Anti-Racist Film and Text Discussion Guides

“As educators and school leaders, it is our responsibility to do the work necessary to better understand the impacts of individual and systemic racism on the students we serve. With these film and text study guides and discussion questions, we can facilitate dialogue with our colleagues to bring about awareness and acceptance of the need for change.”

– Dawn Harris, Educator in Springboro, OH

Dena Simmons on How Students of Color Confront Impostor Syndrome (TED Talk) 

“Dena Simmons’ message pushes our thinking, arguing that educators need to create classroom environments where students of color feel comfortable being themselves so students can thrive. We are using the strategies of Culturally Responsive Teaching to help create that environment in every classroom in our high school.“

– Henry Turner, Principal in Newton, MA

MASCD Conversation on Race in Education (Webinar)

“After participating in this webinar sponsored by MASCD, I realized there are a great deal of educational leaders who want to engage in anti-racist work but do not know where to start. As a Black male educator leader, I have a duty to dismantle our educational system in an effort to provide each student with a quality education.” 

– Basil Marin, Assistant Principal in Chamblee, GA

Monique W. Morris on Why Black girls are targeted for punishment at school – and how to change that (TED Talk)

“How are Black female students perceived and received at your school? Listen to this powerful message by Monique W. Morris, author of the book Pushout. It resonated with me because we often focus on Black boys but not the needs of Black girls.” 

– P. Sloan Joseph, Instructional Technology Coach in Simpsonville, SC

Systemic Racism Explained (TEDEd Video)

“We discussed this video, which gives details about systemic racism, in a recent #BreatheEDU chat. Our hope was people would understand the past and how it impacts the present. There are many who want to be advocates for change, but awareness comes before advocacy. We can’t move forward if we are unaware of or unwilling to accept what has happened in the past.”

– P. Sloan Joseph, Instructional Technology Coach in Simpsonville, SC

What else belongs on this list? Recommend a film or video here.

An Anti-Racist Education Podcast Playlist

“In this podcast, I speak with a variety of guests to unpack anti-racist ideas. My guests share powerful stories and practical examples of what leaders can do within their schools to be anti-racist.”

– Educator Danny Bauer

The AOS Podcast

“The AOS Podcast is about three principals from the Midwest to the West Coast of the United States sharing their experiences leading schools. They are intent on creating school communities that serve all students and families. In our conversations, we discuss current events and how they shape our leadership.” 

– Demetrius Ball, Middle School Principal in San Ramon, CA

Brené Brown with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist

“School leaders should listen to this podcast conversation between Brené Brown and Ibram X. Kendi because it offers the opportunity to engage in reflective practice. Both Brown and Kendi invite listeners to commit to learning, unlearning – and being authentic in the process. We do better by being in the community and in conversation with courage and bravery.”

– Salma Hussein, Assistant Principal in St. Paul, MN

Jon Gordon’s Positive U

“Jon’s interviews with Derwin Gray, Jay Williams and Doc Rivers really made me reflect on the opportunities we are providing our students and the expectations we have for them. I tend to, at times, be softer on my Black and Brown kids. I have to love them, provide for them, yet also have high expectations for them. I need to put my white students in situations that provoke good conversation and deeper relationships with Black students. My job, as an educator and leader, is to heal the racial tensions in our land, one relationship at a time. Great stuff!  Make sure you listen to those 3 podcasts!“ 

– Tim Fausnaught, Principal in Williamsport, PA 

Leading Equity with Sheldon L. Eakins

“The Leading Equity podcast hosts engaging guests who present the support and tools that educators need to provide the equitable education our students deserve. We must recognize implicit bias in our language and become aware of microaggressions, like mispronouncing names, so students and colleagues will feel seen and validated.” 

– Gini Pierce-Cummings, Principal, Coarsegold, CA

Scene on Radio, Season 2: “Seeing White”; Season 3: “Men”; Season 4: “The Land That Never Has Been Yet”

“Educators and school leaders all over America need an analysis of race and racial inequity. We’ve become skilled at ‘fixing fish’ and not so skilled at being able to see, understand and examine the water we’re swimming in.”

