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Don’t let this moment in history pass you by.
We must unite as a community to speak out against the tragedies and injustices that plague our country.
We grieve for George Floyd and countless others and long for a world in which safety, justice, and equality are secured for everyone. This time also reminds us of our responsibilities as artists, historians, and creatives to fight all forms of hatred and discrimination and acknowledge the struggle and power of diversity in Santa Cruz County.
At the MAH we are committed to addressing and dismantling racism by acknowledging our privilege as a cultural institution and unpacking the ways racism persists. We are working to instill policies, training, and space for dialogue as we strive to become an anti-racist organization.
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Cover photo by @sabinedukes – Santa Cruz rally for George Floyd at the Clock Tower. May 31st, 2020.
Featured Resource
How to Respond to Someone When They Say ‘All Lives Matter’
The phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ is simple. The statement is not political or controversial. It’s an expression that calls out for justice, respect and empathy for every life that has been affected by discrimination, prejudice and misrepresentation for centuries. Point blank: It’s raising awareness for basic human rights.
Learn More
We invite our community to take this opportunity to deepen its commitment to combating injustice in our everyday lives. Anti-racism is an ongoing progress that begins within each of us.
We invite you to use the resources provided below to address issues of systemic racism, white supremacy, and privilege.
What is Anti-Racism?
Anti-Racism is defined as the work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life. Anti-racism tends to be an individualized approach and set up in opposition to individual racist behaviors and impacts.
What is the Black Lives Matter Movement? Read on the BLM Website.
Showing up for Racial Justice. Political education resources.
What is Racism? DismantlingRacism.org
Articles
- Where do I donate? Why is uprising violent? Should I go protest? By Courtney Martin. Read on Medium.
- How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change By Barack Obama. Read on Medium.
- Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge. By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Read the LA Times.
- Of Course There Are Protests. The State is Failing Black People. By Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. Read the New York Times
- Letter From a Region in My Mind. By James Baldwin in 1962. Read the New Yorker.
- The History of African Americans in Santa Cruz County. Read on our blog.
- Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community. View Resources & Information
Books
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor By Layla Saad
- This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work By Tiffany Jewell
- Race Matters by Cornel West
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The Best Books by Black Authors You Should Read in Your Lifetime
These are available at local libraries or shop online at local, independent bookstores, like Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Videos
- Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives | Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers
- "How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
- What Is the Future of BLM? | Black Lives Matter Global Network Community
- Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation speaking at The Center for Creative Ecologies and The Humanities Institute.
- The Origin of Race in the US
- Systemic Racism A Video Series
Podcasts
- About Race
- Code Switch (NPR)
- Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
- Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
- Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)
- Seeing White
TV Shows & Movies
- American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
- Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
- Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
- Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
- King In The Wilderness — HBO
- See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
- Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
- The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
- When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice. Read on Medium
- Find out who represents you and contact them. League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County.
- Oakland Museum Take Action Cards. View on Twitter.
- Donate to:
- Black Lives Matter
- Organizations fighting against racism and police brutality
- Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Fight for Breonna Taylor
- Help the family of Ahmaud Arbery
- Bail Funds and Legal Help for peaceful protesters, organized by city
- Santa Cruz Resource Center for Nonviolence
- Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others
Books:
- 31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
- 31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
Podcasts:
- Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’
- Fare of the Free Child podcast
- Integrated Schools podcast episode “Raising White Kids with Jennifer Harvey”
Articles:
- PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
- Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good
The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon
We will keep this list updated with more resources collected by staff and community members. Get more resources & information here thanks to Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein.