What is Diversity, Inclusion. Structural racism and Implicit bias

Diversity, Inclusion, Structural racism and Implicit bias are words that are in English media this month.

• diversity - having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization

• inclusion - the state of being included or being made a part of something. It means that all people, regardless of their skin color, religion, culture, rich, poor, abilities, disabilities, or health care needs are included.

• structural racism - a set of institutional, historical, cultural, and interpersonal practices (something that must be done regularly) within a society that excludes a large number of people from minority backgrounds from taking part in quality education, jobs, housing, healthcare, and equal treatment in the criminal justice system. An Example - a government agency needs to build low-income housing. Most of the low housing will go to essential workers that are Black and Latino. The government will build housing in a part of town that is the cheapest and farthest away from jobs and important infrastructure, like working schools, decent public transportation, and other services. When the housing is built, the school district, already under-funded, has new residents too poor to contribute to its tax base.

• implicit bias - refers to the way a person thinks and feels about someone based on their skin color, religion, culture, economic or social status. Their thinking and feelings affect their understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious (not aware of something) behavior.

As we learn, grow, and change, below are resources found we found that help in understanding this current global issue.

Listen (podcasts):

1619 (New York Times)

About Race

Code Switch (NPR)

Pod Save America

Seeing White

Pod For The Cause

Brene’ with Ibram X Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist (Unlocking Us podcast)

Read:

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M Draper

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Blended by Sharon M Draper

Movies and Television:

13th (Netflix)

When They See Us (Netflix)

Selma

Dear White People (Netflix)

The Hate U Give (Cinemax)

Becoming

Resource for Parents talking to children

Learn It Town invites parents to talk about how they discuss race with their children. This series was created after Eric Garner’s killing, which has similarities to George Floyd’s killing: 

Black Parents 

Race & Parenting: Talking to your Kids About Race (Part I)

White Parents

Race & Parenting: Talking to your Kids About Race (Part II)

Latinx Parents 

Race & Parenting: Talking to your Kids About Race (Part III)

Asian Parents 

Race & Parenting: Talking to your Kids About Race (Part IV)

Useful Websites

• https://www.parenttoolkit.com/social-and-emotional-development/advice/social-awareness/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-race-and-racism

• https://socialjusticebooks.org/

• https://www.embracerace.org/resources/webinars

• https://www.embracerace.org/resources/26-childrens-books-to-support-conversations-on-race-racism-resistance

• https://www.prettygooddesign.org/

• https://www.thebump.com/a/childrens-books-about-diversity

• https://www.freespirit.com/social-and-emotional-learning-for-kids-and-teens

• https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/beyond_golden_rule.pdf

• https://centerracialjustice.org/resources/resources-for-talking-about-race-racism-and-racialized-violence-with-kids/

• https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/health/protests-racism-talk-to-children-wellness/index.html

• https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/Talking-to-Children-About-Racial-Bias.aspx

• https://www.apa.org/res/parent-resources/

If you have other resources in other languages, please feel free to submit them to support@learnittown.com or go to our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/LearnItTown/ and put them in the comments.