Dismantling Racism in Action
Thank you to everyone who has been actively involved in ongoing discussions as we work as a congregation to dismantle racism. Moving forward, the Dismantling Racism Team (DRT) will share information and actions with the congregation via this section in the Egram, as well as #Connect (if you haven’t already done so, please sign up for #Connect through Realm.)
Announcing …
A Conversation with Alexandria’s Police Chief (Oct. 13, 7 p.m., on Zoom)
During the hourlong event, we’ll hear from Chief Michael L. Brown regarding how the department is working to address racial injustices, and questions and calls for change after the murder of George Floyd, and amidst the Black Lives Matter protests. Zoom login details will be circulated in advance.
Other Upcoming Opportunities
- Support Policing Reform in VA Special Session: If policing reform is one of your priority actions in dismantling racism, now is the time to let your Virginia legislators know you support substantive changes in police training, use of force, and law enforcement accountability. The special session convenes August 18. Senate Democrats are introducing legislation that would ban no-knock warrants and chokeholds, provide for better training in de-escalation, and prevent officers decertified for cause from seeking employment with another police agency. The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police are recommending more crisis intervention training, accreditation for law enforcement agencies, and reporting decertified officers to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. If you don’t have an email contact for your delegate and senator, you can easily find this information here.
- OPMH Book Study (Tues., Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Zoom): Please join us the day after Labor Day as we continue to examine the best-selling book, How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi. Please RSVP by noon on Friday, September 4.
- Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Book Study (Starting Sat., Aug.15): Looking for more opportunities to discuss Dr. Kendi’s book? Consider joining this weekly virtual book club starting this Saturday, August 15 (exact time TBD.) To register, click here.
- Presbyterians, Race, and Justice Walk (Sept. 19, 9:45 a.m.): Leaders include OPMH’s Dr. Kent Myers and Dr. Larry Golemon.
- Virtual Racial Awareness and Mindfulness: A Mini-Festival of the Arts, Awareness, Healing, and Justice (Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.): Sponsored by Howard University, Interwoven, National Capital Presbytery Black Presbyterians United, National Capital Presbytery Mission Coordinating Committee, NEXT Church (PCUSA), Spiritual Directors of Color Network, Ltd., and others addressing racial awareness and healing nationwide.
- The Vote is the Most Powerful Nonviolent Change Agent: In light of the obstacles this year in getting to the polls, we’re sharing alternatives with everyone and key dates to keep in mind leading up to Election Day. Click here to learn more. The easiest and most secure way to request an absentee ballot is to visit the Virginia Dept. of Elections website.
Here are some books, articles, videos, podcasts, and organizations to help you continue the conversation and work of being an anti-racist and social justice for all. This is by no means a perfect or exhaustive list.
If you are purchasing books, please consider ordering from a black-owned, independent bookstore. To order from a local black-owned bookstore, try Harambee Books and Artworks in Alexandria or Loyalty Bookstore in Silver Spring, MD.
Talking with Our Children about Race—Wendy Claire Barrie
A Short Family Guide to Supporting Racial Justice Now—Wendy Claire Barrie
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids about Race—Embrace Race
Talking to Children after Racial Incidents—University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice—Teaching Tolerance
Talking about Race—National Museum of African American History & Culture
Talking About Race and Racism with Children—Christine V. Hides
Resources for Addressing Race and Racism with Young Children—Lovery
You’re Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup—Pretty Good Design
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America—Jennifer Harvey
Multicultural and Social Justice Board Books for Children—Social Justice Books
Books to Teach White Children and Teens How to Undo Racism and White Supremacy—Charis Books & More
31 Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism and Resistance—Embrace Race
Anti-Racism Resources by Forming Faithful Families
11 Children’s Books to Teach Your Kid about Racism and Discrimination—Essence
The Conversations We Must Have with Our White Children—On Being
Resources for Talking about Racism with Youth
The 2018 Ultimate List of Diverse Children’s Books—Here Wee Read
Black Lives Matter videos for kids—YouTube
30 books to help you talk to your kids about racism—Today’s Parent
The ABCs of Diversity: Helping Kids (and Ourselves!) Embrace our Differences—Carolyn B. Helsel & Y. Joy Harris-Smith
These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids—NY Times
Black Lives Matter Instructional Library—audio children’s books in English & Spanish
Sesame Street Racism Town Hall—CNN & Sesame Street
Netflix’s ‘Bookmarks’ Is A Great Show To Share The Black Experience With Your Kids—Yahoo!
