Recommended Bookshelf of Racial Justice Resources

Compiled by Rev. Dr. Melanie S. Morrison, Advisor
United Church of Christ Sacred Conversation on Race
racetalk@ucc.org

Baldwin, James. The Price of the Ticket: Collected Nonfiction, 1948 – 1985.  St. Martin's, 1985.

A compendium of nearly 50 years of Baldwin's profound and prophetic essays that combine autobiography and social analysis to create an intellectual history of the twentieth century black American experience.

Barndt, Joseph. Understanding and Dismantling Racism: The Twenty-First Century Challenge to White America. Fortress Press: 2007.

Traces the history of racism, revealing its personal, institutional, and cultural forms and offering specific ways in which people in all walks, including churches, can work to bring racism to an end. Includes analytical charts, definitions, bibliography, and exercises for readers.

Branding, Ronice. Fulfilling the Dream: Confronting the Challenge of Racism. Chalice Press: 1998.

Weaving the theological with the practical, this book offers strategies in "chewable bites" that can be accomplished at the individual and congregational levels. Each chapter contains reflection questions, making this book a helpful study guide for congregations. The appendices offer specific suggestions for action in six areas: Church Leadership, Worship, Church Context and Communication, Stewardship, Christian Education, and Engagement With the Community.

Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West. Henry Holt: 1976.

Using council records, autobiographies, and firsthand descriptions from the Dakota, Utes, Sioux, and Cheyenne tribes, Brown documents the systematic destruction of the American Indian during the second half of the nineteenth century.

Bulkin, Elly, Minnie Bruce Pratt, and Barbara Smith.  Yours in the Struggle: Three Feminist Perspectives on Anti-Semitism and Racism.  Long Haul Press, 1984.

Thought-provoking personal essays that examine the political reality of racism and anti-semitism from the perspectives of three activists from widely-differing backgrounds and identities who share mutual respect for each other's work.

Butler, Lee H.  Black Church,  Black Theology, and the Politics of Religion in America: A Reflection on the Theology-Race Controversy. The Center for the Study of Black Faith & Life, Chicago Theological Seminary: 2008.

Dr. Butler examines the mis-perceptions and misinformation that informed and influenced the controversy surrounding Dr. Jeremiah Wright and his ministry at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago during Senator Barack Obama's campaign for President. Dr. Butler invites the readers to move beyond sound bites to explore the historical and theological context of Dr. Wright's 36 years of ministry at Trinity.  

Canon, Katie and Carter Heyward. Alienation and Anger: A Black and a White Woman's Struggle for Mutuality in an Unjust World. The Stone Center, Wellesley College, 1992.

In the form of letters exchanged over nine years, Katie Cannon, an African-American womanist ethicist, and Carter Heyward, a white feminist theologian,  examine their ongoing effort to build a mutually empowering and authentic friendship despite the devastating effects of racism.

Chiawei O'Hearn, Claudine, ed. Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural. Pantheon Books, 1998.

Seventeen first-person accounts by authors with biracial or bicultural backgrounds who grew up in the U.S. or emigrated to this country.

Chicago Metropolitan Association, Illinois Conference United Church of Christ. The Church, Reparations, and Justice: Moving From Silence to Action – A Study and Discussion Guide. 2003.

During the 20^th century, reparations were granted to the State of Israel by the German government for the holocaust, to the Maori people of New Zealand by the United Kingdom, and to Japanese Americans by the United States government. No reparations, however, have been made to African Americans for the centuries of slavery they endured. This study guide seeks to establish dialogue within churches regarding moral, historical, 

Cone, James. Risks of Faith: The Emergence of a Black Theology of Liberation, 1968–1998. Beacon Press, 1998.

A collection of Dr. Cone's most influential essays in which he critiques the ways that "White theology" has, for centuries, focused attention on the abstract "problem of evil" while never acknowledging the concrete historical evil of white racism.

