Today is June 19th, or Juneteenth, a day that marks and celebrates the end of slavery in the state of Texas, and is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth celebrates an important step in our nation’s history, but also reminds us of the great work that is left to do in understanding and combatting systemic racism in the U.S. and learning how to take actions to be truly anti-racist.
Events over the past month in the United States have yet again highlighted the long standing need to more deeply explore and fight to end systemic racism and prejudice in our world, particularly in the U.S. This begins with education, and being more aware of the issues at hand, but it doesn’t end there. As many Black leaders have stated in recent weeks, ‘silence is complicity,” and by failing to take action, inequality and racism will persist.
The resources below come from a variety of sources, including many that were shared by Br. Michael Maher. We encourage you to use these resources to learn about the issues and find ways to take action.
Education Resources and Links
Duke University Anti-racism Curriculum
Police Involved Shootings In U.S. - An article from CNN describing data from police involved shootings in the United States.
Racial Justice Resources - The following list of resources were compiled by staff at Iona Prep in New York and include books, movies and film resources, as well as ways to advocate for and financially support organizations fighting for racial justice.
Racism in the Criminal Justice System (Washington Post) - This article contains links to various writings, studies and data sources that describe the racist tendencies of the criminal justice system in the United States.
US Conference of Catholic Bishops- Combatting Racism - This link from USCCB includes a statement against racism along with many resources in learning about, praying for and advocating for racial justice.
Action Items
Responding to Racism - Responding to Racism: A Lasallian Dialogue will take place online Thursday, June 25. Four Lasallian educators—a global languages professor, a multicultural affairs director, a Christian ethics professor and a chief diversity officer—will help participants understand and learn how to act in response to systemic racism. Click on the link above to register.
We CAN Breathe: Reclaiming the Power of Breath with Zoe Flowers - (From The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims) "There's so much going on. Our chests are tight. We are experiencing fear and confusion. It may be hard for you to sleep, be present, and keep a handle on all you need to do. And we still have "jobs" to do. It is our pleasure to present another set of healing sessions with advocate, healer, writer, poet, and filmmaker Zoe Flowers. Zoe provided almost 1500 advocates with her virtual wellness sessions from March to May 2020."
What White People Can do for Racial Justice (Medium.com) - This link contains 75 items of how Whites can learn about and advocate for racial justice.