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Anti-Racism Resources

At Virginia Stage Company, we are committed to the lifelong work of Anti-Racism. Here are a few of the resources we have found helpful, profound, and moving over the past few weeks. Like all activism, this list is a work in progress and will be updated every few weeks. Please let us know if you would like to submit a piece of work to this list by contacting us or leaving a comment below.

LEARN…

How to be an Anti-Racist - book by Ibram Kendi

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism - book by Robin DiAngelo

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America - book by Ira Katznelson

White Rage - book by Carol Anderson

My Grandmother's Hands  - book by Resmaa Manakem

Native Roots: How Indians Enriched America - book by Jack Weatherford

Why We Protest: Black Actors and Artists Discuss Activism in Their Work - Video Panel
VSC’s Video Panel Discussion led by Terrance Afer-Anderson in a virtual conversation with local Black actors and artists on activism in their work.

Theatre As Society’s Mirror - Video Panel
VSC’s Video Panel Discussion with Freedom Rider Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, The Parchman Hour playwright Mike Wiley, Norfolk Chief of Police Larry Boone, and Dr. Khadijah O. Miller, moderated by Barbara Hamm Lee. 

Bystander Resources - How to do your part to protect your neighbors and co-workers when bias and harassment collide in front of you

GuidetoAllyship.com - anyone has the potential to be an ally

Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Hollaback! offer the Anti-Asian Harassment Response and Bystander Training Series, helping allies learn strategies for intervening when they witness harassment.

13th – Documentary on Netflix by Ava DuVernay
The title of Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing documentary refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” With a potent mixture of archival footage and testimony from a dazzling array of activists, politicians, historians, and formerly incarcerated women and men, DuVernay creates a work of grand historical synthesis.

The Norfolk 17 - WHRO Video
They were just teenagers who wanted a chance at a better education. But in 1959 Norfolk, that was a problem. African-American students weren't allowed to go to historically white schools.

Another View with Barbara Hamm Lee - Radio Show with Archives
Another View is a weekly call-in radio talk show that discusses today's topics from an African American perspective. Hosted by Barbara Hamm Lee, the program airs every Thursday at noon on 89.5 WHRV-FM.

Expanding the Table for Racial Equity #3: White Privilege - Dr. Robin DiAngelo - WHRO Table Session
What does it mean to be White in a society that proclaims race meaningless yet is deeply divided by race? Dr. DiAngelo will describe the way race shapes the lives of White people, explain what makes racism so hard for White people to see, and identify common White racial patterns that prevent us from moving towards racial equity.

Color blind or color brave? A TED Talk by Mellody Hobson

Asian Americans Then and Now - The Asia Society Center for Global Education article gives a rundown of the difficult road Asian immigrants have faced in the US from the 1850s until today.

Explaining White Privilege To A Broke White Person by Gina Crosley-Corcoran - Huffington-Post article

Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples® Blog

Anti-Asian Violence Resources

Slavery by Another Name - Documentary by Samuel Pollard
A 90-minute documentary that challenges one of Americans’ most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation.

The long history of racism against Asian Americans in the U.S. from PBS News Hour

The Bluest Eye book by Toni Morrison, anything by Toni Morrison

Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community, with Resources collected by Sunshine Behavioral Health, covering topics: How Racism Causes Mental Health Issues, The Importance of Culturally Competent Care, Why Don’t Black People Seek Mental Health Help, and a list of Black Mental Health Providers

Racial Trauma in Film: How Viewers Can Address Re-traumatization

Plays:

Detroit '67 by Dominique Morisseau (and her other plays)

Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau (Watch it here)

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris

Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar

Breath & Imagination by Daniel Beaty

Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall

Two Sisters and a Piano by Nilo Cruz

Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz

In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda

The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca

Life is a Dream by Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Milcha Sanchez-Scott

Maria Irene Fornes

RESOURCES…

WHRO’s Resources - Includes videos, miniseries, podcasts, and a toolkit.

College Consensus’ Anti-racism College Guide For AAPI Students And Allies Resources

USC’s Diversity Toolkit: A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power, and Privilege - A great resource for those leading group discussions on these topics, including additional resources. Published by the University of Southern California's online Master of Social Work program.

How to Protect Your Mental Health While Fighting Racial Injustice - Fighting racial injustice can include putting yourself in vulnerable positions to witness traumatic incidents. From protests to police interactions, witnessing racial injustice can impact your mental health. “How to Protect Your Mental Health While Fighting Racial Injustice” shares strategies on how to manage the effects of racial injustice, and shares advice for coping. By OnlineCounselingPrograms.com

Skin Cancer Awareness & Prevention for People of Color collected by THE DERM Review, covering topics: Skin Cancer in People of Color - DATA, What Cancer Looks Like on the Skin of People of Color, How Fast it Spreads, How Deadly It Can Be, How to Perform a Skin Cancer Check, Skin Cancer Prevention Sunscreen Spec's for People of Color

"Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others" published by Pepperdine University's online Master of Psychology program.

How to Support Black Lives Matter SAFELY Online - Tips to Avoid and Examples of online harassment and cybercrime for supporting BLM

SUPPORT…

Dear White American Theatre petition

Color of Changecolorofchange.org

Race Forwardraceforward.org

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: naacpldf.org

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA): caata.net

Asian Americans Advancing Justice: advancingjustice-aajc.org

Act to Change is a non-profit focusing on anti-bullying education and resources for educators, students, and families.

Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment And Development (AALEAD) — AALEAD’s mission is to support low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth

Check out the Anti-Racism Resources category on our blog to check out more as we use theatre to promote understanding.

last updated 05/2022


We’d love to hear more suggestions. Comment below.