Davis, Angela. Women, Race, and Class. Random House, 1983.12.0pt; font-family:

An examination of the suffrage and women's movement in the context of the fight for civil rights and working class issues. Davis explores the intimate connection between the anti-slavery campaign and the struggle for women's suffrage and explores how the racist and classist bias of some in the women's movement divided its own membership.

Douglas, Frederick and Harriet Jacobs.  Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave & Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.  Modern Library, 2000.

Douglas's Narrative,  first published in 1845, is an unparalleled account of the dehumanizing effects of slavery. Harriet Jacobs'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, published in 1861 broke the silence about the exploitation of African American female slaves.

Gill, LaVerne McCain.  A History of the Origins of African American Sacred Music. Available online: http://www.hvcn.org/info/websterucc/GillOrigins.pdf

Through the lens of African American sacred music, Rev. Gill examines the values that emerged from the evolution of the family in the African American Christian tradition. She shows how the Christian family served sustained African Americans during the centuries of shattered families caused by slavery. Rev. Hill also explores how African Americans transplanted remnants of their African spirituality into a new American soil, thereby creating a new branch of the Christian tree.

Gill, LaVerne McCain. Vashti's Victory: And Other Biblical Women Resisting Injustice. Pilgrim Press, 2003.

Gill uses what she terms the Justice Reading Strategy as a framework for discerning the movement of God and the will of God in the biblical narrative. Her womanist theological method explores issues of patriarchy, gender, race and class for women in the biblical texts, as well as women in our own society and recent history.

Goodman, Diane. Promoting Diversity and Social Justice: Educating People from Privileged Groups.  Sage Publications, 2001.

Provides theory, perspectives, and strategies that are useful for working with adults on social justice issues and conflict situations. The first part of the book helps educators understand the reasons for resistance and ways to prevent it. The second part explains how educators motivate dominant groups to support social justice.

Griffin, Paul. Seeds of Racism in the Soul of America. Source Books, 2000.

An historical analysis of racism in America that examines the subtle, insidious discrimination practiced by those who purport to be broad-minded and enlightened. By tracing the seeds of racism from the New England Puritans to today's white liberals and feminists, Griffin examines how racism was implanted in this nation's founding and continues to bear bitter fruit to this day.

Harding, Vincent. There is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.

Beginning with mutinies on the slave ships, Harding traces the resistance of African slaves in the New World that was fed by fierce pride and unshakeable hope. Harding writes about well-known leaders of the abolition movement such as Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman and also of the anonymous men and women whose resistance to slavery helped bring it to an end.

Harjo, Joy. A Map to the Next World: Poetry and Tales. Norton, 2000.

Joy Harjo is a Native American poet and storyteller who melds memories, dream visions, myths, and stories from America's brutal history into a poetic whole. Weaving together myth, stories,  and other sources of cultural memory, Harjo explores the complexities of identity of a people still haunted by their violently disrupted past.

Harvey Jennifer et al, eds.  Disrupting White Supremacy From Within: White People on What We Need To Do.  Pilgrim Press, 2004.

The contributors to this anthology are white theologians, ethicists, teachers, ministers, and activists. They examine the nature of race, racism, and white supremacy, acknowledging its devastating effects on people of color and exploring ways to disrupt and dismantle it.

Hitchcock, Jeff. Lifting the White Veil: An Exploration of White American Culture in a Multiracial Context.  Crandall, Dostie & Douglass Books, 2002.

Hitchcock seeks to help white people understand and explore what it means to be white in America. Drawing upon scholarship from a wide range of disciplines, the author shows why it is crucial to understand white culture if we hope to move to a truly multicultural society.

Holbrook, Sheryl Kujawa. A House of Prayer for All People.  The Alban Institute: 2002.

Focusing on six congregations from different denominations, geographical regions, and settings, the author shows us the joys and struggles in their intentional pursuits of a more diverse and just community.

