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Scoot Education
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There have been countless unjust killings of Black people that reflect the dehumanization of Black life in America. This eventually led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013 which became a platform for amplifying anti-Black racism.

From before the creation of this movement to the future, the responsibilities of white and other non-Black individuals have remained the same.

Part of being a non-Black ally of the movement is acknowledging personal privileges and that we cannot fully understand the lived realities of our Black community. However, we should actively educate ourselves on the systemic racism Black people have faced and continue to face in this country.

In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist. – Angela Y. Davis

It is vital that we find ways to learn so we can use these lessons to inform our own behavior and biases not only in life but also within classrooms. ​ Below, you’ll find a compilation of many widely circulating resources that help us learn and do better.

resources to educate yourself on black oppression & the Black Lives Matter Movement

-BOOKS TO READ-

There are a ton of books that break out of this country’s racist narrative and question deeply rooted beliefs of what we think America is. Read to better understand the conversation about racial justice and why it’s so important. Below is just a portion of the literature:

-MEDIA TO WATCH-

Shows and movies are also great options to become more informed about the Black experience in America.

  • Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap (Netflix) – Explained is a series by Vox that explores a wide range of topics. The Racial Wealth Gap is the last episode of season 1 that can help viewers better understand the concept of “white privilege.”
  • Time: The Kalief Browder Story (Netflix) – A true-crime docuseries about the story of a teenager wrongfully charged with theft and jailed at Riker’s Island prison for over 1,000 days.
  • When They See Us (Netflix) – A true-crime docuseries based on the Central Park jogger case where 5 teenage boys were wrongfully taken into a nightmarish interrogation and convicted of a crime they didn’t commit.
  • 13th (Netflix) – A documentary analyzing the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.
  • Who Killed Malcolm X? (Netflix) – An insight into Malcolm X, his beliefs, and his mysterious death.
  • Dear White People (Netflix) – A comedy-drama television series that follows several Black college students at an Ivy League institution, touching on issues surrounding modern American race relations.
  • The Hate U Give (Hulu) – About a teenager who witnesses the fatal and wrongful shooting of her childhood friend by a cop and must decide whether or not to testify.
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Hulu) – A drama about a young couple fighting for justice in the name of love and the promise of the American dream.
  • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 (Available to rent) – Candid footage shot in the 1960s and 1970s focused on the anti-war and Black Power movements.
  • Selma (Available to rent) – A historical drama based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lewis.
  • Just Mercy (Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.) – A legal drama film about the true story of Walter McMillian, who, with the help of a young defense attorney, appeals his murder conviction.

-PODCASTS TO LISTEN TO-

Listen to the conversations and thoughts of great thinkers. It will always be important to talk less and listen more.

-ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW-

Stay in the know by following prominent figures and organizations in the Black community.

-RESOURCES FOR PARENTS ON BLACK LIVES MATTER-

Having conversations with your kids about racism is tough and can get uncomfortable, but it’s vital to raise anti-racist kids amid the protests over police brutality.