– Michael Parker West, Assistant Principal in Wake County, NC 

#TellYourStory

“I have loved hosting the #TellYourStory podcast and getting to amplify the stories of others. We all have stories and struggles, and the more we share our journey, the more we bring people in and feel less alone. These stories are real. If you are looking for a great conversation on anti-racism, I suggest you start with conversations with Sheldon Eakins, Joe Truss, Andre Daughty, Jennifer Jessie and Korie Grayson.”

– Todd Nesloney, Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership in TX

The Way Out Is Back Through: Lessons on Place, Context, and School Leadership

“This is a podcast I am working on to help educators and school leaders become more culturally and community responsive, and operate with a racial equity analysis in order to build coalitions locally to interrupt inequitable outcomes in our students and families.”

– Michael Parker West, Assistant Principal in Wake County, NC 

What else belongs on this list? Recommend a podcast here.

#BreatheEDU

The #BreatheEDU chat is centered around topics that impact our students, their families and fellow educators when they come into our schools. We want to discuss topics in order to help others create racially inclusive learning environments for students, their families and fellow educators. The chat uses the handle @breathe_edu. It takes place every other Thursday from 7:30 p.m.-8 p.m. ET and is co-hosted by Hamilton Parks (@HamiltonParks17), Shalonda Blakeney (@sblakeney3) and me.

– P. Sloan Joseph, Instructional Technology Coach in Simpsonville, SC

#CultureEd Chat

“There are several things to like about this chat. 1) I love that there is a rotation of moderators each week from different parts of the profession. 2) I greatly appreciate the questions. They are so thought provoking, it takes a few minutes to craft a Twitter-length response! Honestly, there are times when I can’t formulate a response and instead just read those of others to gain some ideas and perspective. 3) The topics are current and relevant to what’s happening in our nation. They were not shy about addressing anti-racism in more than one chat since this unrest revived.” 

– Trelane Clark, Principal in Chelsea, MA

#HipHopEd

“Every Tuesday night, Dr. Christopher Emdin leads a Twitter chat called #HipHopEd. The discussion tends to generally highlight systemic racism and anti-oppression work but also looks specifically at the history of Black music, hip hop and the educational power that they can have in the classroom. I’ve learned a lot from Dr. Emdin over the years and I’m grateful for his voice and his work!”

– Sara Katz, Educator in Boston, MA

What else belongs on this list? Recommend a Twitter chat here.

The AVID Summer Institute

“This PD had great sessions and kick-started some of the changes we faced at the beginning of the school year. Some takeaways for me were that we have to know the stories of our community and kids. We need to create safe spaces so we can understand what trauma they come to school with. Then, we need to take that knowledge to make changes in the school setting.” 

– Michael Williford, Middle School Principal in Bloomington, CA

Frontlines of Justice

“Often, we have white teachers, teaching whitewashed content from a white perspective … to Black and Brown students. And we wonder why it doesn’t work? By working with the Frontlines of Justice to develop content for a digital platform, the Center for Black Educator Development wanted to do it another way. We developed a PD experience focused on fighting racism, on how we manage classrooms, on how we manage our own mindsets. Schools are the foundation to transform this country. Highly effective teachers will lead the way, and this is about supporting anyone ready to reflect and put in the work. It’s organized as a series of video modules and interactive experiences so the materials get through you. Come and join us.” 

– Sharif El-Mekki, Founder of Center for Black Educator Development

 Speak Up at School Guide, from Teaching Tolerance

“Helping students (and staff) understand how to speak up against racism is a lesson in itself.” 

– Beth Houf, Middle School Principal in Fulton, MO

What else belongs on this list? Recommend PD or lessons here.

“How to Make Anti-Racism More Than a Performance” – Bettina Love

“As middle managers, principals play an important role in disrupting the day to day function of schools. The article reminds us that our work as educational leaders is to model concrete and public actions that promote equity. Whose voices and faces are we basing our decision-making on?”

