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Hello and Welcome to the Black Lives Matter - Healing Action Toolkit!

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Hello and Welcome to the Black Lives Matter - Healing Action Toolkit!

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The resources below were collected by the Diversity Council and we hope you find them beneficial. We compiled many resources which you can use to educate yourself, your students, or your children and support our Black and African American community in Kansas City (and beyond).
If you have any questions or would like to have a resource added please contact Christine Hernandez chernandez12@kumc.edu or Ellie Eastes eeastes@kumc.edu.

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Books for children: Ruby and the Booker Boys

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Books for children: Ruby and the Booker Boys

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Brand New School, Brave New Ruby (Ruby and the Booker Boys #1), 1 a book by Derrick D. Barnes and Vanessa Brantley Newton

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Eight-year-old ultra-fabulous Ruby Marigold Booker returns in this reissue of the Ruby and the Booker Boys series by Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor author Derrick Barnes!Brought to you by Newbery Honor author Derrick Barnes, eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), R…

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First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources For White People

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First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources For White People

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Forbes

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Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images

Posting a "black out photo" on social media for # blackouttuesday can be a well-intended expression of solidarity with the black community. It may even be an important first step for some who have yet to speak out about racism in America. However, at its worst, it may make certain white people feel like they've "checked a box" and "done enough." Not only that, overuse of the Black Lives Matter hashtag for black out photos results in "flooding the hashtag." These posts overshadow those containing useful information such as attorney contact information, organizations to donate to, and more.

For white people in America, it is up to each of us to first listen. Then, we must seek greater knowledge about our country's deeply rooted racism. It is an undue burden on our colleagues and friends of color to teach us about racism and do the mental work for us. For white people who are interested in getting more intentional about deepening anti-racism work, the below are a list of resources to help aid in that effort. This list is by no means exhaustive. Start by picking one book, one article, or one podcast. Pick a friend to talk to about it and hold you accountable.

And, instead of or after posting a blackout photo today, consider highlighting black artists, business people and change makers to use your platform to amplify black voices.
Books

How to Be an Antiracist/Ibram X. Kendi/2019

White Fragility/Robin J. Diangelo/June 26, 2018

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race/Beverley Daniel Tatum/2017

White Rage/Carol Anderson/2017

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race/Renni Eddo-Lodge/2017

Between the World and Me/Ta-Nehisi Coates/2015

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness/Michelle Alexander/2010

The World That Made New Orleans/Ned Sublette/2008

Black Feminist Thought/Patricia Hill Collins/2000

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower/Brittney Cooper/2018

Heavy: An American Memoir/Kiese Laymon/2018

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings/Maya Angelou/1969

Just Mercy/Bryan Stevenson/2014

Me and White Supremacy/Layla F. Saad/2020

Raising our Hands/Jenna Arnold/2020

Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love, and So Much More/Janet Mock/2014

Sister Outsider/Audrey Lord/1984

So You Want to Talk About Race/Ijeoma Oluo/2018

The Bluest Eye/Toni Morrison/1970

The Fire Next Time/James Baldwin/1962

The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century/Grace Lee Boggs, Scott Kurashige, and Danny Glover/2011

The Warmth of Other Suns/Isabel Wilkerson/2010

This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color/Roasrio Morales/1984

Women, Race, and Class/Angela Davis/1981

Are Prisons Obsolete?/Angela Davis/2003

Black Marxism: The Making of Black Radical Tradition/Cedric Robinson/1983

Wretched of the Earth/Frantz Fanon/1961

Black Skin, White Masks/Frantz Fanon/1952

Common Ground/J. Anthony Lukas/1985

Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race/Debby Irving/2014

Resources for Children and Young Adults Articles/PDFs

For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies/Courney Ariel/Aug. 16, 2017

75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice/Corinne Shutack/Aug. 13, 2017

How White Women's Tears Threaten Black Existence/Cameron Glover/May 15, 2018

When Feminism is White Supremacy in Heels/Rachel Cargle/Aug. 16, 2018

The Souls of White Folk/Stephen Jamal Leeper/ Dec. 22, 2016

What Do We Do With White Folks?/Anthony James Williams/Feb. 4, 2019

White People Have No Culture/Lorena Wallace/Feb. 19, 2018

White Fragility/The Conscious Kid

Trump Defends White-Nationalist Protesters: 'Some Very Fine People on Both Sides'/Rosie Gray/Aug 15, 2017

Discourse and Debate: Is performative activism inherently bad?/Kayla Abrams, Jemima Fregene, and Lana Awadallah/Mar. 26, 2019

Amy Cooper, White Spaces and the Political Projection of Whiteness/Lara Witt/May 26, 2020/

Food Has Always Been Political/Adam Rapaport/May 31, 2020

The White Space/Elijah Anderson/2015

White Supremacy Culture, From Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change/Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun/2001

Why White People Freak Out When They're Called Out About Race/Sam Adler-Bell/Mar 10, 2015

The Sugarcoated Language of White Fragility/Anna Kegler/Jul. 22, 2016

My White Friend Asked Me to Explain White Privilege/Lori Lakin Hutcherson/Sep. 8, 2017

Teaching Your Child About Black History Month/Nefertiti Austin/Feb. 15 2018

The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying/Adam Serwer/May 8, 2020

The 1619 Project (all articles)/New York Times Magazine

The Combahee River Collective Statement

The Intersectionality Wars/Jane Coaston/May 28, 2019

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups/Craig Elliott PhD/2016

Who Gets to Be Afraid in America/Ibram X. Kendi/May 12, 2020

A Timeline of Events That Led to the 2020 'Fed Up'-rising/Michael Harriot/May 30, 2020

"We are not okay. And you shouldn't be either."/Meg K. Guilford/May 31, 2020

Remember, No One Is Coming to Save Us/Roxane Gay/May 30, 2020

Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul Jabbar: Don't understand the protests? What you're seeing is people pushed to the edge/Kareem Abdul Jabbar/May 30, 2020

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change/Barack Obama/Jun. 1, 2020

The Minneapolis Uprising in Context/Elizabeth Hinton/May 29, 2020

Reckoning with white supremacy: Five fundamentals for white folks/Lovey Cooper/Jun. 1, 2020

White People: This Is How To Check Your Privilege When Asking People Of Color For Their Labor/Sophia Stephens/July 30, 2018

How Not To Be An Ally/Dr. Kim Case/April 19, 2019

How To Be An Ally If You Are a Person With Privilege/Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D./2003

White Anti-Racism: Living The Legacy/Flinn, Norman, Patel and Robles

YouTube Videos

George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper | The Daily Social Distancing Show/The Daily Show with Trevor Noah/May 29, 2020

Why "I'm not racist" is only half the story/Robin Diangelo | Big Think/Oct. 1 2018

Dr. Robin Diangelo discusses 'White Fragility'/Seattle Channel/Jul. 3 2018

Brené Brown on Empathy/The RSA/ Dec. 10 2013

Courageous Conversations: Sharing Stories About Race and Pledging to Practice More/WHYY/May 23, 2017

Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Caruthers/National LGBTQ Task Force/Jan. 23 2016

