SUGGESTED READINGS
This page provides resources for reflection on racial justice at the personal, community, state, and national levels. These materials are intended to encourage learning, dialogue, and thoughtful action. (In addition to the materials below, make sure to check out our other general Pay Attention! resources: Organizations to consider supporting, opportunities for Ongoing Education, Book List, and Evidence of Systemic Racism.)
ALLYSHIP
Allyship is active support for the rights of a minority/marginalized group without being a member of it. It’s using your privilege to advocate for justice, equity, and inclusion. More than offering verbal support, allyship involves taking concrete, consistent actions.
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Guide to Allyship
Source: Amélie Lamont
A creative user-friendly resource to help anyone considering allyship better understand the pros and cons of what being an ally entails. Allies understand their role in collaboration with people whose lives are affected daily by systemic oppression.
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Role of “White” Allies
Source: In Black Ink (2025)
A summary of Dr. Maulana Karenga’s teachings on the role and responsibility of white people in the struggle for Black freedom.
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White Antiracist Activists
Source: Teaching While White, Compiled by Elizabeth Denevi and Lori Cohen, Eastern Educational Resource Collaborative
A collection of noted white antiracist/anti-oppression activists who stood up to racism when it was challenging, unpopular, and even illegal. Their work can serve as a guidepost.
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What Should Allies Do? Identifying Activist Perspectives on the Role of White Allies in the Struggle for Racial Justice in the United States
Source: Hema Preya Selvanathan, Özden Melis Uluğ, and Brooke Burrows (2022)
Explores differing views among Black and white activists on how white allies can best support anti-racism. Identifies key roles, such as supporting Black leadership, engaging in interpersonal activism, avoiding domination, and committing to life.
LOCAL NEWSPAPERS / NEWSLETTERS
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Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR)
The MSR enjoys a living legacy as the oldest Black-owned newspaper in the state of Minnesota (started in 1934) and one of the longest-standing, family-owned newspapers in the country. The MSR has established itself as a trusted voice for the diverse Black communities of Minnesota.
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Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions (RCODE)
The RCODE in coordination with the Rondo Commemorative Plaza (RCP) houses the Rondo Research Collection and includes a small museum for the display of art and artifacts interpreting the Rondo experience. RCODE hosts events throughout the year.
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Reconnect Rondo
The Reconnect Rondo mission is to lead the effort to revitalize the Rondo community with a land bridge that reconnects Rondo and reignites a vibrant African American cultural enterprise district in Saint Paul.
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Walker West
Be the first to hear about concerts, events, programming updates, music lessons, and stories from our vibrant music community—delivered straight to your inbox in our monthly newsletter.
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Planting People Growing Justice
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute seeks to plant seeds of social change through education, training, and community outreach. Sign up for their newsletter at the bottom of the page.
TALKING POINTS
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The Blackout Report – The Real-World Cost of Erasing, Distorting, and Suppressing Black Progress
Source: Onyx Impact (October 2025)
Black history is American history. Black progress is American progress. Both are now at risk, as detailed in this report.
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US leaders are erasing Black history. That threatens our future
Source: The Guardian (October 22, 2025)
DEI is being used as a smokescreen to roll back progress and consolidate power.
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Covert Racism in AI: How Language Models Are Reinforcing Outdated Stereotypes
Source: Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (September 3, 2024)
Despite advancements in AI, research reveals that large language models continue to perpetuate harmful racial biases, particularly against speakers of African American English.
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The Compelling Need and Notion of Freedom: Retrieving Our Expansive Concept of Struggle
Source: Dr. Maulana Karenga (January 28, 2019)
Dr. Maulana Karenga, founder of Kwanzaa, argues that modern notions of freedom have become dangerously narrow, reducing freedom to individual rights and legal protections. He calls for a return to a broader, older understanding of freedom — one that includes freedom from domination, degradation, and deprivation. Such freedom, Karenga insists, cannot be achieved through limited civil rights reforms alone, but requires radical transformation of social, political, economic, and cultural systems so that all people can realize their full human potential.
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The Black Agenda – The Issues of The Millions More Movement
Source: In Black Ink & Imhotep Science Academy (2006)
A summary of the ten key issues identified by the Million Man March of 1995 and the Millions More Movement in 2006 (Unity, Spiritual Values, Education, Economic Development, Political Power, Reparations, Prison Industrial Complex, Health, Artistic/Cultural Development, Peace).