Looking for answers? Here’s where to find them.
On May 29th 2020, in response to violent and high-profile event happening in the US and around the world, the president of the American Psychological Association, Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, crafted a message to the public indicating “we are living in a racism pandemic”. This, in coordination with many other happenings, no doubt raises questions for some, if not for all.
As a result, we did some scouring for you to gather a multitude of resources to reference for conversations regarding race. It’s our hope that you’ll find a place of knowledge, information, and tips & tricks to use and access, when needed.
What Does it All Mean?
There’s a lot of information out there and it can get confusing. Below are links to current definitions of words you may be hearing and seeing frequently in your community or online.
1. Racism
2. Systemic Racism
3. Race vs Ethnicity
4. Resistance vs Rebellion vs Revolution
5. Defund
6. Black Lives Matter
There are many, many more than the six outlined above. For that reason, check out the glossary of terms provided here. And, if you’ve got some time, check out this article in The Atlantic outlining the change in the definition of “racist” .
How Do I Talk About it with Others?
It can be tough to talk about tough things. Below are links that can help you figure out how to hold the conversations that need to be held.
Talking with Kids
The Center for Racial Justice in Education has over 50 articles available for you to browse through if you’re wondering how to talk with kids about the current unrest. I’ve linked more articles for you below, as well:
Talking with Colleagues
Even if you plan to refrain from talking with colleagues, you might very well end up having to do so. In preparation for that, here are some sources of information for you:
Talking with Family and Friends
Hopefully, you feel most comfortable with those closest to you. If you’re looking for a little help though, check out the following:
- How to Talk to Friends and Family
- Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
- One Keyword to Defuse Any Conflict
What Can I Do?
The best thing you can do is to inform yourself, if you aren’t already. Read the articles, listen to the podcasts, share positive posts on social media, volunteer your time or money, protest peacefully, etc. National Public Radio has provided an outline on What to Do Beyond Protesting while Forbes provided a great article on Listening then Learning. Also, below are more good resources for you:
- Read: Seek books on the difficult subject of racism that are authored by people, researchers, and historians of color, or those who have lived the experience
- Fight racism every day: Everyday Ways to Fight Racism
- Study, learn, remember: You can understand the timeline at The History of Racism & Immigration in the US or pick very distinct topics at this PBS database
- Listen: in the car, or at home, while you’re crossing off tasks from your to-do list. Podcasts are great ways to stay informed without dropping everything you’re doing! You can find 15 of them here
- Practice self care: if you aren’t sure what that means, here’s an explanation of what self-care is and what it isn’t. Don’t forget – this includes remembering to Take Care of Your Mental Health
Kim Mooney, Technical Manager & Coach
