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A4D Racial Justice Resources

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Resources & ToolsRacial Justice4A compilation of resources designed to help anyone seeking answers onracial injustice. You’ll find action items and ways dancers, studio owners,and parents can navigate this important topic. Answers4Dancers will continue to support this effort. We stand with ourblack friends in this fight. Inaction is no longer an option. It never was, but now is the time to bring light to this subject.

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what is racism?Racism occurs between individuals, on an interpersonal level, and is embedded in organizations and institutions through theirpolicies, procedures and practices.Individual Racism: Refers to an individual's racist assumptions, beliefs or behaviors and is "aform of racial discrimination that stems from conscious and unconscious, personal prejudice"(Henry & Tator, 2006, p. 329). Individual Racism is connected to/learned from broader socio-economic histories and processes and is supported and reinforced by systemic racism.Systemic Racism: Includes the policies and practices entrenched in established institutions,which result in the exclusion or promotion of designated groups. It differs from overt discriminationin that no individual intent is necessary. (Toronto Mayor's Committee on Community and RaceRelations. Race Relations: Myths and Facts) **A great tool for understanding this:https://www.facebook.com/actdottv/videos/vb.153418591515382/2745061675716583/?type=2&theaterInstitutional Racism: Racial discrimination that derives from individuals carrying out the dictatesof others who are prejudiced or of a prejudiced societyStructural Racism: Inequalities rooted in the system-wide operation of a society that excludessubstantial numbers of members of particular groups from significant participation in major social institutions. (Henry & Tator, 2006, p. 352)*CREDIT: http://www.aclrc.com/forms-of-racism

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resources to learnmore about racismhttps://www.raceforward.org/videos/systemic-racismhttps://inequality.org/facts/racial-inequality/https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/reduce-prejudic e-racism/mainhttps://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1160&context=kljhttps://www.kepplerspeakers.com/college-theater-events/category/black-history-month-uhttps://www.npr.org/2017/05/17/528822128/the-color-of-law-details-how-u-s-housing-policies-created-segregation“The time is always rightto do what is right.”– Martin Luther King, Jr.

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why do we say black lives matter?#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’smurderer. Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Blacklives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’humanity, our contributions to this society, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.Source: https://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/Why can’t I say, “All Lives Matter?”https://www.sjuhawknews.com/the-issue-with-saying-all-lives-matter/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a27075028/black-lives-matter-explained/

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what is racial inequality?Racial inequality is a disparity in opportunity and treatment that occurs as a result of someone's race.Racial inequality can also be defined as the limited economic and social opportunities that aredistributed along racial lines. Societies where racial inequalities are high are characterized bylarge disparities among different races and ethnicities in such areas as housing, education,employment income, and health care. While some researchers argue that inequalities exist because of the efforts (or lack of efforts) of individuals, most contemporary scholars agree thatpersistent racial inequalities are a product of what Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (2001) refers to as aracialized social system — a system that reproduces and maintains the status of the dominantgroup socially, economically, politically, and psychologically. That is, racial inequality implies that access to resources and goods are overwhelminglydenied to people of color because of systemic rather than individual notions of racism. Thesocial system upholds racism and maintains a racialized society.understanding racial inequalityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aCn72iXO9shttps://www.ted.com/playlists/250/talks_to_help_you_understand_rhttps://www.manhattan-institute.org/racial-inequality-in-america-post-jim-crow-segregationhttps://www.tolerance.org/professional-development/white-antiracism-living-the-legacyhttps://www.racialequitytools.org/https://www.demos.org/research/asset-value-whiteness-understanding-racial-wealth-gap

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how can dancers take action for racial justice?Spread awareness. Educate your family, your peers, your followers. Spread factual informationand share black stories! If you are black, please know that your experiences have the power tochange someone’s perspective for the greater good. Your stories may also empower membersof the black community to feel less alone, to speak out against racism, to share their stories,and/ or take a more active part in racial justice movements. If you are non-black, listen to yourblack friends when they share their experiences and share those stories with your fellow whitefriends to spread awareness.Do your research. Target federal laws that perpetuate racial injustice. Some examples of what to look into are: Qualified Immunity & Mandatory Minimum Sentencing. Also be sure to knowyour state laws and state policies on police officers; for example: are your officers required towear body cams? Are they required to undergo de-escalation training? Do they have resourcesto rehab officers after they experience traumatic events in the field?Vote. Use your research findings to elect the right leaders into ALL areas of office. Be sure tokeep track of voting for delegates, governors, mayors, House of Representative and Senatemembers, etc. Do not just focus on the presidential vote! *Mayors are typically in charge of electing State Police Commissioners, so if you’re concerned about your local police, be pro-active in electing Mayors who want police reform.Call, email, protest in front of your leaders!Demand PROACTIVE change. Ask for things like:prison reform, more school funding, integratinganti-racist curriculum into school systems, etc.Camille A. BrownAward-winning choreographer, director, dance educator, dancer

