A Non-Exhaustive Anti-Racism Resource Guide to Non-Exhaustive Anti-Racism Resource Guides

A SURFACE-LEVEL DIP INTO THE INFINITE POOL OF INFORMATION REGARDING A TOPIC ON WHICH WE ALL HAVE COMPLICATED EMOTIONS. EASY. 

Hapa Mag - OCTOBER 7, 2020

By Lauren Hardie 

Whew, I’m f*ckin’ overwhelmed. And I’m gunna guess if you’re reading this in the covidious year of 2020, you’re probably exhausted too. Maybe you’re burnt out on feeling burnt out. Maybe you’re tired of being mad at a system that keeps letting down its citizens, particularly Black people. Definitely you’re worn thin by the pandemic. It feels like everything, all at once. 

And since you’re like me, you’ve probably received, bookmarked, screenshotted, filed into a folder, and kinda forgotten a whole bunch of links to resources and recommendations for actions you can take to at least try make the world a little less shitty. Information on how to educate yourself, how to be anti-racist, how to be a better ally, where to donate, what to do.

And since we’re the same person, you’ve definitely felt like your attention was split, your brain kinda short circuited, you lost your source(s) of income, you moved apartments, and you engaged in the ultimate solo sport of absolutely shutting down and shutting people out as a misguided form of self-care. (You also found an affordable therapist.)

Despite the feed fatigue we’re all feeling — from which many of us can turn off our devices and try to ignore things for a while — it’s important to remember that non-white (especially Black) people don't have the choice to just opt-out of overwhelming racism. So I went through all my bookmarks, screenshots, notes to self, even this 324-page PDF, and compiled this guide of guides. Yes, it’s basically a list of other people’s lists, but it can hopefully consolidate 25+ links in one bookmarkable page (go ahead — bookmark this page!).

So, after you’ve emerged from your social media break, and you’ve quit doomscrolling (seriously, stop doomscrolling), and you’ve exercised/rested/hydrated, and you’ve recognized your relative privilege in being able to be mindful of your own emotional capacity… it’s time to continue The Work. Read the books. Watch the TV shows and documentaries. Listen to the podcasts. Call the elected officials. Engage in the conversations. It’s imperative to keep learning.

Your personal anti-racism journey isn’t about performative hashtaggery or blindly following all the trends. It’s about your continued commitment to education, course-correction, and doing better. It’s not enough to say your support. You have to actually do it.

Often, this will involve having an uncomfortable conversation. It might be with a Black person who’s trying to enlighten us about their experiences — and we need to listen and learn from them. It might be with an auntie or uncle who will not let go of their not-so-subtle racism — and we need to speak up on behalf/in defense of those not present. You’ll have to learn to read the room and switch hats as necessary.

Spoiler: The listening and learning doesn’t end. It will never not be cringey. You might say the wrong thing or misstep, but that’s an opportunity to accept feedback, educate yourself (and others), and grow. Your beloved, albeit bigot-adjacent friend/family member might insist that this has nothing to do with them because they’re not Black, and it’ll be an opportunity to explain the harm of anti-Black sentiment in Asian American (and other) communities.

Below are some resources, articles, podcasts, books, that have come highly recommended. Hopefully this will help with understanding the greater context of anti-Black racism in America and how we can actively conspire to upend this harmful system.

Is it everything? Nope. Is it a lot? Absolutely. But you don’t have to do everything all at once, and you don’t have to do it alone. Knowledge building is collaborative, inclusive, and will evolve — just like we do as individuals. There’s no one right way to do it either. The path is your own and the work is ongoing. Each resource will give that same asterisk, too — they’ll remind you that they’re not meant to be the only or last place you look. Start where you can, and do something. Remember, silence is a stance.

So let’s link proverbial arms and get ready to work. From research and uncomfortable conversations, to taking mindful breaks but not checking out completely, to giving ourselves and our peers permission to grow... and grace when we make errors. Let’s hold ourselves, our friends, and our local elected officials accountable. 

Also, vote. 

Instagram Linktree and the BLM Carrd links — You’ve likely come across these two incredible (and mobile-friendly) resources. If this is all you have the emotional bandwidth for, these are great places to start.

Anti-Racism Allyship Starter Pack — A collection of articles, books, podcasts, films, including things to share, places to donate, and more.

