Educational Tools
Dismantling racism for the sake of all people includes the hard work of naming our complicity in structures that disproportionately benefit white people, and also the holy and life-giving work of becoming anti-racist. The Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing is committed to actively engaging the Diocese of Virginia in creating sustainable programs to dismantle racism, white supremacy, and the legacy of colonialism through education and advocacy with social, governmental, and ecclesiastical systems.
The following education tools are offered to support congregations in this journey. These free and low-cost, faith-based anti-racism resources will help individuals and groups begin their exploration of racism in our country, our communities, our churches and ourselves. Explore by clicking below.
Books and Articles
- Seven Anti-Racist Books Recommended by Educators and Activists
- Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi
- This List of Books, Films, and Podcasts About Racism Is a Start, Not a Panacea
- Understanding and Dismantling Racism: A Booklist for White Readers
- Twelve Books to Help Children Understand Race, Anti-Racism, and Protest
- Anti-Racism Books for Children and teens
- Your Bookshelf May be Part of the Problem
- Undocumented: A Worker’s Fight
- Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother
- Inventing Latinos: A New Story of American Racism
- Ignored Racism: White Animus Toward Latinos
- Fighting Back With Books: Five Nonfiction Works That Challenge Covid-19-Inspired Racism
- The Artistic History of American Anti-Asian Racism
- Two Faces of Exclusion: The Untold History of Anti-Asian Racism in the United States
- The Long History of US Racism Against Asian Americans, from ‘Yellow Peril’ to ‘Model Minority’ to the ‘Chinese Virus’
- The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America
- Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Curricula
Sacred Ground: Race Dialogue Series
A free ten week curriculum, Sacred Ground is a sensitive, prayerful resource that creates space for difficult but respectful and transformative dialogue on race and racism. It holds as a guiding star the vision of beloved community – where all people are honored and protected and nurtured as beloved children of God, where we weep at one another’s pain and seek one another’s flourishing. Learn more.
Anti-Racism Curriculum
Racism is a word that elicits strong emotion, and often even stronger opinions. Taking the step to engage in anti-racism work may seem intimidating, or maybe you already feel confident in your knowledge of racial justice and in your allyship. Regardless of where you sit on that spectrum, this training is one that can have benefit for everyone. Learn more.
Examining Whiteness: An Anti-Racism Curriculum
One of the ways that racism affects us is by shaping our identity (and this is true for whites and People of Color). These materials, prepared by the Rev. Doctor William Gardiner, are made available to Unitarian Universalists (UUs), particularly white people interested in transforming their whiteness through understanding the complex history of white supremacy of over four hundred years in the United States, and the impact it has on us as individuals and the society as a whole. Learn more.
Sacred Conversations to End Racism
You are invited to begin a restorative racial justice journey with Sacred Conversations to End Racism. Participants will be relying on the facilitator to create a welcoming environment, understand the material, communicate well, listen intently, and provide structure for a healthy environment and interactive group dynamics. You do not have to be an expert, or have all the answers to everyone’s questions. The facilitator’s role is to lead the group, keep the space respectful, open, and encourage people to go deeper. Learn more.
Changing Systems, Changing Ourselves: Anti-racist practice for Sanctuary, Accompaniment, and Resistance
A five-session monthly interactive e-course for groups to explore, reflect, and act for social change.
“Without community, there is no liberation.” Audre Lorde
Do you want to join a community of people of faith and conscience committed to taking action as well as practicing reflection? Are you seeking ways to offer grounded solidarity that don’t reproduce oppressive practices? Have you ever gone to an immigration (ICE) check-in or court to support a person at risk of deportation? Is your congregation part of the New Sanctuary Movement, or talking about joining? Learn more.
Healing from Internalized Oppression
Healing from Internalized Oppression is an experience curated by Black people for people(s) of color to explore, engage, and heal from racial traumas perpetuated by and against global majority communities. Through a series of modules, this curriculum educates participants about institutional, interpersonal, and internal oppression to facilitate a healing process that empowers people for transformational ministry. Participants will discuss overcoming shame and speak bravely and boldly about harm and healing in pursuit of life and liberation in Christ. Learn more.
