Wildwood ALC Commitment to Anti-Racism
The Wildwood ALC community stands firmly in solidarity with all those across the world who continue to work against systemic racism and call for transformative change. We recognize the pervasive anti-blackness and white supremacy that exist in every aspect of our society, from widespread structures and policies to our own internalized biases, which dehumanize, criminalize, and harm Black lives every day.
We reaffirm our deep commitment to work against this oppression and toward justice, liberation, and human rights for all. We believe this work is essential to our efforts to create and uphold a learning community where all people can feel safe and free to be their authentic selves. True liberation cannot exist in the Wildwood community when it does not exist in our larger community. We will continue to hold conversations within our community about systemic and internalized racism, as well as other forms of oppression and injustice in our society, as a central focus of our program. We commit to seek out, actively listen to, and amplify the voices of Black people in our own and surrounding communities, and to follow the leadership of Black organizers, activists, and scholars in our anti-racism efforts. We also commit to create expanded opportunities for our white community members to educate ourselves, grow in our anti-racist knowledge and actions, and work to become trustworthy white allies.
Wildwood staff and board members have begun compiling a list of resources and organizations that may be helpful in this journey, particularly for our white community members and friends who are looking for ways to educate themselves and be more involved in the fight against racism. We will continue to expand on this list, and we invite suggestions - please let us know if there are any resources you think we should add. Thank you!
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Black in Boone: A Black-led advocacy group focused on action, education, and manifesting a world in which Black and Brown folks can thrive in the High Country. Financial support can be sent to PayPal.Me/BlackinBoone.
Small and Mighty Acts: Making activism accessible and sustainable through collective action.
COMPILATIONS/ ARTICLES:
Resources for talking with young people about racism. Compiled by the Center for Racial Justice in Education.
Here is an extensive compilation of resources, including articles, books, podcasts, videos, films, TV series, organizations to follow, resources for white parents to support anti-racism in children, and more. Compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein.
Who Gets to Be Afraid in America by Ibram X. Kendi
75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice - Corinne Shutack on Medium
BOOKS:
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell (**this book is geared to teens and young adults)
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race - Debby Irving
Blood Done Sign My Name - Timothy Tyson
Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson
Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates
Stamped From the Beginning - Ibram X. Kendi
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Mahogany Books: Black owned bookstore with books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora - site has recommendations, lists, bundles for children and adults.
PODCASTS/VIDEO:
Throughline - “American Police” episode (history of American policing)
Race: The Power of an Illusion - film written by Christine Herbes-Sommers, Tracy Heather Strain, Llewellyn M. Smith
SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES:
Find them at Official Black Wall Street, We Buy Black, The Black Wallet
List of Black-Owned Businesses in the High Country (Boone, NC region)