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how can I help?Despite some deceiving titles, these tools are not only tools for non-black members.https://showingupforracialjustice.org/call-to-action.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/danabrownlee/2020/06/01/dear-white-people-here-are-10-actions-you-can-take-to-promote-racial-justice-in-th e-workplace/#11b61fe64a92https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234https://populardemocracy.org/news/15-things-your-city-can-do-right-now-end-police-brutalityhttps://thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2020/06/01/silence-is-compliance-how-you-can-speak-out-against-systematic-racism-138276

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resources to keep up with black newshttps://www.them.ushttps://www.nbcnews.com/nbcblkhttps://apnews.com/African-Americanshttps://www.independent.co.uk/topic/african-americans-0tools 4 parentshttps://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/beyond_golden_rule.pdfhttps://www.moniquemelton.com/shine-talk-for-kidshttps://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/09/white-kids-race/569185/book listshttps://www.charisbooksandmore.com/books-teach-white-chil-dren-and-teens-how-undo-racism-and-white-supremacyhttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/parenting/kids-books-racism-protest.html

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i’m a studio ownerwhat can I do?Do your part to eliminate racism amongst your teachers in the workplace by establishing clearwritten employment policies and guidelines that address penalties for discriminatory treatment or behavior, and harassment and have a process for reporting and reprimanding behavior that violates those policies. For more: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/prevent-racism-workplace-10258.htmlUse standardized employment interviews to ensure all applicants are treated the same and setdiversity goals when recruiting candidates for employment.Understand the origins of dance styles and title your classes properly. For example: Do not mistake “Hip Hop” for things like: commercial hip hop, street jazz, or jazz funk. Understanding thedifferences between these terms is important for your students & the future of the dance style! *For more info on this topic: https://www.steezy.co/posts/what-is-hip-hop-danceGet familiar with “Cultural Appropriation”. Understand that it is not socially acceptable for whitepeople to steal from, or imitate, the black community. For more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQgF1f557YY https://www.theatlantic.com/en-tertainment/archive/2015/10/the-dos-and-donts-of-cultural-appr opriation/411292/Hire teachers that understand the culture and history of dance styles that originated in blackcommunities. Some examples are: Krumping, Popping, Locking, B-boying, Tap, African, andDancehall. Research the history of these styles and be sure that your teachers are properlyeducated, if not submerged, in the CULTURE, as well as the dance steps. This is not only important to the future of these dance styles, but for the future of your students.Take it to the next level: Further educate your students, staff, and parents by hiring guest speak-ers to hold race-related workshops; some examples can be found here:https://speakerhub.com/speakers/anti-racism https://www.speakoutnow.org/find-a-speaker additional resourceshttps://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1220234.pdfhttps://humanitiesfutures.org/papers/racing-in-place-dance-studies-and-the-academy/

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where can i donate?https://famm.org - Prison & Sentencing Reformhttps://colorofchange.org - Racial Justicehttps://www.nationalcouncil.us - Reforming Incarceration for Women & Girlshttps://www.naacp.org - Equal Rightshttps://www.trainingreform.org - Police Reformhttps://www.splcenter.org - Racial Justicehttps://uncf.org - Equal Educationhttps://www.byp100.org - Ending Gender Violence Among Black Communitieshttp://anewwayoflife.org - Post Prison Programshttps://dreamdefenders.org - Racial Justice

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how can i find black-owned businesses?https://webuyblack.comhttps://officialblackwallstreet.com/directory/http://theblackwallet.comwhy is this important?*Source: https://www.greenamerica.org/blog/6-reasons-support-black-owned-businesses1. Closes the Racial Wealth Gap2. Strengthens Local Economies3. Fosters Job Creation4. Celebrates Black Culture and Serves Communities5. Holds other Companies Accountable6. Visibility and Representation in the Green Economy

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2020 movielist• 13th• When They See Us• Selma• Eyes On The Prize• Lean on Me• The Color Purple• Beloved• Free Angela• The African Americans Many Rivers to Crossreading list“Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates“Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence” by Derald Wing Sue“The New Jim Crow” - Michelle Alexander“Waking up White and Finding Myself in a Story of Race” by debby irving “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo“Stamped” by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X Kendi “Chokehold: Policing Black Men” by Paul Butler“The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin“Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome” by Dr. Joy DeGruy“Understanding and Dismantling Racism, the 21st Century Challengeto White America” by Joseph Barndt“Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria and otherconversations about race” by Beverly Daniel Tatum“Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice”by Paul Kivel

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dance worksSOURCE:DANCE SPIRIT MAGAZINE. Click on each title to view video.• Jacob Jonas The Company performs “An Artist’s Duty is to Relect the Times”choreographed by company member Mike Tyus• Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé performs “I Can't Breathe”• “ink” a dance film by Camille A. Brown and Dancers• Camille A. Brown's “Black Girl: Linguistic Play”• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs “Ode” choreographed bycompany member and resident choreographer Jamar Roberts• Donald Byrd's extraordinary “SHOT”Jamar RobertsAlvin Ailey AmericanDance TheaterAnswers4Dancers welcomes your feedback and suggestions. If you are aware of unfairpractices in the workplace, please contact us so we can find a way to support you.






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Resources & ToolsRacial Justice4