Learn more about racism, race relations
Numerous resources are available to learn about racism, race and white privilege.
With the explosion of the Black Lives Matter movement in what some have called a Year of Racial Reckoning, many Americans are reading more books and seeking more information to understand race relations, racism and white privilege.
Blacks may be trying to learn about their history, or find support and validation for their experiences. Whites and others may be trying to gain a better understanding of why things are the way they are, and how they might become allies.
This is a great time to form a book club. Discuss what made you feel uncomfortable. What did you learn? What can you do to help narrow the gap of misunderstanding?
While reading provides the history of how America got to this point, many of the authors would argue that reading their work is not enough. Getting involved and acting locally either by pushing to change laws or to help organizations fighting against racism is key.
Here are some resources for anyone looking to educate themselves:
BOOKS
The Antiracist: How to Start the Conversation about Race and Take Action, by Kondwani Fidel (2020) Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson (2020) The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein (2017) The Gift of Our Wounds: A Sikh and a Former White Supremacist Find Forgiveness After Hate, by Arno Michaelis and Pardeep Singh Kaleka (2018) I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, by Austin Channing Brown (2018)
A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines (1993) The Autobiography of Malcolm X, by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965) Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson (2017) Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America, by Nathan McCall (1994) The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table, by Minda Harts (2020) The Mis-Education of the Negro, by Carter G. Woodson, (1933) The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander (2010) The Rage of a Privileged Class: Why are middle-class blacks angry? Why should America care? by Ellis Cose (1993) Racism Without Racists. by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (2010) Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X. Kendi (2016) Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II, by Douglas A. Blackmon (2008) The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, by Isabel Wilkerson (2010) We Speak for Ourselves: How Woke Culture Prohibits Progress, by D. Watkins (2020) White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin Diangelo (2018) Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum (1997)
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS African American Roundtable
This assembly of partners attempts to empower and organize our community to transform policies so African Americans can thrive and live at their greatest potential. It collaborates to show power, amplify each others’ voices, nurture leadership, promote racial equity and accessibility, and pass policies to radically improve the lives of African-Americans in Milwaukee. Website: ridracismmke.org Phone: (414) 939-3743 Address: Rid Racism Milwaukee, P.O. Box 13852, Milwaukee, WI 53213-0852 Email: ridracism@gmail.com
DIVERSE & RESILIENT
Founded in 1995, this program provides both capacity-building and direct-service work to address the health disparities experienced by LGBTQ people in Wisconsin. It also serves survivors of all violence: intimate partner, sexual, and hate- or community-based violence. Website: www.diverseandresilient.org/ Phone: (414) 390-0444 Address: 2439 N. Holton St., Milwaukee, WI 53212 Email: info@diverseandresilient.org
MILWAUKEE INNER-CITY CONGREGATION ALLIED FOR HOPE (MICAH)
MICAH is a multiracial, interfaith organization committed to addressing justice issues that have an impact on the community and on the members of MICAH congregations. MICAH’s goal is to empower people to act together in pursuit of justice and to organize so that people of many traditions can come together to speak with one voice for justice. Website: www.facebook.com/Micah Empowers Phone: (414) 264-0805 Address: 2821 N. 4th St., Milwaukee, WI 53212 Email: office@micahmke.org
MILWAUKEE ACLU CHAPTER
The local chapter is part of the national American Civil Liberties Union, a nonprofit dedicated to defending the civil liberties and civil rights of all. The ACLU has been at the center of major civil liberties battles in the U.S. for more than 100 years. Website: www.aclu-wi.org/en/chapters/milwaukee-aclu-chapter Address: 207 E. Buffalo St., Unit 325, Milwaukee, WI 53202-5774 (Walk-ins are not accepted) Email: liberty@aclu-wi.org
