Understanding Racism: A Place to Start
Irving, Debby, Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race (2014)
An honest journey from white oblivion to white awareness that has inspired others to look at themselves and their assumptions.
DiAngelo, Robin, White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about race (2018)
Explores the counterproductive reactions of white people when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality
Kendi, Ibram X. How to be an Antiracist (2019)
Asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like and how we can play an active role in building it
Wilkerson, Isabel, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents (2020) This is THE book for our times. Written by the Pulitzer-prize winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns. As the Wall Street Journal wrote about her: “Wilkerson combines impressive research. . . with great narrative and literary power. . . she humanizes history, giving it emotional and psychological depth.” Do not be put off by the 400 page length – the narrative flows. Wilkerson examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America, and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
Systemic Racism Explained: Kevin and Jamal video (link below). Systemic racism affects every area of life in the US. From incarceration rates to predatory loans, and trying to solve these problems requires changes in major parts of our system. Here's a closer look at what systemic racism is, and how we can solve it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrHIQIO_bdQ&t=5s
See below for more in depth reading
Rothstein, Richard, The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America (2017). Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund writes of this book: “Through meticulous research and powerful human stories, Rothstein reveals a history of racism hiding in plain sight and compels us to confront the consequences of the intentional, decades-long governmental policies that created a segregated America.” Rothstein states that he wrote this book, in part, in response to U.S. Supreme Court cases that held that it was social choices (not government policy) that caused our country’s cities to be racially segregated, and therefore there is no constitutional requirement for a legal remedy. Rothstein refutes this: “The core argument of this book is that African Americans were unconstitutionally denied the means and the right to integration in middle-class neighborhoods, and because this denial was state-sponsored, the nation is obligated to remedy it.” (page xiv of introduction to the book).
For an 18 minute talk by the author about the concepts in the book, click here.
Ways to Get Involved
Dear Evanston
A community group with the vision of an equitable and inclusive Evanston, free of violence. Although some of their activities are restricted to Evanston, the website (and mailing list if you want to join) provides examples of inclusion and discussions about race.
HEROS
(Healing Everyday Racism in Our Schools)
Students, parents, teachers, and neighbors in the New Trier Township High School District who organized in 2018 to address everyday racism as well as deeper systemic injustice in schools. Find them on Facebook or for more information contact newtrier.heros@gmail.com
The League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters of Glenview / Glencoe -
https://lwvglens.org/ A non-partisan grassroots organization committed to the advocacy of the principles of democracy and the education of citizens about these principles.
The League of Women Voters Wilmette
Community and Education Page on anti-racism commitment, resources and work provides an example of how they act on their positions. https://www.lwvwilmette.org/community-engagement-and-education.html