Webinars
Traces of the Trade
Webinar on Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination Explores Hard Truths – And Hopes For Change
Speakers and listeners across the world explore how we define racism, and how we can create a culture of inclusive communities. Watch the webinar.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery
On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, 25, left home and went for a jog. During his run, two white men follow Ahmaud, confront him with a loaded shotgun, assume he’s a suspected criminal, and within minutes of their encounter–according to the recorded video–three shots are fired. Amhaud falls to the ground and dies.
“Racism is a virus. It infects the spirit.” (The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III)
The United Church of Christ invites you to rewatch Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III’s cinematic sermon entitled, “The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery.” Immediately following the live video, a panel of four respected thought leaders, racial justice advocates and UCC pastors discussed the impact of historical and present-day acts of racism and violence towards African Americans. And they discussed how the Christian Church can be actively involved in dismantling racism. Watch the sermon and panel discussion.
White Privilege: Let’s Talk
Join Rev. John Dorhauer, Rev. Traci Blackmon and other national cross-denominatonal leaders in this webinar series on white privilege. They will lead us through four areas of focus: telling the story of your spiritual journey through the lens of race; looking at the dynamic of a culture in which whiteness is the established norm; learning how American attaches a cash value to whiteness; and inviting the participants to commit to becoming an ally in the pursuit of racial equity. Watch the webinar series.
Dismantling White Supremacy from the Inside Out
Learn why white Americans resist engaging or even acknowledging systemic racial injustice, and how to help them get past that and work to dismantle racist patterns and systems with Rev. J.C. Austin in this webinar. Watch the webinar.
“How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion:” Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools
When Hate is in the Headlines
Reviews the lessons on the events in Charlottesville, covering topics such as the so-called alt-right, the history of hate and white supremacy, how to talk about race and religion, memorials and monuments, the First and Second amendments, and the emotional impact on our students. Shares resources on these topics and concrete examples of how to discuss these issues with students in elementary, middle and high school. Learn more.
Racial Equity During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
A live conversation with NLIHC’s Diane Yentel and bestselling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Watch the video.
Race: The Power of an Illusion
RACE: The Power of an Illusion is the most widely taught documentary in the United States. The filmmakers and collaborators have created a series of lesson plans and collated other materials to guide discussion and engagement in the classroom. Watch the documentary.
The Dehumanization of Indigenous Women
First Nations Education and Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) host this webinar. Through both quantitative and qualitative research methods, Stephanie Cross (Comanche Nation) and Emma Allen (Cherokee Nation) will investigate various ways that Indigenous women experience dehumanization and the mechanisms underlying how they are dehumanized by others. This session will examine the effects of dehumanization on Indigenous women and their experiences both in and outside of the University of Oklahoma. Watch the video.
The Impact of Racism on the Health and Well-Being of the Nation
Stigma, inequalities and civil rights injustices remain in our society today. Unfortunately, skin color plays a large part in how people are viewed, valued and treated. We know that racism, both intentional and unintentional, affects the health and well-being of individuals and communities and stifles the opportunity of many to contribute fully to the future and growth of this nation. Join the leadership of the American Public Health Association in a webinar series about racism’s impact on health and disparities. Watch the webinar.
Dr. Soong-Chan Rah | The Necessity of Lament in a Broken World | Stanley Grenz Lecture Series
Reverend Dr. Soong-Chan Rah is a professor, pastor and dynamic author whose life work has revolved around theology, lament, and racial reconciliation. As a community we were invited to reflect on the importance of lament, especially as it relates to racial division within our country. Dr. Rah reviewed the prominence of lament in Scripture and challenged us to consider the ways in which our culture and the American Church has run from lament, leading to a mentality of exceptionalism. Watch the lecture. Watch the follow up panel discussion.
Purchase PowerPoint presentation with embedded videos
Understanding the System of Racial Inequity – by Racial Equity Tools
Understanding the System of Racial Inequity is a starting place, ideal for those new to structural racism. These groups might include parents and teachers in K – 12 school communities, higher education professors and administrators, local and national government employees, health care providers, faith-based leaders and practitioners, and community-based cultural workers. The module is broken into sections that are ideally implemented in order, with the community builder first, the main lesson plan in the middle, book-ended by artistic production or case studies and next steps.