I was originally going to start discussing my history reading list today, but in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the ongoing protests calling out systemic racism, I wanted to use this blog as a space for sharing resources about race and antiracism. Learning about systemic racism, and dismantling it, is critical work that we all need to do, especially if we are white people who haven’t been conditioned to see all the myriad ways in which society benefits us. The list I have going here is by no means comprehensive, but it should help get you started.
- Reading Materials
- Online Articles:
- Kim Crayton, Dismantling White Supremacy and the Five Stages of Grief
- Katie Nodjimbadem, The Long, Painful History of Police Brutality in the U.S.
- Michael W. Twitty, Dear Disgruntled White Plantation Visitors, Sit Down. Twitty is also the author of The Cooking Gene-A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South
- For a longer view of history, check out this library guide to learn about African diasporas.
- To learn more about the interconnectedness between slavery and the U.S. colonies, visit the 1619 Project.
- To learn what historians have to say about Confederate monuments and why they’re so problematic, visit this resource list from the American Historical Association.
- To learn more about mental health and Black communities, read, “Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community,” from Sunshine Behavioral Health. Also check out this article from Drug Rehab USA: Black Men Matter – Examining Mental Health Issues among Black Men – A Guide to Freedom – Drug Rehab USA. And here’s one more looking at the connections between alcoholism, mental health, and incarceration: A Guide On Black Mental Health – Treatment Over Incarceration – Alcohol Rehab USA
- Here are some more mental health resources: https://www.detoxrehabs.net/identify-mental-health-issues/
- Read this page to learn more about the racial disparities substance abuse treatment: Not Equal: Racial Disparities In Addiction/Substance Abuse Treatment (addictionresource.net)
- To learn more about financial literacy and closing the wealth gap, read this article: Financial Literacy & African Americans: Bridging the Gap (annuity.org)
- Books:
- Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist
- Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race
- Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard to for White People to Talk About Racism
- And if you want more, here are some reading lists
- Online Articles:
- Organizations to Support:
- Scholarship
- If you’re an academic, here’s an article that discusses the importance of citing scholars of color.
- If you’re into DH and want to see a good example of a project that addresses race, the Colored Conventions Project is one of the best works out there, not only for its subject matter, but its willingness to credit the labor of its multiple contributors.
- To learn more about how search engine algorithms, facial recognition, and other online privilege white people, check out the work of Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble and Joy Adowaa Buolamwini.
- For work addressing black digital feminism specifically, check out these scholars:
- If you want to read more about the experiences of black graduate students and researchers, visit these sites:
- Artists to Check Out:
White people, we can and must do better. Be willing to learn about white privilege and how you benefit from it. Be willing to listen to Black people and other people of color. Don’t make it about you; close your mouth and open your ears. Be willing to use your privilege to advocate. Help create a platform for underrepresented voices, and then step aside to let them speak. Be willing to vote against systemic racism. Be willing to challenge the infrastructures that benefit us at the expense of everyone else. Be willing to continue learning and to refine your views.
This is hard, uncomfortable, and ongoing work, but it’s critical that we do it. Black lives matter; it’s way past time our laws and social norms reflected that.
We owe it to everyone.

Hello,,
“Around a quarter of black (24%) inmates were found to abuse alcohol or drugs, compared to 22%of white inmates.”
There is a long history of systemic racism in the criminal justice system that has led to Black people being disproportionately targeted and incarcerated. Rather than receiving the support and resources they need to overcome addiction, Black individuals are often punished and stigmatized for their struggles. This perpetuates a cycle of trauma and marginalization, making it even more difficult for them to access the help they need. It is crucial that we address these disparities and work towards creating a more equitable system that prioritizes rehabilitation and healing over punishment.
We created a guide that addresses these issues facing the black community: https://alcoholrehabus.org/black-mental-health-treatment-over-incarceration/
We thought you might find this guide useful for you and your website visitors.
We took a look at your website and thought it would be a great fit on this page: https://sarawoodburyintransit.com/misc/black-lives-matter-some-learning-resources/
Will you help us spread awareness by adding this to your page?
Thank You for helping us save Lives
Joey Belfry
231-632-4529
Thank you for sharing this; I’ve added it to the list of resources.