General Resources
The terms and definitions are from a variety of Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression resources, including Baltimore Racial Justice Action, among others, as presented by Ayira Core Concepts, LLC.
If you wish to share these terms and definitions, please use the above citation.
Diversity: Refers only to the presence of individuals from various racial backgrounds and/or identities.
Racial Inclusion: Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision-/policy-making in a way that shares power. (Source: OpenSource Leadership Strategies)
Racial Equity: The situation that would exist if past racial inequities have been repaired in U.S. society; if race were not hierarchical and the most powerful predictor of how one fares; and if everyone has what they need (access and opportunity) to create a good life. No individual institutions can be “equitable.” Racial Equity is a societal debt and obligation. Individual institutions can expand inclusion, thereby helping to create a societal environment in which the conditions of racial equity can be supported and its obligation satisfied. (BRJA, ACC-LLC, Dr. William A. Darity, Jr. and other sources)
Social Justice: The condition that would exist if the distribution of resources, opportunity, access, societal benefits and protection were equitable; repairs for multi-generational injustices imposed upon historically marginalized groups were made; and all members of society had what they needed to prosper in accordance to their talents and abilities.
Cultural Racism: Refers to representations, messages, and stories conveying the idea that behaviors and values associated with white people or “whiteness” are automatically “better” or more “normal” than those associated with peoples of color groups.
Privilege: Refers to the societal benefits automatically received from being a member of the dominant group. The advantages created for members of the dominant group are often invisible to them, or are considered “rights” available to everyone as opposed to “privileges” awarded to only some individuals or groups.
White Privilege: The actual benefits that people who are socially identified and classified as white receive because of that racial identification. The concrete advantages of being white in countries where white skin privilege is social currency.
White Supremacy: It is a term for the idea of white superiority and is the foundation of all U.S. racism. This is a “hot button” term because it is often associated only with extremist groups of white people who openly express hatred of peoples of color. However, it is a normalized belief that “white culture” – attitudes, behavior, beliefs, standards, history, values, etc. – is better than all others. Individuals do not have to individually believe this to support and/or act upon the societal norms resulting from this ingrained belief.
Brave Voices, Brave Choices Initiative
Achieving Health Equity: Tools for Naming Racism and Moving to Action with Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones
Allies, Accomplices, and Saviors: Knowing the Difference to Maximize Impact by Alexandria Love
Germany Faced Its Horrible Past. Can We Do the Same? by Michele L. Norris
The Inner Work That Makes Cross-Racial Conversations Easier by Mary-Frances Winters
How to Move from Non-Racist to Anti-Racist by Alexandria Love
Shame Avoidance to Shame Resilience as a White Person Moving Against White Supremacy by Zara Cadoux
Why We Need to Talk About Whiteness in Public Media (and Why It's So Hard) by Minal Bopaiah
Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement Surged Last Year: Did It Last? by Jennifer Chudy and
How Do Fish See Water? Building Public Will to Advance Inclusive Communities by Dr. Tiffany Manuel, TheCaseMade
Articles by Dr. Ibram Kendi in The Atlantic - Highlights:
- The American Nightmare
- A Battle Between the Two Souls of America
- Denial is the Heartbeat of America
- The Second Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
How We Can Dismantle the Noxious Myths that Undermine Racial Justice by Maria Samaniego and Rodrigo Dominguez Villegas
Examining Whiteness by Cyndi Suarez
Interrupting White Supremacy: Organizing White Women to Confront Racism by Debby Warren
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: The Racist Manipulation of DEIJ Language by Elizabeth Silleck La Rue
Blogs
Note to My White Self - Highlight Posts:
- Misunderstanding My Black Friendships
- The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
- Nine Hard Steps to Becoming a Better White Human Being
- Who Gets to Define Racism?
- How Systemic Racism Works
- What "Most Americans" Think About Racism is Usually Wrong
Podcasts
15 Informative Podcasts to Learn About Race in America by Karla Pope
8 Podcasts You Should Listen to About Race and Racial Injustice in the US by JJ Ramberg
NPR: Code Switch - Highlight Interviews:
Unlocking Us by Brené Brown - Highlight Interviews:
- Dr. Ibram Kendi
- Austin Channing Brown
- Dr. Yaba Blay
- Brené - On Shame and Accountability (7/1/2020)
Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart - Highlight Interviews:
- Equity is About More Than Just Hiring Diverse Employees with Verna Myers
- Why White Progressives Have Such a Hard Time Confronting Racism with Robin DiAngelo
Be Antiracist with Dr. Ibram Kendi - Highlight Interview(s):
- The Zero-Sum Myth: We're Divided, We're Conquered with Heather McGhee
- Black & Asian American Solidarity: Exchanging Ideas, Sharing History with Cathy Park Hong
White Supremacy Culture Characteristics by Tema Okun
The Race Card Project by Michele Norris
Resources on Equity and Data/Research
- We All Count - A Project for Equity in Data Science
- A Guide to Incorporating a Racial and Ethnic Equity Perspective Throughout the Research Process by Child Trends
PBS Shows and Series - Highlights:
- Asian Americans
- Slavery by Another Name
- Latino Americans
- Native America
- The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
- Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan - Interview with Bryan Stevenson
Racial Equity Tools - A Library of Racial Equity Resources