Anti-Racism Resource List — This one comes with a handy table of contents! If you’ve ever thought, “but I’m not a racist!” this helps to walk you through why that’s not enough, and why it’s important to be anti-racist. There’s also information on how to have difficult conversations with folks you love.

Anti-Racism advice for Asian Americans — An older article that, sadly, is still very relevant. Provides tips on how to talk to that lovable racist (auntie? uncle? mom?) in your fam.

Allyship Actions — How Asians and Asian Americans can show up for the Black community. This one has a follow-up article: Ways Asians Perpetuate Anti-Black Racism Everyday.

Essential Anti-Racism Resources for Asians — A resource tailored toward “Asian people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work.”

BLM Translated — If you need help explaining anti-racism to a loved one, but literally don’t have the language for it, this resource provides translations into other languages. Quick count shows 30+ languages represented. Gems include links to How to Talk to People Who Disagree and Actual Steps for Asians Who Want to Talk to Their Immigrant Parents about Anti-Black Racism and BLM.

Southeast Asian Anti-Racism Toolkit — Includes more tips on “how do I talk about this with my friends/fam” + actionable “things you can do now.” Yes it’s aimed toward serving Southeast Asian communities, but the info here is helpful to all, especially regarding historical contexts and clearing up common misconceptions.

Anti-racism Resources From Your Usually Very Funny But Now Exhausted Black Friend — McSweeney’s, at it again with a lil humor while looking you dead in the eye. This piece by Daisy Hobbs lightens the mood (slightly) while providing some valuable movie/video suggestions.

Anti-Racism Daily — Daily actions to dismantle white supremacy.

Decolonizing Far and Near — Bi-weekly anti-racism newsletter.

True Colors — Weekly curation of 10 articles by women who are not white. Just one way to decolonize the information you ingest.

There are several anti-racist reading lists out there, and many of them overlap. Many of them will encourage you to purchase books from your local independent bookseller. If you can, go a few steps further and look for a local Black-woman-owned indie bookstore. Sounds rare, but they exist! Here’s one in Austin, TX, that I like.

Support Black-Owned Bookstores — There are two tabs on this Google Sheet, one with a great list of Black-owned bookstores all over the country, the other with an anti-racist reading list.

1619 Project — A New York Times Magazine audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones (who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work on this), that examines the long shadow of American slavery.

Call Your Girlfriend — I know the title makes it sound like it would just be idle ramblings between friends, but this pop culture + politics podcast really helps to make sense of heavy topics, and handles them with nuance in a way that’s digestible.

Code Switch — Named after that linguistic thing that a lot of us do (even if we only speak one language), this podcast explores how race impacts all parts of society. So like, imagine an NPR program, but by and for people who probably look like you. (I just went ahead and assumed that no wealthy old white men are reading this, lol.) Here’s an episode that addresses speaking up against anti-Blackness in your circles.

Pod Save The People — News, culture, social justice, and politics, all with a special focus on topics that impact people who are not white.

Scene on Radio, Season 2 - Seeing White – A 14-part documentary series that explores the notion of “whiteness” and where it came from. Helps to put American racism into context. It’s hosted by a white guy, but guests include Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, Nell Irvin Painter, and Ibram Kendi. They also have a resource guide.

Throughline — “Go back in time to understand the present.” This NPR podcast helps make sense of history and how it affects us today. Also hosted by non-white people.

This one gets its own section so you can stop and think about how profiting off someone’s death (especially a Black person’s death, in America) is wrong. There’s a whole e-commerce trend that involves monetizing the deaths of Black people, and, in short, it’s gross. It’s often tough to trace who the seller is and where the money goes. And if you see the money is going to support a cause you believe in, why not donate to that cause directly?

Look for Black-owned businesses in your community (or online) to support.

By the way, not everyone on the internet is helpful. It’s imperative to make sure your sources are sound. There’s a really popular (notorious!) Black “activist” whose blue-tick verified platform I will not elevate here, but he has been called names like W.E.B. DeFraud, Talcum X, and Martin Luther Cream for capitalizing on any major event for his personal gain. Beware of the grifters.

An alternate way to make your dollars count is to donate. Top suggestions include:

American Civil Liberties Union

Black Lives Matter

Bail Funds (see directory here)

Campaign Zero, which is aimed at ending police brutality

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund