Resources on Racial Justice
The Lifelong Learning and Adult Faith Formation Committee at Ascension and St. Edmund Parish is pleased to provide this Internet resource list for those who are interested in learning more about the effects of racism in American society and the efforts of the church to combat racism, including the activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Resources from USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism:
At usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism are many resources for the parish and school communities, including a pastoral letter condemning racism Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, along with its Study Guide, as well as Everyone Belongs – a children’s book on the reality of racism and our Catholic response. Share and discuss resources with your community including backgrounders, like this one on systemic racism, educational materials for classrooms, and scripture reflections
Prayer from the USCCB:
"Aid us, we pray, in overcoming the sin of racism. Grant us your grace in eliminating this blight from our hearts, our communities, our social and civil institutions." Utilize this Prayer for Racial Healing for Our Land or one of the many others available on the USCCB website.
Programs for Learning and Reflecting:
The Ignatian Solidarity Network is offering a 21-day Ignatian Racial Equity Challenge, offering participants the opportunity to learn, pray, and act for racial justice. Participants receive a daily email with resources for reading, reflection, and prayer, along with ideas for constructive action.
Know Justice, Know Peace is a four-week retreat, available as a podcast, hosted by The Jesuit Post that seeks to assist Christians in their growth as antiracist followers of Jesus. It consists of twelve short talks published in the form of videos and podcasts, with an aim towards inner self-reflection and prayer.
Just Faith Ministries has three 8-session programs on racial justice, designed for faith groups. JustFaith Ministries prepares people of faith for the life-changing and world-changing call of the Gospel to help heal the world and, in so doing, experience a deeper faith, a more fulfilling life, and a community of care and vitality.
A collaborative effort between the Catholic Mobilizing Network, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), the United States Catholic Mission Association (USCMA), and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), this recorded webinar series breaks open the letter and explores how to apply it in a ministry context. A recent session on racism in this series focuses on how to have essential conversations about racism with young people, colleagues, friends and family.
Catholic Leaders Speak on Racial Justice:
Catholic Leaders Speak on Racial Justice:
Father Bryan Massingale, author of “Racial Justice and the Catholic Church” and Professor of Theology at Fordham University, joins America Magazine's National Correspondant Michael O'Loughlin for a conversation on racism, white privilege and what the church can do to address these issues. Father Massingale’s wrote a June 2020 article in the National Catholic Reporter on white privilege and what we can do about it.
Father Joseph Brown speaks on our baptismal call to social justice.
Heidi Schlumpf (exectuive editor of the National Catholic Reporter) speaks out on White People, Let's Do Our Homework.
Archbishop Gomez, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement on George Floyd and the protests in American cities.
The USCCB also sponsors the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
More Webinars from Catholic Organizations:
More Webinars from Catholic Organizations:
The Association of Catholic Publishers offers two reflections, “Ghosts of Hate” and “The Reforming Power of the Gospel” with Deacon Art Miller and Bishop Edward Scharfenberger (Diocese of Albany).
The National Association of Pastoral Musicians has a group discussion on The Welcome Table.
The Georgetown University Initiative of Catholic Social Thought and Public Life has a program on Racism in our Streets and Structures.
Resources for Families:
The Strong Catholic Families Project provides many resources and activities for families to learn about diversity and to practice ways to combat racism, found at Made in the Image of God.
Resources for Families:
The Strong Catholic Families Project provides many resources and activities for families to learn about diversity and to practice ways to combat racism, found at Made in the Image of God.
When talking to kids and teens about racism, you may find this webinar from the Association of Catholic Publishers useful. Panelists include DeKarlos Blackmon, Joseph White, Hosffman Ospino, Carolyn Woo, Joe Paprocki and others.
Also, from a librarian are Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages, a project of the Augusta Baker Endowed Chari at the University of South Carolina, with many links and references.
Music, Song, and the Longing for Racial Justice:
Choir Stories by OCP is a video series featuring music ministers across the U.S.
Songs of Peace and Unity is a playlist promoting intercultural peace.
Racism: Change of Heart is a blog and playlist from the Oregon Catholic Press promoting the love and inclusion of all peoples.
Music and Mission is a video series featuring OCP artists offering prayer and reflection.
More Podcasts:
"Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence" is a Resmaa Menakem interview with Krista Tippet on “On Being.”
"On How to Be An Anti-Racist" is an interview with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi by Brene Brown on “Unlocking Us.”
"1619" is a six-episode New York Times audio series narrated by Nikole Hannah-Jones (the underlying journalism won a Pulitzer Prize).
"Ear Hustle" is an award-winning podcast by Nigel Poor and Erlonee Woods, broadcasting stories from inside San Quentin State Prison to give us a sense of the lives of those in our justice system in the age of mass incarceration (sometimes referred to as the new slavery).
More Videos:
“When They See Us” by Ava Duvernay (who also directed "Selma") is a 4-episode miniseries available on Netflix about the Central Park 5. It is heart-wrenching and brutal but necessary. Ava Duvernay discusses the miniseries briefly on YouTube.
“Thirteenth” by Ava Duvernay, about the 13th amendment, also available on Netflix. You can see the film trailer on YouTube.
“I Am Not Your Negro” is based on James Baldwin's unfinished book and is available on Netflix and Amazon Prime. The film trailer is on YouTube.
Links to Other Helpful Resource Lists:
Race Conscious Dialogues was compiled by the “Raising Race Conscious Kids In and Around Oak Park” Facebook group, and provides materials for reading and inspiring thought.
Resource list compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein in May 2020.
Lots of resources at the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, a Catholic liturgical website.
Also, from a librarian are Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages, a project of the Augusta Baker Endowed Chari at the University of South Carolina, with many links and references.
Music, Song, and the Longing for Racial Justice:
Choir Stories by OCP is a video series featuring music ministers across the U.S.
Songs of Peace and Unity is a playlist promoting intercultural peace.
Racism: Change of Heart is a blog and playlist from the Oregon Catholic Press promoting the love and inclusion of all peoples.
Music and Mission is a video series featuring OCP artists offering prayer and reflection.
More Podcasts:
"Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence" is a Resmaa Menakem interview with Krista Tippet on “On Being.”
"On How to Be An Anti-Racist" is an interview with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi by Brene Brown on “Unlocking Us.”
"1619" is a six-episode New York Times audio series narrated by Nikole Hannah-Jones (the underlying journalism won a Pulitzer Prize).
"Ear Hustle" is an award-winning podcast by Nigel Poor and Erlonee Woods, broadcasting stories from inside San Quentin State Prison to give us a sense of the lives of those in our justice system in the age of mass incarceration (sometimes referred to as the new slavery).
More Videos:
“When They See Us” by Ava Duvernay (who also directed "Selma") is a 4-episode miniseries available on Netflix about the Central Park 5. It is heart-wrenching and brutal but necessary. Ava Duvernay discusses the miniseries briefly on YouTube.
“Thirteenth” by Ava Duvernay, about the 13th amendment, also available on Netflix. You can see the film trailer on YouTube.
“I Am Not Your Negro” is based on James Baldwin's unfinished book and is available on Netflix and Amazon Prime. The film trailer is on YouTube.
Links to Other Helpful Resource Lists:
Race Conscious Dialogues was compiled by the “Raising Race Conscious Kids In and Around Oak Park” Facebook group, and provides materials for reading and inspiring thought.
Resource list compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein in May 2020.
Lots of resources at the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, a Catholic liturgical website.