Picture Books for Antiracists—Virginia Theological Seminary
How to be an Antiracist—Ibram X. Kendi
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism—Robin DiAngelo
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness—Michelle Alexander
Interfaith Racial and Economic Justice Book List
Stakes Is High: Race, Faith, and Hope for America—Michael W. Waters
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness—Austin Channing Brown
So You Want to Talk About Race—Ijeoma Uluo
“Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity—Beverly Daniel Tatum
Raising White Kids: Bringing up Children in a Racially Unjust America—Jen Harvey
Dismantling Racism—Resources from National Capital Presbytery
Racial Justice Resources—PC(USA)
Support Justice in Policing Act—PC(USA) Office of Public Witness, part of GA’s anti-racism call
Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources—extensive list with various levels of stages of white identity development, resources and what to do next
Read, Watch, Listen and Learn: a curated collection on combating racism and advancing inequality—Yale Alumni web site
Racial Justice Resources—St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX
Becoming Beloved Community—movement/program of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement
An Essential Reading Guide for Fighting Racism—Buzz Feed News
8 Lessons from: “The Future of Solidarity: How White People Can Support the Movement of Black Lives”—The Catalyst Project
How to be an Ally to the Black Community—Washington Post
Justice in June—cultivates a community rooted in truth, inspires action and is committee to awareness
26 ways to be in the struggle, beyond the streets—Disability Visibility Project
Race and the Church—A Group Watch Series and Live Discussion—NEXT Church
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man—Emmanuel Acho
Where Do We Go from Here?—Oprah & OWN Spotlight—free on Amazon Prime
Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to be an Antiracist—Brené Brown Unlocking Us Podcast
‘Interrupt the System’: Robin DiAngelo on ‘White Fragility’ and Anti-Racism—NPR podcast
Seeing White—podcast—14-Part Series (as part of Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies and “Scene of the Radio”)
Code Switch—NPR podcast
Black-Owned Independent Book Stores—Literary Hub
27 Black-Owned Bookstores You Can Order Online From Now—Bustle
Manumission Tour Company—Alexandria’s Black History Tours
Bail Bond Projects:
Tutoring with Alexandria Tutoring Consortium—volunteers needed for summer online tutoring & more
Michaels Desserts—Bowie, MD teenager—for every dessert you buy, one is given to a person in need
22 Black-Owned Businesses in Alexandria to Support Right Now—visitALX
Register to Vote—register and/or encourage others to register to vote in Virginia
Complete the 2020 Census—Federal and state dollars are allocated and based on census counts
Prejudice vs. Racism: A Racial Equity Workshop (free download from the (PC (USA)’s Presbyterian Women)
Justice in America (podcast from The Appeal)
White Lies (NPR podcast)
Policing the Black Man—Angela J. Davis
The Color of Law—Richard Rothstein
What I Learned from Cancer—Ibram X. Kendi (The Atlantic)
Antiracism, Health Equity, and a Post-COVID Future—Ibram X. Kendi (interview with for Ethics Talk, journal editor in chief, Dr Audiey Kao, AMA Journal of Ethics)
Systemic Racism Explained (YouTube video for younger viewers)
13 Books to Read Right Now If You Want to Be Anti-Racist (Chalice Press)
What is Owed (New York Times Magazine)
Unearthing the Roots of Systemic Racism (INSEAD)
Alexandria Library