"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion": Peggy Mcintosh at TedxTimberlaneSchools/Tedx Talks/Nov. 5, 2012

The Inner Work of Racial Justice | Rhonda Magee/Wisdom 2.0/Mar. 23 2019

A Mindful Approach to Race and Social Justice | Rhonda Magee, Jon Kabot-Zinn, Anderson Cooper/Wisdom 2.0/May 28, 2019

Movies and Documentaries

13th/Ava Duvernay/2016 - Netflix

American Son/Kenny Leon/2019 - Netflix

Sorry To Bother You/Boots Riley/2018 - Hulu

Get Out/Jordan Peele/2017

Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975/Göran Olsson/2011

Clemency/Chinonye Chukwu/2019

Fruitvale Station/Ryan Coogler/2013

I Am Not Your Negro/Raoul Peck/2017

If Beale Street Could Talk/Barry Jenkins/2018 - Hulu

Just Mercy/Destin Daniel Cretton/2019

King In The Wilderness/Peter Kunhardt/2018 - HBO

See You Yesterday/Stefon Bristol/2019 - Netflix

Blackkklansman/Spike Lee/2018

Selma/Ava Duvernay/2014

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution/Stanley Nelson Jr./2015

The Hate U Give/George Tillman Jr./2018 - Hulu

When They See Us/Ava Duvernay/2019

TV

Dear White People/Justin Simien/2017 - Netflix

When They See Us/Ava Duvernay/2019 - Netflix

Websites and blogs Podcasts/Specific Podcast Episodes

Revisionist History Season 2 Episode 3, "Miss Buchanon's Period of Adjustment"/Malcolm Gladwell

Intersectionality Matters/African American Policy Fund and Kimberle Krenshaw

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast/Race Forward

Rants & Randomness with Luvvie Ajayi Episode 9, "Become the Right Thing with Glennon Doyle"

Fare of the Free Child/Akilah S. Richards

Pod For The Cause/The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Pod Save the People/Deray Mckesson

Seeing White/Scene on Radio

Organizations Who to Follow on Social Media Petitions, Donations, Protest Resources
... Read More

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First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources For White People

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Posting a "black out photo" on social media for # blackouttuesday can be a well-intended expression of solidarity with the black community. It may even be an important first step for some who have yet to speak out about racism in America.

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds.

2020 ‧ True crime ‧ 1 season

Charged as a teenager in the 1993 killing of a Boston police officer, Sean K. Ellis fights to prove his innocence while exposing police corruption and systematic racism.

First episode date : November 11, 2020

Genres : True crime and Television documentary

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. 2020 ‧ True crime ‧ 1 season Charged as a teenager in the 1993 killing of a Boston police officer, Sean K. Ellis fights to prove his innocence while exposing police corruption and systematic racism.

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The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TV Series, Documentaries, Movies, TED Talks, and Books to Add to Your List

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The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TV Series, Documentaries, Movies, TED Talks, and Books to Add to Your List

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More by Brea

Ava DuVernay (Koury Angelo/Getty Images for Hollywood Reporter)

So you want to be an ally but don't know where to start? First of all, thank you and welcome. This is an ever growing community of people who refuse to accept Black death and institutionalized racism as the norm. This community takes measurable steps, is intentional about their day-to-day interactions, and is committed to self-education. Where to begin? Look no further than the below starter pack of TV shows, documentaries, films, TED talks, and books that can ground your activism and ensure you're offering this movement more than lip service. Grab an accountability partner (or start a group!) as a way of debriefing what you learn and ensuring you stick with it.

There's no better day than today! Here's your anti-racist starter pack.

TV Series

1. Netflix's When They See Us: Ava DuVernay's When They See Us stopped the world when she told the stories of the (now) Exonerated Five. This is a cautionary tale for some on the dangers of making the narrative match a racist agenda and insight into the fear of Black families across the country, and world.

2. OWN's Queen Sugar: Queen Sugar shares the beauty and complexity in family, legacy, and justice through the warmth of a Black family. Over the course of the seasons, we become even more exposed to Black rural advocacy and the power in land ownership.

3. The Black LGBTQ+ community is no stranger to over-policing and brutal violence and FX's Pose (available on Netflix):Pose gives us a front row seat to the resilience and ingenuity of Ballroom culture and the fight for autonomy and safety.

4. Dear White People (available on Netflix):Dear White People has drawn controversy from many who have been afraid to push past the title, but it's great insight to the inner workings of Black student activists and their campus experiences.

Related: 40 Ways White Women Can Help Fight Racism
Documentaries

Many cite Netflix's 13th by Ava DuVernay: The New Jim Crow (book by Michelle Alexander) as what woke them up to the extreme injustice in our criminal justice system and arguably 13th would be the documentary version of that, exposing how deep-rooted institutionalized racism is.
Related: 25 Anti-Racist Instagram Accounts to Follow for Listening, Learning and Action-Taking

1. The Black Liberation movement of the late 20th century is riddled with stereotypes and propaganda causing many to believe that the movement died following the assassinations of Malcolm X and The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975: Martin Luther King Jr. This documentary sets the record straight from the source with powerful interviews and recollections.

2. It's important that we never lose sight of the legacy of police violence. To understand the righteous anger of the Black community, learn more about the LA riots following the LA92 (available on Netflix):Rodney King trial.

Related: Beyoncé, LeBron James, Viola Davis, Taylor Swift and More Celebs Demand Justice for George Floyd
Movies and Short Films

1. Since 2016, many have become hyper-aware of the deep rifts that exist in American society and others have always known that we have very different experiences of this country. Higher Learning (directed by John Singleton):Higher Learning will surprise you in how relevant it is to today and showing some of the hurdles to achieving a "post-racial" society.

2. Eric Garner and Do The Right Thing (directed by Spike Lee): George Floyd have both drawn connections to a fiction character who preceded them both: Radio Raheem of Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing. The film masterfully highlights where unrest stems from and what leads to the rage felt in uprisings and rebellions.

Related: Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian West, LeBron James and More Demand Justice for the Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
TED Talks

1. Bryan Stevenson's We Need To Talk About An Injustice:Bryan Stevenson is one of the leading racial justice advocates, working with people incarcerated on death row. If anyone can diagnose recent injustices and understand the steps forward it would be him.

2. Kimberle Crenshaw on The Urgency of Intersectionality: Following 2016, 'intersectionality' became quite the buzzword, yet gets used out of context often by both the Right and Left alike. Hear from the black woman who coined the term in the '80s as to how we use intersectionality to defend Black women.

3. Baratunde Thurston on How To Deconstruct Racism, One Headline At A Time: Racism isn't funny, but in this TED talk you'll learn about the pervasive nature of racism and laugh out loud way more times than you'll be able to count.

4. T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison on The Trauma of Systemic Racism is Killing Black Women:Racism is traumatic. Oftentimes we are focused so much on legislative changes and urgent calls to action, that we neglect the emotional well being of Black people everywhere facing PTSD from this cyclical violence. Dive more into self-care as radical preservation with this joint TED talk.

5. Verna Meyers on How To Overcome Our Biases? Walk Towards Them: #AllLivesMatter is the new color blind and both terms are proof that people fear being accused of biases more than they feel committed to addressing them. Let's lose the shame and take bold steps deeper into your allyship.

6. Heather McGhee's Racism Has A Cost for Everyone:My liberation is bound in yours. This is not a feel good statement but a reality when it comes to how racism impacts policy, budgets, and prevents us from achieving a society that works for us all

7. The Human Stories Beyond Mass Incarceration:We can never lose sight of the people behind the statistics and in this powerful TED talk, you'll be reminded of why we fight this fight.

8. Marlon Peterson's Am I Not Human?: Marlon Peterson is formerly incarcerated and one of the leading national experts on alternatives to incarceration. Learn about why we desperately need more empathy when it comes to addressing harm.

9. Emma Harrison's From Reform to Abolition: The Future of the U.S. Prison System: More than ever before, people are Googling abolition and exploring what a society without prisons looks like. Have questions about why we can't reform these systems or what this looks like in reality? Listen up!

10. Rayna Gordon's Don't Be A Savior, Be An Ally:Sometimes with the best intentions we still fall short. Hear from Rayna about thoughtful allyship that seeks to uplift and support not take over or "save."

Related: Ava DuVernay Shares What Was in Her Mind and Heart When She Created Cherish the Day
Books

1. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson: You've likely heard the story of someone who served decades in prison for a crime they didn't commit. How does that happen and how do we ensure people don't disappear behind the bars and into bureaucratic systems that value process more than justice?

2. Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward: America often equates Black to mean urban America when more of us live in "middle America" and the deep South than anywhere else. Ward is a literary artist who spins the stories of Black men in Mississippi with so much love and a deep desire to protect those she loves.

3. Free Cyntoia by Cyntoia Brown-Long: Everyone from Rihanna to Kim Kardashian was tweeting about Cyntoia Brown-Long, the young woman incarcerated for defending herself against her abuser and a sexual predator. Cyntoia's story is one that many women share-and this book sheds light on how systems set up to protect us, fail us time and time again.

4. Born A Crime by Trevor Noah: Noah's book reads like an episode of his late night show which is to say it's informative, compelling, and well researched. This is a must read for those looking to understand race and class.

5. Unafraid of the Dark by Rosemary L Bray: Racism feels like this big scary monster which can make some of us feel like we don't know where to begin in dismantling it and others feel it's not relevant to them at all. Bray sets the record straight with these vignettes and anecdotes about what racism looks like in practice but also how police interventions can work to alleviate the pressures.

6. How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor: "Listen to Black women!" Want to learn what Black women from movements past have to say about justice and freedom? Look no further than this foundational manifesto.

7. Children of Blood and Bones by Tomi Adeyemi: Science fiction is a powerful tool for exploring problems from the distance we normally aren't afforded with day-to-day life. This first part of the electric new trilogy explores issues of fear, revenge, and what it takes to build a new future.

8. When They Call You A Terrorist by Patrisse Khan Cullors: Cullors co-founded Black Lives Matter over five years ago alongside two other Black women organizers. Years later, she reflected on her own journey to that moment and what it means to be labeled a terrorist by the government that has sought to erase you and those you love.

9. Let's Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice by Paul Butler: This Harvard Law grad turned prosecutor went from high-powered attorney to wrongfully accused Black man in one day. What that experience taught him is cemented through this book and will tell you all you need to know about this rigged system.

10. Pushout by Monique Morris: Black girls and women are often left out of the conversation when it comes to criminal justice reform but Morris reiterates exactly how Black girls are oversexualized, more likely to be described as aggressive, and more frequently suspended or expelled, leading to this school-to-prison pipeline we hear so much about.

Read 55 MLK Jr. quotes that still resonate today.

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The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TV Series, Documentaries, Movies, TED Talks, and Books to Add to Your List

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So you want to be an ally but don't know where to start? First of all, thank you and welcome. This is an ever growing community of people who refuse to accept Black death and institutionalized racism as the norm. This community takes measurable steps, is intentional about their day-to-day interactions, and is committed to [...]

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11 Kansas City Organizations that Support and Empower Black Communities

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11 Kansas City Organizations that Support and Empower Black Communities

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4 Ways White Allies Can Do Better For Kansas City's Black Community

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4 Ways White Allies Can Do Better For Kansas City's Black Community

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kcur89.3

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KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City. Local news, entertainment and podcasts.

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After the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked ongoing Black Lives Matter protests in Kansas City and throughout the world, many white people have wondered how to be better advocates for black people.

Lora McDonald, director of the Kansas City-based social justice organization More2, says she's been hearing that question a lot.

"I haven't ever felt a moment like this before. White people who I've tried to deal with before about race, who said, 'You're a little too much for me,' are wanting to get involved and wanting to help."

Area civil-rights advocates have the following suggestions for white people who want to be better allies.
1. Don't expect your black friends to educate you.
When trying to become educated on what's happening right now, Justice Gatson of the ACLU of Missouri says it's important not to place the burden of teaching you on your black friends.

"You're putting that labor back on black people who are already taxed," says Gatson. "The least that you can do is try to figure out some stuff on your own."

She says asking black friends about current events could make them relive some of their own traumatic experiences. Instead, she recommends reaching out to local civil rights groups who will be in a better position to answer questions.

McDonald says that white people asking their black friends what they can do to help can sometimes come off as tone-deaf.

"Right now to be asking in this moment in time what you can do, when you've known that person all along, obviously you should have been doing things to help already," says McDonald.

She also suggests getting in touch with organizations like More2, whose purpose is to help others get involved.

2. Make changes in your daily life.
McDonald says one of the first steps to being a better ally is talking about race and what's happening in the news with your own family. Talking about prejudice frequently is a way to raise children to be educated and not shy away from the issues, she says.

"My son and I have been having ongoing discussions since the time he was born, but I also do things like make sure he knows black business owners and doctors and intentionally expose him," says McDonald.

McDonald also says there are ways to involve your family in supporting black communities that aren't protesting.

"There's all kinds of ways to invest time and money in the community. You can just go to black-owned businesses and you can even worship with people of color," says McDonald.

While protesting is important, McDonald says, even these simple actions can still be impactful and can be done safely at any time.
3. Be active beyond social media.
Online activism has been a key component of the Black Lives Matter movement, but Gatson warns against just being vocal online and not taking any concrete action.

Words are a starting point, she says, but they're not enough to ignite the necessary changes.

"We need allies who are willing to put themselves on the line. We need them to help fight and advocate for policies that will change what's happening," says Gatson.

One of the best ways to become educated is to get involved in black-led organizations across the city, she says.

"There are groups in Kansas City that help white people to understand what's happening and to know when to act," says Gaston.

Organizations like the one she founded, Reale Justice Network, or the activist group Showing Up for Racial Justice, Kansas City can help white people become better allies and connect them with resources.
4. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
Gatson says one of the reasons people are afraid to get involved is out of fear they will say or do something wrong and offend the community.

She says people need to understand that learning to become an advocate doesn't happen instantaneously and that's why organizations like hers are in place.

"This is a growth for people. They come in this and they learn along the way. We help our white brothers and sisters so that they don't make mistakes," says Gatson.

By following the guidance of the black people who lead these organizations, Gatson says, it will be easier for allies to make sure they are doing the right thing.

McDonald says the fear of making mistakes shouldn't hold anyone back from getting involved in activism. Even in her career of activism, she says she's had to apologize for actions others have found offensive.

"We have to keep showing up and doing the hard work. Feeling guilty or being ashamed because you made a mistake is nothing compared to being on the receiving end of racism," she notes.

After apologizing, McDonald says, it's important to stay willing to have a dialogue with those you may have offended and learn from your mistakes so you can be better informed moving forward.
Justice Gatson and Lora McDonald spoke with KCUR on a recent edition of Up to Date. Listen to the full conversation here.

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4 Ways White Allies Can Do Better For Kansas City's Black Community

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After the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked ongoing Black Lives Matter protests in Kansas City and throughout the world, many white people have wondered how to be better advocates for black people. Lora McDonald, director of the Kansas City-based social justice organization More2, says she's been hearing that question a lot.

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Black Owned Restaurants to Support in Kansas City Right Now

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Black Owned Restaurants to Support in Kansas City Right Now

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Many people in Kansas City have been experiencing renewed pain and anger in the past week, spurred on by the tragic death of George Floyd while in police custody, along with the many others before him. Kansas Citians looking to support the local Black community can lend support to Black-owned businesses, including restaurants and bars. Restaurants and bars, of course, have been critically affected by COVID-19 and restrictions on in-person dining, and support now could mean survival for these businesses and continued employment for their workers.
This list will continue to be updated. Did we miss your favorite Black-owned spot? Email us at editor@feastmagazine.com.
Big Momma's Bakery & Café

Located on Bannister Road just east of Highway 71, Big Momma's serves up luscious cakes, cupcakes, brownies, pies, cookies and cinnamon rolls. You can also get heartier fare here, including chicken salad sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast sandwiches.
Big Momma's Bakery & Café, 4707 Bannister Road, Ste B, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.765.0800, bigmommaskc.com
Charlie D's and Son Catfish Cabin

Burgers, cheesesteaks and fried shrimp are classics at Charlie D's, but the fish dinners are the main draw. Pick up fried or grilled catfish, tilapia, perch and basa, served with hot sauce and bread, for under $10. Don't sleep on the corn nuggets, hush puppies and fried okra. Charlie D's is open for takeout and drive-thru service.
Charlie D's and Son Catfish Cabin, 3213 Swope Pkwy., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.924.3474, swopepkwy.charliedskc.com
Crust Plus

At Crust Plus, pizza-lovers can pick up fried Buffalo chicken pizza with blue cheese, pulled pork pizza with bacon and ham, and even a pulled pork pizza with mac 'n' cheese and barbecue sauce. Housemade chicken wings and cheesy bread are also available.
Crust Plus, 6020 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, Missouri, 816.266.7000, facebook.com/thecrustplus
Fannie's West African Cuisine

Fannie's is open for lunch and dinner carryout service Tuesday through Saturday. Here, you can pick up fried plantains with fried eggs, shrimp stew, seasoned beef kebabs, cassava leaves stuffed with rice or fufu, spicy crab in pepper sauce, jollof rice, cucumber mango salad - even snails - all made expertly by Fannie Gibson and her husband, Kelechi Eme.
Fannie's West African Cuisine, 4105 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.832.8454, fanniescuisinetogo.com
Fat Jack's Chicken & Fish

Fat Jack's Chicken & Fish will satisfy your craving for both, whether you are looking for wings, tenders, gizzards, whiting, catfish, shrimp or jumbo shrimp. If you have a big appetite, go for the jumbo shrimp, served in baskets of four or eight. Can't make up your might? They also offer combination plates that will give you a little of both the land and the sea.
Fat Jack's Chicken & Fish, 5912 Blue Parkway, Eastwood Hills West, Kansas City, 816.216.7686, fatjackskcmo.com
Game Day Chicken Wings & Fish

This Wornall breakfast and lunch diner serves up hearty breakfast fare, including fluffy biscuits, waffles, pancakes, eggs and hash browns. Game Day also serves up crispy fried wings slathered in a variety of sauces, as well as burgers, fried fish, mac 'n' cheese and fries. It's also a weekend hub for live music in the evenings, and we are eager for the party there to return soon.
Game Day Chicken Wings & Fish, 8950 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.859.5151, gamedaychickenwingsandfish.com
Gates Bar-B-Q

Gates Bar-B-Q is iconic for a reason, and the local chain remains in the hands of the Gates family. We're suckers for Gates' brisket and ribs, and takeout orders are still greeted with "Hi, may I help you?" gatesbbq.com
1325 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.531.7522 2001 W. 103rd Terrace, Leawood, Kansas, 913.383.1752 3205 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.753.0828 1221 Brooklyn Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.483.3880 1026 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, 913.621.1134 10440 E. US Hwy 40, Independence, Missouri, 816.353.5880
Happy Apple Café

Follow Happy Apple Café on Instagram to see what creative vegan fare is being offered each week. Recent options included dandelion "chicken" and red velvet waffles, smothered fries, hearty burritos and more.
Happy Apple Café, 5536 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.605.8611
Island Spice Caribbean Restaurant

Jamaican jerk chicken, braised oxtails and curried goat are just a few of Island Spice's specialties. You can also pick up fresh vegetable soups and even housemade ginger beer. Island Spice is currently open for drive-thru service.
Island Spice Caribbean Restaurant, 10 W. 39th St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.523.3971, islandspicecaribbeanrestaurant.com
Jones Bar-B-Q

Mary "Shorty" and Deborah "Little" Jones have not slowed down one bit since their appearance on the third season of Netflix's Queer Eye. They've even innovated during the time of COVID-19 to offer their beloved barbecue and sauces via an outdoor vending machine.
Jones Bar-B-Q, 6706 Kaw Dr., Kansas City, Kansas, 913.788.505, jonesbbqkc.com
Krab Kingz

Krab Kingz will satisfy your seafood craving with their boils. Seafood boils can include shrimp, crab or lobster, and they come loaded with corn, sausage, eggs and potatoes. Looking for something a little less messy? Go for a basket of fried shrimp, fried fish or even chicken strips. You can even order an extra crab cluster on the side if you want a little somethin' somethin'.
Krab Kingz, 3805 Broadway Blvd., Hanover Place, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.569.2526, krabkingzkc.com
LC's Bar-B-Q

Kansas City's smokiest barbecue pit may well be at LC's, which runs its ovens extra hot to deliver loads of ribs, sausage, brisket and burnt ends to its loyal customers. LC's is available for takeout.
LC's Bar-B-Q, 5800 Blue Pkwy., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.923.4484, lbsbarbq.com
Lutfi's Fried Fish

Lutfi's is another KC classic diner, serving up crispy fried fish with white bread and butter, meatloaf, country-fried chicken wings and juicy burgers. lutfisfriedfish.net
3037 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.960.3474 1664 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.921.0152 13225 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Shawnee, Kansas, 913.730.8488 4201 S. Noland Road #A, Independence, Missouri, 816.313.5937 5501 Truman MarketPlace #112, Grandview, Missouri, 816.767.0503 794 SW US-40, Blue Springs, Missouri, 816.598.1070
M&M Bakery and Deli

M&M Bakery and Deli serves up a series of sweets and sandwiches in Kansas City, but you would be remiss to not try the sandwich that the shop is known for: the Hook 'Em Up. This deli sandwich is piled high with pepper beef and turkey ham (made without pork) on an onion roll with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, salad dressing, hot cheese and American cheese. If you wanna make the sandwich at home, you can pick up all of the deli's meats by the pound.