Hollyday, Joyce. On the Heels of Freedom: The American Missionary Association's Bold Campaign to Educate Minds, Open Hearts, and Heal the Soul of a Divided Nation.  Crossroad Publishing Company, 2005.  12.0pt; font-family:

This saga about our United Church of Christ forebears opens with the mutiny of captured Africans on the Amistad in 1839, follows the path of missionaries who risked their lives to establish schools among emancipated slaves in the South, and culminates with the testimonies of descendants of those who were freed.

Immigrants Targeted: Extremist Rhetoric Moves into the Mainstream "Times New Roman";. Online report documented and written by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League). http://www.adl.org/civil_rights/anti_immigrant/default.asp

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) documents the virulent anti-immigrant and anti-Hispanic rhetoric employed by a handful of groups that have positioned themselves as legitimate, mainstream advocates against illegal immigration in America.

Johnson, Allan G. Privilege, Power, and Difference.  2^nd Edition. Mayfield Publishing Company, 2001.

This very readable book helps readers understand the concepts of privilege and oppression, as well as their own relationship to both, in ways that move them beyond guilt. The author has the gift of presenting complex issues in a language that is accessible to a broad range of readers.

Kendall, Francis. Understanding White Privilege: Creating Pathways to Authentic Relationships Across Race.   Routledge, 2006.12.0pt; font-family:

Delves into the complex interplay between race, power, and privilege in both organizations and private life. The author demonstrates how ignorance can perpetuate racism and she offers practical insights into ways that people of all races can work to dismantle racism.

Kivel, Paul. Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice. New Society Publishers, 2002.

A book written to help white people understand the dynamics of racism in society, institutions, and daily life. It shares stories, suggestions, advice, exercises, and approaches for working with people of color and other white allies to confront racism.

Law, Eric C. F.  Inclusion: Making Room for Grace.  Chalice Press: 2000.

In this resource for ministers and lay leaders, Law provides models, theories, and strategies that are both practical theologically sound for moving faith communities toward greater inclusion.

Law, Eric C. F.  Sacred Acts, Holy Change: Faithful Diversity and Practical Transformation.. Chalice Press: 2002.

Eric Law offers practical guidelines for change and transformation. Sacred Acts applies the techniques and theories from his previous three books to spell out the processes for achieving genuine transformation.

Lepore, Jill.  The Name of War: King Philip's War and the Formation of American Identity. Vintage: 1999.

The author describes the tumultuous encounters between English settlers and Native Americans in New England, the wars that followed, and the theology used by European Americans to justify conquest.

Lorde, Audre. Sister Outsider. The Crossing Press, 1984.

Presenting the essential essays and speeches of the late African American poet, writer, and activist Audre Lorde.  She critically examines how systems of oppression and privilege intersect and reinforce one another and she challenges the notion that there is a hierarchy of oppression.

Marable, Manning and Leith Mullings, eds. Let Nobody Turn Us Around: Voices on Resistance, Reform, and Renewal An African American Anthology. Rowman and Littlefield: 2000.

A collection of essential social and political writings by African American leaders that spans three centuries. The editors show how the themes of reform, resistance, and renewal have sustained the black freedom struggle. 

McIntosh, Peggy. "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies," Working Paper No. 189, Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02181.

Considered a groundbreaking essay by a white educator that brought the reality of white privilege into discussions of race, gender, and sexuality.  McIntosh provides a "white privilege checklist" that gives tangible, practical examples of how white privilege is present in the day-to-day experience of white people.

McIntosh, Peggy.  White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. This article can be found online: http://www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf

This essay is a shorter version of the essay described above.

Olsson, joan. Detour Spotting for White Anti-racists.  Pamphlet available c/o cultural bridges. Email: cbjona@kitcarson.net. The pamphlet can also be found online: http://www.sverigemotrasism.nu/upload/4494/DETOUR%20spotting%20Reality%20checks.pdf

The author describes how white people internalize behaviors and attitudes from a very early age that reinforce racism. To unlearn these habitual patterns, white people from first recognize them. This essay gives practical help in doing just that.

Segrest, Mab. Memoir of a Race Traitor.  South End Press, 1994.

Autobiographical account of a southern white woman, born in the 1940s to a conservative and influential Alabama family, who comes to consciousness about racism and works to expose the Klan by serving on the staff of North Carolinians Against Racist and Religious Violence.

Takaki, Ronald.  A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America.  Back Bay Books, Little Brown: 1993 .

Takaki begins with the "discovery" of America and proceeds through World War II, devoting chapters of each section to the different experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, Chicanos, Jews, Chinese Americans, and Japanese Americans. Each chapter discusses the divergent historical and cultural experiences as well as the shared experiences of these different groups.

Tatum, Beverly Daniel.  "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"   Basic Books, 1997.

Explores why it remains so difficult for Americans to talk about race. Tatum, who is President of Spellman College, is nationally known for her groundbreaking work in racial identity development and helping educators find ways to break the silence surrounding race and racism.

Thandeka. Learning To Be White. Continuum, 2002.

Starting from the premise that no one is born "white" in America, Thandeka describes how European Americans learn to take on this identity, often at a very early age. She explores the critical link between racist acts and shame.

Tinker, George E. Missionary Conquest: The Gospel and Native American Cultural Genocide.
Fortress Press: 1993.

The author is a member of the Osage/Cherokee people and faculty at Iliff School of Theology in Denver. Highlighting the lives of four missionaries, Tinker shows that as they were trying to spread the gospel message and do good works among the Native American peoples, these missionaries were participants in their wider culture's ambitions against the indigenous peoples.

Tinker, George E. Spirit and Resistance: Political Theology and American Indian Liberation. Fortress Press: 2004.

Writing from a Native American perspective, theologian George Tinker probes American Indian culture, its vast religious and cultural legacy, and its ambiguous relationship to the tradition –  historic Christianity – that colonized and converted it.                                                            

Wise, Tim. White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.  Soft Skull Press: 2005.

An autobiographical examination of the ways in which racial privilege shapes the lives of most white Americans, overtly racist or not, to the detriment of people of color, themselves, and society. In addition to critically assessing the magnitude of racial privilege, Wise provides stories that illustrate how white people can become allies in the struggle for racial justice.

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See also the recommended books and study guides found in the PDF entitled Ending Racism Bibliography prepared by R. Kenneth Ostermiller, Minister for Curriculum Development, United Church of Christ and posted on the Sacred Conversations wegpage: http://www.ucc.org/sacred-conversation/pdfs/ending-racism-bibliography.pdf

Annotated List of Recommended DVDs and Videos

Compiled by Rev. Dr. Melanie S. Morrison, Advisor
United Church of Christ Sacred Conversation on Race
racetalk@ucc.org>

Introduction

As you prepare to use one of these films in your Sacred Conversation on Race, we recommend that you review the film before showing it to be certain that it is appropriate for the group you have in mind. Careful thought should also be given to selecting the facilitators who will introduce the film and lead the discussion that follows the film.  Because these films can evoke deep emotions and provoke a range of responses, we recommend that facilitators work in pairs.

In selecting the appropriate facilitators, the following qualities should be paramount: 1) they are known and trusted by diverse groups within the congregation; 2) they have experience and skill as a group facilitators; 3) they have a sustained commitment to understanding and addressing white privilege and racism; 4) they are willing and able to spend time together designing a format for introducing and discussing the film; 5) they are willing and able to do some additional research and reading about the topic prior to showing the film.

A number of these films have accompanying study guides. We recommend that you inquire about study guides when you order the films.

List of Films

Africans in America is a four-part documentary, originally produced for PBS, that chronicles the history of racial slavery in the United States – from the start of the Atlantic slave trade in the 16th century to the end of the American Civil War in 1865. The series explores the central paradox at the heart of the American story: a democracy that declared "all men equal" but enslaved and oppressed one people to provide independence and prosperity to another.  The series can be purchased at http://www.pbs.org.

At the River I Stand .   The Spring of 1968 in Memphis marked the dramatic climax of the Civil Rights movement. At the River I Stand skillfully reconstructs the two eventful months that transformed a local labor dispute into a national conflagration, and disentangles the complex historical forces that came together with the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 66 minutes. DVD and video.  http://www.newsreel.org/ 877-811-1850.

Banished vividly recovers the too-quickly forgotten history of racial cleansing in America when thousands of African Americans were driven from their homes and communities by violent, racist mobs. The film places these events in the context of present day race relations by following three concrete cases where black and white citizens warily explore if there is common ground for reconciliation over these expulsions. 84 minutes. DVD only. http://www.newsreel.org/. 877-811-1850.

Circles . A documentary by Shati Thakur which has as its subject aboriginal practices of restorative justice as they are being integrated into the justice system in Canada. By bringing together the perpetrator of a crime, his or her victims, peers and elders, sentencing circles focus on finding ways to heal the offender, the victim and the community, instead of simply punishment. The Aboriginal men interviewed in the film see a crucial link between violence in their communities and the legacy of residential schools mandated for Indians that removed children from their families and forbid them to practice their native spiritual and cultural traditions. 58 minutes. DVD. Color. 1-800-542-2164. www.nfb.ca.

The Color of Fear is a groundbreaking film about the state of race relations in America as seen through the eyes of eight North American men of Asian, European, Latino and African descent. In a series of intelligent, emotional, and dramatic confrontations the men reveal the pain and scars that racism has caused them. What emerges is a deeper sense of understanding and trust. This is the dialogue most of us fear, but hope will happen sometime in our lifetime. 90 minutes. DVD. http://www.stirfryseminars.com. (510) 204-8840.

A Dream in Doubt . Four days after the 9/11 attacks, Balbir Singh Sodhi was gunned down at his Phoenix area gas station by a man named Frank Roque. To Roque, Balbir Sodhi's beard and turban – articles of his Sikh faith – symbolized the face of America's new enemy. A Dream in Doubt follows Rana Singh Sodhi, Balbir's brother, as he attempts to fight the hate threatening his family and community. 57 minutes. Color. DVD with Study Guide. (415) 863-0814. http://distribution.asianamericanmedia.org/.

Eyes on the Prize .   An award-winning 14-hour television series produced by Blackside and narrated by Julian Bond. Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985. Series topics range from the Montgomery bus boycott in 1954 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965; from community power in schools to "Black Power" in the streets; from early acts of individual courage through to the flowering of a mass movement. Can be ordered through: http://teacher.shop.pbs.org.

First Person Plural . Deann Borshay was among thousands of South Korean orphans sent to the U.S. in the 1960s to be adopted and raised by American families. First Person Plural is a personal documentary that chronicles Borshay's struggle to set right a case of mistaken identity and unravel the mysteries surrounding her adoption. 56 minutes. Study guide available. Center for Asian American Media. http://distribution.asianamericanmedia.org/browse/film/?i=72. 415-863-7428.

Flag Wars . A documentary by Linda Goode Bryant and Laura Poitras. Flag Wars is a stark look inside the conflicts that surface when black working-class families are faced with an influx of white gay home buyers to their Columbus, Ohio neighborhood.  Zula Pearl Films.  877-352-4927.
http://www.glafwarsthemovie.com.

In Whose Honor: American Indian Mascots in Sports by Jay Rosenstein, takes a critical look at the long-running practice of using American Indian names and images as mascots in sports. It follows the story of a Native American graduate student, Charlene Teters, and her transformation into the leader of a movement as she struggles to protect her cultural symbols and identity. 46 minutes. May be rented or purchased through New Day Films, 22-D Hollywood Ave., Ho-ho-kus, NJ. 201-652-6590.

Light in The Shadows . American women of Indigenous, African, Arab, European, Jewish, Asian, Latina and Mixed Race descent, use authentic dialogue to crack open a critical door of consciousness. 45 Minutes. Color. DVD or Video. Recommended for advanced use only.

http://www.world-trust.org/videos/light.html.  510-632-5156.

