resources

One thing I’ve been asked a few times since starting this project is: “How can I be a better ally?” I’ve thought a lot about this question, and how best to answer it. The best answer I can come up with is simply, I don’t know. I’m not equipped to teach people how to be a better ally, nor is it my responsibility. I don’t know what anybody has done thus far to try and be a better ally, and I don’t know what changes anyone has made to their everyday life and interactions with POC, which is one of the main reasons I can’t teach anyone to be a better ally. For some people, being a better ally means re-evaluating how you interact with people of colour, for others, it means improving the language that you have at your disposal for shutting down racism and racist comments made in your company, even when it’s behind closed doors and not necessarily directed towards anybody in particular. That is going to be work that you’ll have to do yourself, and it might be hard work but it’s got to be done. What I can do though, is offer up several resources for anti-racism. These are great places to start, and include books, Instagram accounts to follow, and websites to check out and keep in your favourites tab. If you’re unsure about buying the books, because let’s face it, they can be expensive, check out your local library, they do have some of these. And if they don't have the book, just buy one this month, and another next month or in a couple months. Or you and a couple friends pool together and get it and take turns reading it. Start a little anti-racism book club. I don’t know. But anyway, here are some resources for you. As I find more things I’ll add to it!

books to read

  1. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

  2. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

  3. White Fragility: White It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

  4. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

  5. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

  6. NW, Swing Time & On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Instagram Accounts To Follow

  1. Rachel Cargle @rachel.cargle

  2. Rachel Ricketts @iamrachelricketts

  3. Ericka Hart @ihartericka

  4. Layla F. Saad @laylafsaad

Websites to check out

  1. Rachel Ricketts website, particularly this page on anti-racism resources