M&M Bakery and Deli, 1721 E 31st St., Linwood Homeowners-Ivanhoe, Kansas City, 816.924.9172, facebook.com/MMBakeryDeli1721

Mesob Restaurant

Chefs Chervren DeAuguste and Mehret Tesfamariam have gained local renown for their elegant menu of Caribbean and Ethiopian dishes. The restaurant is currently open for takeout and delivery, and diners can sample fried conch with Appleton rum sweet ginger glaze, fried plantains with coleslaw, doro tibs served with all the traditional Ethiopian accompaniments and much more.
Mesob Restaurant, 3601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.442.7311, mesobkc.com
My Village Grill

My Village Grill's African and Caribbean influences make the dishes on the menu burst with flavors that you might not find at other Kansas City spots. If you are looking to get creative with your choice, try the nkwobi, a dish made with succulent cow hoof with traditional spices, or the grilled chicken gizzards served on skewers. Make sure to get some samosas on the side for a well-rounded and delicious meal.
My Village Grill, 3010 South M-291 Highway, Independence, Missouri, 816.381.7792, myvillage-grill.com
Niecie's Restaurant

Niecie's is a KC classic, and if you haven't been, you're missing out on homestyle fried chicken, chicken and waffles, enormous breakfasts and lots of pie.
Niecie's Restaurant, 6441 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.444.6006, nieciesrestaurant.com
PeachTree Café'Teria

Pick up salmon croquettes, chicken and waffles, smothered pork chops, fried chicken, gumbo and much more - including some amazing peach cobbler - at this downtown hotspot. PeachTree is currently open for takeout.
PeachTree Café'Teria, 2128 East 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.214.5098, peachtree.n-tensity.com/café.htm
Reggae Kitchen

Reggae Kitchen concentrates on authentic Jamaican cuisine on Troost. Signature dishes include chicken curry, jerk chicken and stew fish, but be sure not to overlook the oxtails. Served with rice and beans, this island staple is rich, tender and will leave you wanting more.
Reggae Kitchen, 5535 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, reggaekitchenmo.com
Ruby Jean's Juicery

Cold-pressed juices, smoothies and shakes, as well as healthy lunches and snacks, are the specialties at Ruby Jean's. Owner Chris Goode was spurred to start the business by the early loss of his grandmother, Ruby Jean, at the age of 61, and a transformational viewing of the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. In addition to cold-pressed juices, you can pick up a cold salmon salad, protein bites, vegan pasta salad or some gluten-free sweet potato brownies to go with your wellness shots.
Ruby Jean's Juicery, 3000 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.321.1440, rubyjeansjuicery.com
Smaxx

This downtown staple serves up crispy, crunchy chicken wings, juicy classic burgers, pork tenderloins, shrimp baskets, fried fish and French fries. It is open for takeout or delivery.
Smaxx, 1827 Vine St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.921.1161, smaxxkcmo.com
Soirée Steak & Oyster House

Soirée is a steakhouse with a Southern twist. It lives up to its name with oysters served three ways - fried, chargrilled and on the half shell - and appetizers include fried green tomatoes and southern twists on barbecue shrimp and calamari. Whether you are looking for steak or seafood for your entree, this spot has you covered; they offer three signature steaks, plus a fresh fish of the day, salmon and trout. Looking for something loaded with seafood? Try the seafood mac and cheese with lobster, crawfish, shrimp, white cheddar and Parmesan.
Soirée Steak & Oyster House, 1512 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.214.5706, soireekc.com
Topknotch Vegan Vittles

This vegan kitchen only takes call-ahead and carry-out orders, but it will be worth it if you are craving vegan food. Each order is cooked upon request, whether you are going for soul food the other vegan fix ins. Be sure to try the southern fried bites, seasoned fried jackfruit serviced with barbecue sauce or agave mustard. Topknotch also serves up vegan versions of seafood boils, tacos and chili dogs to fill what hole meat has left in your heart.
Topknotch Vegan Vittles, Independence, Missouri, 816-914-7517, socialnutt.wixsite.com/veganvittles
Urban Café KC

This celebrated restaurant operated by chef Justin Clark currently offers a takeout "quarantine menu," which options including sumac-spiced whole roasted chickens, porterhouse pork chops and cauliflower steaks, accompanied by sides like spinach and mushroom quinoa, fresh pesto pasta with Feta and tomatoes and housemade lemon pound cake.
Urban Café KC, 5500 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.442.8891, urbancafekc.com
Velvet Freeze Daiquiris

It's hard to imagine anything better than a nice cold to-go Daiquiri as temperatures rapidly heat up. Velvet Freeze is open for walk-up orders and takeout.
Velvet Freeze Daiquiris, 1827 Vine St., Kansas City, Missouri, 816.982.9050, facebook.com/VFD1827
Wingz & More

Just like the name promises, Wingz & More serves a lot more than just wings. If wings are your choice, you can choose bone-in or boneless in whatever flavor you desire from a long list of sauces and dry rubs. If you aren't feeling that, you can also go for burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and more.
Wingz & More, multiple locations, facebook.com/WingzAndMoreGrandview
Wings Cafe

Wings Cafe offers a wide array of chicken: strips, bone-in wings, breaded bone-in wings, boneless wings and fritters. The restaurant also offers plenty of fish and shrimp plates and combination plates if you can't quite decide between land and sea. Need to feed the whole family? Look at their family packs to order wings for the whole house.
Wings Cafe, multiple locations, thewingscafe.com

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Black-Owned Restaurants to Support in Kansas City Right Now

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Many people in Kansas City have been experiencing renewed pain and anger in the past week, spurred on by the tragic death of George Floyd while in police custody, along with the many others before him. Kansas Citians looking to support the local Black community can lend support to Black-owned businesses, including restaurants and bars.

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Black-Owned Bookstores to Support Right Now (and Always)

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Black-Owned Bookstores to Support Right Now (and Always)

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Kansas City: Willa's Books & Vinyl and Bliss Books & Wine

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Being an antiracist reader means not only educating ourselves, but also paying attention to the institutions we support financially. We put together a list of Black-owned independent bookstores, thanks in part to this Twitter thread and AfroTech's list of 10 Black-owned online bookstores to support while at home.

Stores marked with an asterisk (*) below are Libro.fm partner stores-meaning that when you purchase audiobooks from their Libro.fm storefront, it directly supports their bookstore.

If you're looking for antiracist audiobooks to further educate yourself, your family, or your community, check out our antiracism playlists.
If we're missing any black-owned bookstores or need corrections on what's posted above, please let us know in the comments.
Claire Handscombe is a British writer who moved to Washington, DC, in 2012, ostensibly to study for an MFA in Creative Writing, but really, let's be honest, because of an obsession with The West Wing. She is the host of the Brit Lit Podcast, a monthly show about news and views from UK books and publishing; the author of Unscripted, a novel about a young woman with a celebrity crush and a determined plan; and the editor of Walk With Us: How The West Wing Changed Our Lives.

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Black-Owned Bookstores to Support Right Now (and Always)

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Being an antiracist reader means not only educating ourselves, but also paying attention to the institutions we support financially. We put together a list of Black-owned independent bookstores, thanks in part to this Twitter thread and AfroTech's list of 10 Black-owned online bookstores to support while at home.

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by Victoria Alexander, MEd.

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2019 Best-Of Lists: 10 Best Science Books of the Year (Smithsonian Magazine) · Best Science Books of the Year (NPR’s Science Friday) · Best Science and Technology Books from 2019” (Library Journal)

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"An important and timely reminder that race is 'a social construct' with 'no basis in biology.'"
- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"A well-argued, timely, sobering wake-up call for those who believe science is always objective and apolitical. Highly recommended for academic researchers, journalists, and general science readers alike."
- Library Journal, Starred Review

"[A] brilliant critique of 'race science' . . . this is an important and, in an era of rising racial tensions, must-read book, especially for those most sure they do not need to read it."
- Publishers Weekly

" Superior: The Return of Race Science makes the compelling case that scientific racism is as prevalent as it has ever been, and explores the way such backward beliefs have continued to evolve and persist. And it couldn't be more timely."
- Bitch

"A rigorously researched and reported journey from the Enlightenment through nineteenth-century imperialism and twentieth-century eugenics to the stealthy revival of race science in the twenty-first century."
- Financial Times

"In Superior, Saini expertly chronicles the broader social forces that have reinvigorated race science . . . . For such a weighty topic, Superior is a surprisingly easy-to-read blend of science reporting, cultural criticism, and personal reflection."
- Slate

"Whether you think of racist science as bad science, evil science, alt-right science, or pseudoscience, why would any contemporary scientist imagine that gross inequality is a fact of nature, rather than of political history? Angela Saini's Superior connects the dots, laying bare the history, continuity, and connections of modern racist science, some more subtle than you might think. This is science journalism at its very best!"
-Jonathan Marks, author of Tales of the Ex-Apes: How We Think About Human Evolution

"Angela Saini's investigative and narrative talents shine in Superior, her compelling look at racial biases in science past and present. The result is both a crystal-clear understanding of why race science is so flawed, and why science itself is so vulnerable to such deeply troubling fault lines in its approach to the world around us-and to ourselves."
-Deborah Blum, author of The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

"Some writers have tackled the sordid history of race science previously, but none have gone so deep under the skin of the subject as Angela Saini in Superior. In her deceptively relaxed writing style, Saini patiently leads readers through the intellectual minefields of 'scientific' racism. She plainly exposes the conscious and unconscious biases that have led even some of our most illustrious scientists astray."
-Michael Balter, author of The Goddess and the Bull

"In this essential book, Angela Saini deftly shows how science and racism have long been intertwined, why that pernicious history continues to this day, and why 'race science' is so deeply flawed. Deeply researched, masterfully written, and sorely needed, Superior is an exceptional work by one of the world's best science writers."
-Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

"Angela Saini's Superior: The Return of Race Science is nothing short of a remarkable, brilliant, and erudite exploration of what we believe about the racialized differences among our human bodies. Saini takes readers on a walking tour through science, art, history, geography, nostalgia and personal revelation in order to unpack many of the most urgent debates about human origins, and about the origin myths of racial hierarchies. This beautifully written book will change the way you see the world."
-Jonathan Metzl, author of Dying of Whiteness

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Superior by Angela Saini: 9780807028421 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"An important and timely reminder that race is 'a social construct' with 'no basis in biology.'"- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "A well-argued, timely, sobering wake-up call for those who believe science is always objective and apolitical. Highly recommended for academic researchers, journalists, and general science readers alike."- Library Journal, Starred Review "[A] brilliant critique of 'race science' .

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Recent criminal justice reforms contain the seeds of a frightening system of "e-carceration."

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Credit Credit Illustration by Yoshi Sodeoka; Photographs by Juanmonino and SensorSpot/E+, via Getty Images

In the midterms, Michigan became the first state in the Midwest to legalize marijuana, Florida restored the vote to over 1.4 million people with felony convictions, and Louisiana passed a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts in felony trials. These are the latest examples of the astonishing progress that has been made in the last several years on a wide range of criminal justice issues. Since 2010, when I published "The New Jim Crow" - which argued that a system of legal discrimination and segregation had been born again in this country because of the war on drugs and mass incarceration - there have been significant changes to drug policy, sentencing and re-entry, including " ban the box " initiatives aimed at eliminating barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated people.

This progress is unquestionably good news, but there are warning signs blinking brightly. Many of the current reform efforts contain the seeds of the next generation of racial and social control, a system of "e-carceration" that may prove more dangerous and more difficult to challenge than the one we hope to leave behind.

Bail reform is a case in point. Thanks in part to new laws and policies - as well as actions like the mass bailout of inmates in New York City jails that's underway - the unconscionable practice of cash bail is finally coming to an end. In August, California became the first state to decide to get rid of its cash bail system; last year, New Jersey virtually eliminated the use of money bonds.

But what's taking the place of cash bail may prove even worse in the long run. In California, a presumption of detention will effectively replace eligibility for immediate release when the new law takes effect in October 2019. And increasingly, computer algorithms are helping to determine who should be caged and who should be set "free." Freedom - even when it's granted, it turns out - isn't really free.

Under new policies in California, New Jersey, New York and beyond, "risk assessment" algorithms recommend to judges whether a person who's been arrested should be released. These advanced mathematical models - or "weapons of math destruction" as data scientist Cathy O'Neil calls them - appear colorblind on the surface but they are based on factors that are not only highly correlated with race and class, but are also significantly influenced by pervasive bias in the criminal justice system.

As O'Neil explains, "It's tempting to believe that computers will be neutral and objective, but algorithms are nothing more than opinions embedded in mathematics."

Challenging these biased algorithms may be more difficult than challenging discrimination by the police, prosecutors and judges. Many algorithms are fiercely guarded corporate secrets. Those that are transparent - you can actually read the code - lack a public audit so it's impossible to know how much more often they fail for people of color.

Even if you're lucky enough to be set "free" from a brick-and-mortar jail thanks to a computer algorithm, an expensive monitoring device likely will be shackled to your ankle - a GPS tracking device provided by a private company that may charge you around $300 per month, an involuntary leasing fee. Your permitted zones of movement may make it difficult or impossible to get or keep a job, attend school, care for your kids or visit family members. You're effectively sentenced to an open-air digital prison, one that may not extend beyond your house, your block or your neighborhood. One false step (or one malfunction of the GPS tracking device) will bring cops to your front door, your workplace, or wherever they find you and snatch you right back to jail.

