Racial Justice Forum

Recommendations for Racial Justice Books/Movies/Action Steps

Books and Articles

• A 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge© by the American Bar Association.  National movement that started July 27th, but can be done at any time.  Involves readings and assignments. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_contract_law/leadership/21-challenge/
• Becoming Human: Dismantling Racism. An educational series by the University of St. Thomas. https://www.stthomas.edu/theology/becominghuman/   Spring, 2020.
• Catholic Charities Twin Cities has created a list of racial equity reading and education resources. https://www.cctwincities.org/what-we-do/racial-equity-and-social-justice/race-and-racism-reading-and-education/
• A list of excellent books and articles from black Catholics (and non-Catholic) theologians from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/202006/required-reading-black-catholic-syllabus-32088 Some examples of the books from this link:
  • • Racial Justice in the Catholic Church  Fr. Bryan N.  Massingale 2010.
    • So You Want To Talk About Race Ijeoma Oluo 2019
    • How to be An Anti-Racist Ibram X Kendi.  2019
    • Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US  Lenny Duncan 2019
    • Perseverance in the Parish?: Religious Attitudes from a Black Catholic Perspective  Darren W. Davis and Donald B. Pope-Davis.  2017.
    • “Stamped with the Image of God”:  African Americans as God’s Image in Black. Cyprian Davis, OSB and Jamie Phelps, OP, editors.  2003.

• List of more readings from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops:
  • • http://www.usccb.org/_cs_upload/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/304006_2.pdf
    • http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/educational-resources-on-racism.cfm
    • http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/intercultural-competencies/index.cfm
    • http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/intercultural-competencies/using-these-guidelines-a-practical-overview.cfm
    • http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/african-american/resources/index.cfm
• Other articles for discussion:
  • • https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/assumptions-white-privilege-and-what-we-can-do-about-it
    • https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/06/01/george-floyd-fr-james-martin-holy-spirit-racism
    • https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/06/03/catholic-leaders-are-reacting-george-floyd-case-heres-what-theyre-saying?pnespid=l.Buo6EHAgqNvDWs1wZ2HMbHfg6N2Qayjg3HubYw&utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3836
    • https://tiapratt.com/blackcatholicssyllabus-2/?fbclid=IwAR3tn3sJeS9ezzIFP_SO5irlvmHSiOPIMfoROjpEWLA68lO3RLSIRPR4txg
• Courageous article about white privilege from Fr. Bryan Massingale in National Catholic Reporter, June 1, 2020. https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/assumptions-white-privilege-and-what-we-can-do-about-it
• We Want To Do More Than Survive.  Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Dr. Bettina Love (2019)
• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo 
  • • Short, good video of her talking that overviews the main arguments in her book:
      https://www.gcorr.org/video/vital-conversations-racism-dr-robin-diangelo/
    • Her website with many free resources, checklists, reading guide, etc. https://robindiangelo.com/resources/
    • ”White Fragility” [article] goes over her major definition and arguments from her entire book. https://libjournal.uncg.edu/ijcp/article/viewFile/249/116
    • “Robin DiAngelo on Educators’ White Fragility” [article] http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/apr19/vol76/num07/Robin-DiAngelo-on-Educators’-%C2%A3White-Fragility%C2%A3.aspx
• Children and Young adult books:
  • • https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/coretta-scott-king-book-award-winners
    • https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/award-winning-african-american-books

Movies

• Just Mercy
• Jim Crow of the North https://www.pbs.org/video/jim-crow-of-the-north-stijws/
• Selma
• The Hate U Give
• 13th
• When They See Us
• I Am Not Your Negro

Opportunities for Action

• Corpus Christi’s Racial Equity Discussion Group: Corpus Christi is starting a group to provide a brave, supportive and spiritually nurturing space where parishioners can gather to learn more about racism and support each other in efforts to eliminate it, both inside and outside the church. This group will meet once per month on a weekday evening that works for the members. It will be led by two Corpus Christi parishioners, Sr. Stephanie Spandl and Michelle Lenhart. If you are interested in joining or learning more, contact Michelle Lenhart at michellelenhart@gmail.com. 
• Corpus Christi’s Food Drive:  Corpus Christi has collected about 20 bags of food and other essentials and about $1500, all of which has been donated to the Hallie Q. Brown Center in the Midway area, which was hit hard by the rioting. The need remains great, so the collection will continue. Items can be dropped off in the entryway to the school.
• The Corpus Christi Building Action Team is currently investigating the opportunity to build affordable housing on our property. We are just beginning the process. We will be working with parishioners and the neighborhood. We will post information in the bulletin and on the parish website as it becomes available. If you have skills that would help in the consideration of this project please let Amanda Kieffer know at a.marie.weber@gmail.com.
• Do Good Roseville – See what people are doing in Roseville concerning racial justice and join one or more of their interest groups.   https://dogoodroseville.com/sj-area-of-interest/
• JustFaith: Tips for how to confront friends and family about racism. https://justfaith.org/8-tips-for-confronting-racism-with-your-friends-and-colleagues/
• Hollaback! is a global, people-powered movement to end harassment. They work on ensuring equal access to public spaces.  https://www.ihollaback.org/