MILWAUKEE NAACP
The Milwaukee NAACP is one of the oldest branches in the nation working in the forefront of the civil rights movement. The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of all and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Website: naacpmke.org/ Phone: (414) 562-1000 Address: 2745 N. King Drive #202, Milwaukee, WI 53212 Email: info@naacpmke.org
MILWAUKEE URBAN LEAGUE
The Milwaukee Urban League offers numerous programs designed to help African Americans and other people of color achieve civil rights and social and economic equality so they can become more self-reliant members of society. Website: https://www.tmul.org/ Phone: (414) 374-5850 Address: 435 W. North Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53212 Email: For education and employment services contact Shirron Hines, director of programs, at shines@tmul.org
SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (SURJ)
SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing and education, SURJ connects people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local efforts. It has a Milwaukee chapter. Website: www.showingupforracialjustice.org/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ groups/ 460812344093736/ Email: Stephanie Roades: surjmke@gmail.com
UBLAC
Founded in 2016 after the death of Sylville Smith by a police officer, Uplifting Black Liberation and Community promotes liberating Black people from oppressive systems and helping them realize their full potential. Website: https://www.facebook.com/UBLACMKE/ Phone: (414) 409-3833 Email: ublac.2016@gmail.com
WISCONSIN NETWORK FOR PEACE, JUSTICE & SUSTAINABILITY
Founded in 1991, this coalition of activist groups and “citizens of conscience” in Wisconsin advocates for a sustainable world free from violence and injustice by serving as a catalyst for community organizing and education. It hosts a number of efforts, from letterwriting campaigns to lobbying lawmakers. Website: www.wnpj.org/ Phone: (715) 600-2766 Address: WNPJS, PO Box 727, Madison, WI 53701 Email:office@wnpj.org
WISDOM
WISDOM is comprised of about 160 congregations representing 19 different religious traditions. It also includes EXPO (Ex-Prisoners Organizing) and the Menikanaehkem community of the Menominee Nation. It works to have a common voice on issues of social justice.
Website: https://wisdomwisconsin.org/ Phone: (414) 831-2070 Address: 2821 N. 4th Street, Suite 217, Milwaukee, WI 53212 Email: wisdomforjustice@gmail.com
YWCA’S UNLEARNING RACISM: TOOLS FOR ACTION
Unlearning Racism: Tools for Action is a six-part series on the impact of racism and what can be done about it. The winter 2021 schedule will be offered via Zoom 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 27-March 17. Website: www.ywcasew.org/what-we-do/ racial- justice/ Phone: (414) 374-1800 Address: 1915 N. King Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212 Cost: Determined based on income of the individual or the size and budget of the organization. Cost ranges from $125 for a person on fixed income up to $575 for a person funded by an organization with a budget over $5 million. Email: communication@ywcasew.org
NEWSPAPER PROJECTS
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “50-Year Ache” project on civil rights struggles: projects.jsonline.com/topics/ 50-year-ache/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “Milwaukee’s Promise“project on racial equity: jsonline.com/milwaukeespromise USA Today’s 1619: “Searching For Answers” project on slavery: bit.ly/2KAgsrS The New York Times’ “The 1619 Project”: nyti.ms/38aTRKB The Seattle Times’ “Under Our Skin”: bit.ly/3r5cpV6 The Washington Post’s “Race in America”: wapo.st/3axTLzB
About the Milwaukee’s Promise project Reporter James E. Causey spent the 2019-20 academic year as an O’Brien Fellow in Public Service Journalism at Marquette University, where he was assisted by student researchers Abby Ng, Donna Sarkar and Sebastian Becerra.
Photojournalist Angela Peterson’s work was supported by a public service journalism fellowship from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, which aims to inform and foster civic engagement and rising together to eradicate systemic racism that withholds our region and all people from truly thriving.
All work on the project was done under the guidance of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editors. Neither Marquette nor the foundation had involvement in decisions about the content or presentation of the work. To support the Journal Sentinel’s in-depth local reporting, please subscribe at jsonline.com/ deal.