Summer Reading for Being a Better Ally
A reading list for those who wish to become allies to people of colour
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list — just an idea of how to get started. To dismantle systemic racism in Canada, we must first educate ourselves.
Articles and blog posts
- February 4, 2020. “Desmond Cole: Canada insists on being surprised by its own racism.” Maclean’s.
- April 17, 2020. “Remembering 27 Black, Indigenous and racialized people killed by Canadian police.” From the blog “Cole’s Notes”, written by Desmond Cole.
- June 1, 2020. “Have non-profit and philanthropy become the ‘white moderate’ that Dr. King warned us about?” From the website www.nonprofitaf.com
- June 1, 2020. “Black Organizations and Anti-Racist Groups Canadians Can Support Now.” Huffington Post.
- “Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Round-up”. From the blog www.prettygooddesign.org
- Many resources from Black Lives Matter – including, petitions, learning materials and more https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
- 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice – worth reading at least the first part – https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234 all good civic action questions that we should be asking here in Canada
- ”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh – suggest you read her list of what constitutes White Privilege.
- Anti-Racism Resource List for children, youth and adults from the Hollyhock group near Vancouver.
From the Canadian Unitarian Council website, a few links:
- The Guardian: “Not About the Needs and Feelings of White People”
- The Globe and Mail: “Racial Disparities in Toronto Police Force”
- CBC Curio: “Report on Racial Profiling by Toronto Police”
- Five Ways to Support Black Lives Matter, from our UU colleagues in the US
Books and other publications
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. By Robin DiAngelo. Beacon Press. 2018.
- How to Be an Antiracist. By Ibram X. Kendi. One World (Penguin Random House). 2019.
- The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power. By Desmond Cole. Penguin Random House. Doubleday Canada. 2020.
- 25 Books about being Black in Canada. A list generated by CBC in June 2020. https://www.cbc.ca/books/25-books-about-being-black-in-canada-1.5596949
- 14 Books to Read for Indigenous History Month. A list generated by CBC in June 2019. https://www.cbc.ca/books/14-books-to-read-for-indigenous-history-month-1.5164877
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. 2015.
Documentary films
- “10 documentaries to watch about race instead of asking a person of colour to explain things for you” From the website of DocPlay.
- An Essential Black Lives Matter Film List on Kanopy (Calgary Public Library
- these powerful and timely documentaries from Kanopy. (White Like Me by Tim Wise recommended)
- Northern Alberta film “We are the Roots” : http://www.baileyandsoda.com/ Once on this site, you can click on a link to see the whole film – moving story about Black Alberta and past discrimination
- 13th – Documentary on Netflix – Filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans.
From Obama.org –
Call on mayors to commit to the following actions:
- REVIEW your police use of force policies.
- ENGAGE your communities by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in your review.
- REPORT the findings of your review to your community and seek feedback.
- REFORM your community’s police use of force policies.
Everyone can support this effort—and we hope that individuals across the country will take action to urge their mayors to take these steps for change.
Where to Donate? Here are Two Suggestions among Many Options
- Black Lives Matter Canada is a place to send donations. They’re posting bail for arrested protestors and providing a ‘Freedom School’ Black history program for children.
https://blacklivesmatter.ca - Also Indspire, with scholarships for Canadian Indigenous students.
https://indspire.ca
“I see no colour” is not the goal. “I see your colour and I honour you. I value your input. I will be educated about your lived experiences. I will work against the racism that harms you. You are beautiful. Tell me how to do better.” That’s the goal. (Carlos A. Rodriguez)