Made in L.A. traces the moving transformation of three Latina garment workers on the fault lines of global economic change who decide they must resist. The film provides an insider's view into both the struggles of recent immigrants and into the organizing process itself: the enthusiasm, discouragement, hard-won victories and ultimate self-empowerment. http://www.newsreel.org/ 877-811-1850.

Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible "Times New Roman";. Features the experiences of white women and men who have worked to gain insight into what it means to challenge notions of racism and white supremacy in the United States. 50 minutes. Color. DVD or Video.  http://www.world-trust.org/videos/visible.html.  510-632-5156.

The Spirit of Crazy Horse . One hundred years after the massacre at Wounded Knee, Milo Yellow Hair recounts the story of his people – from the lost battles for their land against the invading whites – to the bitter internal divisions and radicalization of the 1970's – to the present-day revival of Sioux cultural pride, which has become a unifying force as the Sioux try to define themselves and their future. 60 minutes. Available through www.Amazon.com.

Stolen Ground is about six Asian American men who struggle against racism and their anguish and pain at the trauma of assimilation towards themselves and their families. A must-see film for those striving to better understand the "model minority" and the pressures of blending into the American culture. 40 minutes. VHS. http://www.stirfryseminars.com. 510-204-8840

Traces of the Trade . In this documentary, film maker Katrina Browne discovers that her New England ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. She and nine cousins retrace the Triangle Trade and gain a powerful new perspective on the black/white divide.  Traces of the Trade will have its national broadcast television premiere on the PBS documentary series P.O.V. in June 2008.  http://www.tracesofthetrade.org/

True Colors . ABC News documentary about two friends – John, who is White, and Glen, who is Black – who take part in a series of hidden camera experiments exploring people's reactions to each in a variety of situations. Prime Time Live, undercover, follows John and Glen separately as they each try to rent an apartment, respond to job listings, purchase a car, and conduct everyday activities such as shopping. In every instance, John is welcomed into the community while Glen is discouraged by high prices, long waits, and unfriendly salespeople. 19 minutes. Color. DVD or VHS. Available for loan from Justice & Witness Ministries: debardeb@ucc.org.

The Way Home . Over the course of eight months, sixty-four women representing a cross-section of cultures, (Indigenous, African-American, Arab, Asian, European-American, Jewish, Latina, and Multiracial) came together to share their experience of racism in America. 92 minutes. Color. DVD or VHS. http://www.world-trust.org/videos/home.html. 510-632-5156.

The Veterans of Hope Project has conducted interviews – available on DVD – with more than 50 religious leaders, activists, artists, and educators who are veterans of struggles for freedom and justice in this country and in other parts of the world. In the interviews, these individuals reflect on the role of religion/spirituality in their life and work, representing a unique educational resource on religion and democratic transformation. Among those interviewed: Andrew Young, Bernice Johnson Reagon, James Lawson, and Delores Huerta. DVDs can be purchased individually or as a series. http://www.veteransofhope.org. 303-765-3194.

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts . Spike Lee's documentary chronicles the experiences of people from diverse backgrounds and socio-economic conditions who endured the harrowing ordeal of living in New Orleans during and after the levees were breached. Through eyewitness accounts and expert commentary, the four-part documentary tells the saga of one of the greatest natural disasters experienced by any region of the country and the failure at all levels of government to respond adequately to the tragedy. Three-disc set is available through HBO: http://store.hbo.com. 253 minutes. Color. A multi-disciplinary curriculum guide,  "Teaching The Levees," published and distributed by Teachers College Press, can be downloaded at www.teachingthelevees.com.

White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men . "Times New Roman"; A thoughtful critique of the appropriation of Native American culture and spirituality by white new age people who make a living and lifestyle from using and selling indigenous spiritual ritual and symbols. Throughout the video, Native Americans speak about their feelings and thoughts about the role of spiritual practice and the historical appropriation of indigenous land, resources, and now spirituality, by white people. White practitioners of Native American spirituality also share their feelings, thoughts and intentions. Available for loan from: Western States Center– http://www.westernstatescenter.org. 503-228-8866.