The truth is that racism and discrimination based on race is alive and well in our country, as evidenced by the senseless killing of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others. Institutional and structural racism is ingrained in American culture, including public libraries, and we have been complacent for far too long. That is why the Pima County Public Library denounces racism and violence towards people of color.
We join our voices with the American Library Association, the Public Library Association (PLA), the BCALA - The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and the library community nationwide. As a co-signer of the Urban Libraries Council Statement on Race and Social Equity, Pima County Public Library reaffirms our commitment to the fight against racism by continuing to offer relevant resources and programs to enlighten the public of the evils of racism; promote tolerance; advance inclusiveness and diversity of ideas, and serve as a platform for freedom of expression.
We are calling for a time of focused listening, learning, and doing together. It’s time to open our hearts and minds to learn and work toward a day when all humans can breathe, free from fear, oppression, and prejudice.
158 Resources to Understand Racism in America
These articles, videos, podcasts and websites from the Smithsonian chronicle the history of anti-black violence and inequality in the United States.
The 1619 Project from The New York Times Magazine aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
This is an ongoing series that sheds light on the structures at the root of racial inequities.
This special collection includes research from nonprofits, foundations, and university based research centers, who have not only described and documented the issue but who also provide much-needed recommendations for addressing this chronic and tragic problem.
A community discussion guide about the documentary, An Outrage, a film about lynching in the American South.
Community toolkit that explains why some believe communities should divest from policing and reinvest in social infrastructure including schools, libraries, mental health services, trauma care, parks, and clinics.
Project Implicit: Implicit Bias Tests
Take tests to assess your implicit bias, which every human has. Project Implicit is a non-profit organization and international collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings outside of conscious awareness and control. The goal of the organization is to educate the public about hidden biases and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the Internet.
Compilation of articles to read compiled by a racial justice educator, lawyer, healer, speaker, and author.
Learn about why talking about race matters, this history of race, what antiracism is, and how you can begin your lifelong journey. Includes a section called Being Antiracist.
What does it mean to be antiracist?
This handout is from the Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing by Anneliese A. Singh, PhD, LPC.
Our mission here at Where Change Started is to inspire individual action and accountability so that each and every one us is equipped with the resources necessary to do our part in creating the world we believe in. Includes The Antiracism Starter Kit action guide, a PDF that has steps to follow and a self study worksheet.
Whiteness Project is an interactive investigation into how Americans who identify as white, or partially white, understand and experience their race.