– Michelle Jean-Paul, Principal in Winnipeg, Manitoba

“Identity-Affirming Schools Need Race-Conscious Educators”

“‘When we assert that we see all students as the same, we dehumanize and discount their experiences, perspectives and identities. It’s important to acknowledge race and the conditions that perpetuate racial inequities. To say that you’re colorblind is to willfully avoid discussions about race and anti-racist work.”

– Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer in Fishers, IN

“What Anti-Racist Teachers Do Differently”

“’Educators who are committed to Black students use evidence in their own classrooms to find ways to improve…They create a curriculum with Black students in mind…’ This article reminds us that we must purposefully design curriculum and courses that provide counter-narratives, filling the gaps, changing perceptions and applying a critical literacy lens to our teaching practices.”  

– Kelly Harmon, Director of Curriculum in Freehold, NJ

What else belongs on this list? Recommend an article here.

21-Day Racial Equity Challenge

“This collection of resources helped to push my thinking as a school leader and provided me with reflection, tools and perspective to better lead and serve my staff in resolving issues around unintentional inequities in our building.” 

–Shanna Spickard, Principal in Milan, MI 

40+ Books for Anti-Racist Teachers, by Joe Truss

“This list includes books and resources about all BIPOC – written by BIPOC authors. Anti-racism work requires white folx to unlearn as much as learn, and these texts anchor that work. It is internal work as much as it is systemic work, and these texts help that self reflection in a deeper way.”

– Sarah Shaw, Middle School Assistant Principal in Kent, WA

A Guide to Equity and Anti-Racism for Educators 

“This article provides a focus on being anti-racist through the educational lens, specifically with social justice education. The article offers resources in different forms of media: articles, websites, social media platforms and documentaries. This makes it convenient for school leaders to choose the form of media they are most comfortable with and proceed from there.”

– Shakara Morrison-Shuford, Middle School Assistant Principal in Rutherfordton, NC

Anti-Racism Education Resources

“The commitment to becoming an anti-racist educator is not something you will fulfill in a semester or even a school year. With this in mind, you can confidently begin tailoring a plan that will help you transform your classroom into a safe, equitable and aware learning space that values the culture, the voices and beliefs of all people no matter who they are. Teaching students to become anti-racist means we are teaching them more than simply learning to embrace new perspectives. We are helping them to identify their own role in working to dismantle all forms of racism. The resources here will help you with this.”

– Dawn Harris, Educator in Springboro, OH

Resources for Anti-Racist Teaching, from Fairmont Charter Elementary School

“This is the list we’ve been putting together for our teachers. I’m not sure there is any one resource that will help develop anti-racist teaching practices because this is ongoing work. It is not about reading a book or listening to a podcast but rather taking action so that everyone’s humanity is valued and honored. I believe it begins with deep personal self-reflection and being willing to listen to and acknowledge the lived experiences of others.” 

– Greg Moffitt, Principal in Vacaville, CA

Several Antiracist Books Are Selling Out. Here’s What Else Black Booksellers and Publishers Say You Should Read

“This list provides a place to start in the journey toward effectively becoming anti-racist. It is important for all of us to understand the background of racism in this country, understand the reasons behind anti-racist work and have a context to our work in the field of education.”

– Shakara Morrison-Shuford, Middle School Assistant Principal in Rutherfordton, NC

Southern Poverty Law Center

“I was blessed to have visited the SPLC a few years ago while taking my 7th and 8th grade students on a Civil Rights Tour in Alabama. I was completely blown away during this trip, and came to realize many of my own white privileges and racist beliefs. It is this website that I go to more often than any other for racial equity and justice resources. SPLC keeps me focused on the real work we all still need to do to rid our country of systemic and devastating racist ways, thoughts, and ideals.”

– Jeff Kubiak, Educator in Davis, CA

What else belongs on this list? Recommend an existing list of anti-racist resources here.