Who benefits from this? Private corporations. According to a report released last month by the Center for Media Justice, four large corporations - including the GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies - have most of the private contracts to provide electronic monitoring for people on parole in some 30 states, giving them a combined annual revenue of more than $200 million just for e-monitoring. Companies that earned millions on contracts to run or serve prisons have, in an era of prison restructuring, begun to shift their business model to add electronic surveillance and monitoring of the same population. Even if old-fashioned prisons fade away, the profit margins of these companies will widen so long as growing numbers of people find themselves subject to perpetual criminalization, surveillance, monitoring and control.

Who loses? Nearly everyone. A recent analysis by a Brookings Institution fellow found that "efforts to reduce recidivism through intensive supervision are not working." Reducing the requirements and burdens of community supervision, so that people can more easily hold jobs, care for children and escape the stigma of criminality "would be a good first step toward breaking the vicious incarceration cycle," the report said.

Many reformers rightly point out that an ankle bracelet is preferable to a prison cell. Yet I find it difficult to call this progress. As I see it, digital prisons are to mass incarceration what Jim Crow was to slavery.

If you asked slaves if they would rather live with their families and raise their own children, albeit subject to "whites only signs," legal discrimination and Jim Crow segregation, they'd almost certainly say: I'll take Jim Crow. By the same token, if you ask prisoners whether they'd rather live with their families and raise their children, albeit with nearly constant digital surveillance and monitoring, they'd almost certainly say: I'll take the electronic monitor. I would too. But hopefully we can now see that Jim Crow was a less restrictive form of racial and social control, not a real alternative to racial caste systems. Similarly, if the goal is to end mass incarceration and mass criminalization, digital prisons are not an answer. They're just another way of posing the question.

Some insist that e-carceration is "a step in the right direction." But where are we going with this? A growing number of scholars and activists predict that "e-gentrification" is where we're headed as entire communities become trapped in digital prisons that keep them locked out of neighborhoods where jobs and opportunity can be found.

If that scenario sounds far-fetched, keep in mind that mass incarceration itself was unimaginable just 40 years ago and that it was born partly out of well-intentioned reforms - chief among them mandatory sentencing laws that liberal proponents predicted would reduce racial disparities in sentencing. While those laws may have looked good on paper, they were passed within a political climate that was overwhelmingly hostile and punitive toward poor people and people of color, resulting in a prison-building boom, an increase in racial and class disparities in sentencing, and a quintupling of the incarcerated population.

Fortunately, a growing number of advocates are organizing to ensure that important reforms, such as ending cash bail, are not replaced with systems that view poor people and people of color as little more than commodities to be bought, sold, evaluated and managed for profit. In July, more than 100 civil rights, faith, labor, legal and data science groups released a shared statement of concerns regarding the use of pretrial risk assessment instruments; numerous bail reform groups, such as Chicago Community Bond Fund, actively oppose the expansion of e-carceration.

If our goal is not a better system of mass criminalization, but instead the creation of safe, caring, thriving communities, then we ought to be heavily investing in quality schools, job creation, drug treatment and mental health care in the least advantaged communities rather than pouring billions into their high-tech management and control. Fifty years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned that "when machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered." We failed to heed his warning back then. Will we make a different choice today?
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

Michelle Alexander became a New York Times columnist in 2018. She is a civil rights lawyer and advocate, legal scholar and author of "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness."

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Recent criminal justice reforms contain the seeds of a frightening system of "e-carceration." In the midterms, Michigan became the first state in the Midwest to legalize marijuana, Florida restored the vote to over 1.4 million people with felony convictions, and Louisiana passed a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts in felony trials.

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by Norm Stamper

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Book Reviews

Stamper has written a tremendously important book, pulling no punches as he takes a searing look at law enforcement as it is - and as it should be. Shocking, heartbreaking, hilarious and illuminating, Breaking Rank will attract both cops and 'civilians.' I loved it.

Ann Rule

"A provocative new book...a side [of policing] rarely talked about by the men and women in uniform.... There is a passage in this book that is as powerful as any that I've seen or read or even heard about in a long time [about Stamper's having shot and killed a man who'd been threatening to murder his son].... Certainly for those African Americans who have been waiting for someone in this country to talk, boldly, about the issues of racism inside police forces...you'll want to get [the book]...that's the kind of forthright conversation you get on all sorts of issues.... I highly recommend it."

Tavis Smiley, The Tavis Smiley Show, PBS

"Norm Stamper earned this book.... Reading page after page of penetrating (but always constructive) criticism coming from a former police chief is like going on a bender with a get-out-of-jail-free card. I wanted to stand up waving a lighter as I read passages detailing police racism, homophobia and hatred of political dissidents...Stamper's passionate voice of reason deserves a place in the annals of police reform."

San Diego Union-Tribune, Books(read the whole review)

" Breaking Rank is an apt title given the text, but is actually too mild to describe the contents.... What is bad news for law-enforcement agencies is good news for a general readership. Stamper's book will help lay readers understand the dark side of policing like it has never been understood before.... The book is filled with dramatic, well-written stories about crime, punishment and unpunished transgressions. It ought to be required reading for anybody who cares about policing, no matter where they reside."

Seattle Times

"The 1999 riots during the World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle ended the 35-year career of Norm Stamper, the city's police chief. But they didn't silence him, as evidenced by Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark Side of American Policing ...The reader rides along with Stamper, starting his days as a brutish patrolman in San Diego and ending with his crusade to eradicate corruption and brutality in American policing. Stamper steps fearlessly into the contradictory world of cops and offers himself as Exhibit A. It's tough to ignore a cop under any circumstance, but especially one who can make equally compelling cases for decriminalizing marijuana and locking up domestic abusers for life."

The Boston Globe

" Breaking Rank is part confessional, part game plan for how to reorganize law enforcement in the name of justice and democracy.... Reform...isn't easy. Instead of walking away, however, Stamper is hanging in with this manifesto. Rather than outing its author as some fuzzy-headed liberal, Breaking Rank reveals instead an advocate for the kind of progressive social justice that Bobby Kennedy would have loved-a cop with guts enough to admit his own mistakes, learn from them, and remain a voice for changing the institution that both made and broke him."

Seattle Weekly

"In writing Breaking Rank, Norm Stamper has taken a big step toward ensuring that his legacy is more than confused images of roiling demonstrators, tear gas dispensers, and flailing billy clubs. In an engaging, direct, and sometimes brutally frank mixture of memoir, social commentary, and police theory, Stamper demonstrates without a doubt that he is a thinking man's cop. For those of us who focus on the drug war...reading Stamper is a necessary corrective, a tonic to quiet those cop-loathing tendencies that too easily result from looking too closely at the workings of drug prohibition. ...it should be required reading for anyone interested in drug reform or the larger issue of the proper role of the police in our society.... Stamper looks at all of this, examining cop culture and police politics with an informed, incisive eye and a gripping narrative style. Readers may not always agree with Stamper's conclusions, but they will be well-served indeed to read him and think hard about the issues he raises."

