The year 2020 has challenged our minds, bodies, and hearts. We work daily to overcome negative thoughts and do our best to stay positive. But in the last few weeks, we have become more and more aware of the racial injustices in our country.
There have been innocent Black men and women who have been killed during police brutality, with George Floyd being one of the most recent victims. As we recognize the injustices targeted towards Black people and minorities in our country, and while we cannot change the past, we can work towards a better future. In the last few months, we witnessed the change in our community through protests that have started around the United States and throughout the world. Voices are starting to be heard, and eyes are starting to open. We have the ability to create change.
As adults, parents, or guardians to children, we may have heavy hearts when our children leave our care to play with friends, go to school, or simply leave the house. We want them to be safe and cared for by others. This reality may be different for every individual, but especially to those who are Black as well as other minorities in our country. Can you imagine teaching your 5-year-old child what to say in the chance they come in contact with a police officer? “My name is ____, I am five years old, I am unarmed, and my arms are up.” This is the reality of Black families and minorities, and this is a sentence we hope that no child needs to use. It is now our responsibility as Americans, as humans, to rise up. It is a time to speak, vote, sign petitions, share, learn, teach our children, support, and love one another.
During this time, we sit in the feeling of discomfort. We hear, we truly listen, and we can choose to let this move us towards justice.
At Art It Out, we recognize our responsibility to listen, empathize, learn, and provide
resources to others who would like to broaden their understanding. We, as therapists, push ourselves to continue to educate and increase awareness as we move towards inclusivity. We have gathered resources below that include books and TV shows/movies for adults and children that provide insight into racism, diversity inclusivity, and the experiences of Black people.
Books for adults
The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Books to teach our children about race and inclusion
The ABCs of Diversity: Helping Kids (and Ourselves!) Embrace Our Differences by Carolyn Helsel and Y. Joy Harris-Smith
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson
Me I Am! by Jack Prelutsky
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
It's Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr
TV shows and Movies for adults
When they See us (Netflix)
Dear White People (Netflix)
If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu)
13th (Netflix)
America to Me (Starz)
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (Paramount)
TV shows and Movies for kids to teach about diversity
Esme and Roy (HBO and Hulu)
Reba to the Rescue (YouTube)
Mira, Royal Detective (Disney Junior)
Nella and the Princess Knight (Nick Jr., YouTube, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Google Play)
Motown Magic (Netflix)
