Do Better: Resources for Doing “The Next Right Thing”

I can’t tell you how many times I started and restarted writing this week’s blog. This is not the time to talk about frizz-free curls or how to make coffee. Not when our country is hurting and people are dying. But I am also so completely ignorant about issues of race and privilege that I have zero words to say. I am fearful of speaking out because I don’t want my words to come across in ANY way other than loving and supportive. Maybe you feel the same way, too.

But here’s the truth: I am a privileged white woman. I grew up in a white world where white supremacy influenced me without my permission. I am acknowledging this TRUTH, even though it’s uncomfortable. Because it’s uncomfortable. And I’m vowing to do better, starting with education.

If you’ve seen Frozen 2, you’ll remember how they talk about doing “the next right thing.” Maybe we haven’t always done the right thing, but what better time to start than right now? I’m asking you to join me. Here are some resources I’m digging into and I hope we can talk about. I know that we will never fully understand but we can try.

Watch

• On Being Uncomfortable with Tunde Oyeneyin
• On Empathy with Brene Brown
• Why “I’m not racist” is only half the story with Robin DiAngelo

Read

Articles

• ‘Understanding Race and Privilege’ by the National Association School Psychologists
• ‘Why you should stop saying “all lives matter,” explained in 9 different ways’ by German Lopez
• ‘How White Women Use Themselves as Instruments of Terror’ by Charles M. Blow

Blog Posts

• ‘How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism’ by Parent Toolkit 
• ‘How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids’ by Sierra Filucci for Common Sense Media
• ‘5 Racist Anti-Racism Responses “Good” White Women Give to Viral Posts’ by Katie Anthony

Books

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
• Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Listen

• Code Switch podcast
• Seeing White podcast
• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

I’ve found some of these resources from this page: Anti-racism resources for white people. It’s got A LOT of links so if you’re looking for more, check it out. We may not know exactly what to do or say, but we do know the first step is education. I hope these resources get you thinking. I hope they get you talking and teaching your family and friends, too. And if you need someone to listen, I’m here.

xo,

Katie