by Rachel Kushner [LONG ARTICLE]
• Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police by Mariame Kaba [SHORT ARTICLE]

We will be back soon with more! In the meantime, Racial Equity Tools provides this resource (with links to many useful SURJ pieces).