Drug Reform Coordinating Network

Stamper's keen intelligence and integrity blaze from the pages of this exceptionally well-written book; it is rich with his salty wit and wisdom, honed as a street cop, chief, and innovative leader in the communities he has served. Stamper's no-holds-barred honesty won't let you put the book down as he tackles the sacred cows, from domestic violence and race to homophobia and police brutality. With surprising humility and courage, Stamper weaves in his personal learning curve, sharing stories that solidify his credibility as a true hero of our time.

Sara Buel, Clinical Professor, University of Texas School of Law, and Co-Director of the UT School of Law Domestic Violence Clinic

"You're living in a fairyland, my friend."

Bill O'Reilly, The O'Reilly Factor

"Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper's new book dares to speak the ugliest truths and inbred dangers of America's law enforcement system.... Norm Stamper isn't a Jewish man, but chutzpah is something he embodies. And he embodies it in spades.... He doesn't ask for the reader's sympathy. The descriptions of his own abusive patterns are hardly sympathy inspiring. But Stamper gets real in order to try to get other men, including cops, thinking about the commonality of abusive behavior toward women.... Breaking rank is not an easy thing, and I, for one, am grateful that Stamper had the courage to do it."

Evergreen Monthly

"The best police stories are told by police officers. In Breaking Rank, Stamper...candidly describes his odyssey as a police officer and offers candid advice along the way... While accounts of daily police work comprise the bulk of Breaking Rank, Stamper also offers a number of clear-cut ideas on how best to reduce crime.... This lengthy, well-written work is recommended for collections in criminal justice and police studies."

Library Journal

"Stamper's book should be required reading for all young law enforcement officers who, in particular, aspire to positions of future leadership of America's police forces. It offers guidelines for progressive changes, including greater emphasis on community policing, the rampant crime of domestic violence, and less militaristic models of police department organization. Stamper also makes persuasive arguments for such controversial policies as elimination of capital punishment and the decriminalization of drugs. The author was a working cop and police administrator in San Diego and Seattle, where he was chief of police. This reviewer had the opportunity, as a newspaper editorial page editor, to observe Stamper's outstanding performance in the latter role. His account of his personal experiences is arresting-no pun intended-and often very entertaining."

Charles J. Dunsire, former editorial page editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Although many San Diego officers will challenge his account of policing, I doubt they worked Logan Heights or Barrio Logan in the 1970s as I did. Norm...makes the case for a radical change...in police priorities.... [ Breaking Rank] should be mandatory reading for police officers...truly captures the excitement, challenges, pain and frustration one experiences in over 30 years of police work.... I found the book hard to put down as it brought back memories...I had long forgotten.... This book will definitely offend some police officers and cause others to commend Stamper's candor.... He appears to have reached a point in life when he doesn't need to worry about being politically correct."

John Welter, Chief of Police, Anaheim Police Department, from review in Police Quarterly.

"A magnificent book...brought out practically every question I've ever had about the police, with as much honesty as I've ever seen...extremely informative."

Blaise Bonpane KPFK, Los Angeles

" Breaking Rank by Norm Stamper [is] one of the more unusual books to come out in years. Stamper was police chief for Seattle from 1994 to 2000, capping a 34-year career as a police officer. In rich detail he draws on his experiences to argue for radically new approaches on such issues as drugs, prostitution, gun control, capital punishment, community oversight, and more. Although a strong supporter of unions, Stamper devotes a whole chapter to a blunt argument that police unions too often have defended an indefensible status quo."

World Wide Work, a publication of the American Labor Education Center

"An extraordinary book. It caused me to depart from my regular programming [on the Middle East], and to take up Norm Stamper's refreshing and informative views on the nation's war on drugs."

KPFK, North Hollywood, Don Bustany

"...part memoir, part manifesto and wholly unusual not only for its candor (it recalls Stamper's early fondness for baiting blacks and homosexuals) but for opinions that make you double-check the author's identity (an ex-police chief damning both capital punishment and the 'war on drugs'?)."

Washington Law & Politics

As mayor of Seattle I had the great good fortune to locate and appoint as my police chief an extraordinary leader. Norm Stamper was a different kind of chief: visionary and progressive, tough-minded but compassionate.... Breaking Rank will become required reading for all Americans who yearn for more responsive and accountable policing.

Norm Rice

Stamper...marches to his own refreshingly off-step beat...Stamper's honesty provides a unique perspective of the role, power, and limitations of a big-city police chief.... Stamper's personal experience and knowledge of the upper echelon of police power is all too rare in police literature; his healthy intellect and analytical nature [are] all too rare in the upper echelon of police power.... [He] is willing to address the issue of police corruption with far more forthrightness than most... What stands out is the courage of Breaking Rank. A character in Louis de Bernières's novel, Birds Without Feathers, could just as well be describing Norm Stamper: "His courage was not the foolish kind of a young and silly man. It was the courage of a man who looks danger in the face, and forces himself not to flinch."

Law Enforcement News, a publication of John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

"Taking personal responsibility: that's not something you hear much of. I compliment [Stamper] on that... "[he has] said a lot of things here that are interesting about the way that policemen ought to conduct themselves...I know [he has] taken some heat [but] people ought to take a look at what [he is] saying. Maybe it would help some of our police departments do a better job."

John Kasich, Fox News/Heartland

It was my honor to sit next to Chief Norm Stamper at the annual fallen officer's memorial where he held Officer (Antonio) Terry's young orphaned son on his knee and let the boy wear his hat. If Chief Stamper has something to say, I'm ready to listen."

J. A. Jance, bestselling author and creator of the J. P. Beaumont series

"[Stamper] is an advocate for the legalization of drugs and prostitution, as well as a critic of racism, sexually predatory behavior and the prevalence of domestic violence within police departments... Breaking Rank ...is a startling and often shockingly raw account of the uglier truths of policing in America."

In These Times

"In Breaking Rank, Stamper tells the sometimes harsh details of life on the inside of the force and, with passion, he advocates for change in the institution. This brave book is as inspiring as it is disturbing."

Darvill's Bookstore, Eastsound, Washington

"Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are paid out every year to settle lawsuits against police departments. In this excerpt from Breaking Rank (...published by Nation Books), the former chief of the Seattle police force explains why it makes better financial sense for a cop to kill you by accident rather than just wound you."

Penthouse

"Cop thriller: Stamper returns with a page turner...the book tends to validate beliefs held by law enforcement watchdog groups."

San Diego City Beat

"A very provocative book...from a white police officer, who spent 34 years as a cop...pulling the veil from what's really happening...very heavy. You gotta get it."

Rev. Al Sharpton, from "The Al Sharpton Show: Keeping it Real"

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Stamper has written a tremendously important book, pulling no punches as he takes a searing look at law enforcement as it is - and as it should be. Shocking, heartbreaking, hilarious and illuminating, Breaking Rank will attract both cops and 'civilians.' I loved it.

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“A bracing, highly useful tool for any discussion of combating racism.”
- Kirkus Review

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Releases “Talking About Race” Web Portal

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Releases “Talking About Race” Web Portal

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The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture today launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Research shows that many people feel they do not have the information needed to discuss race in a way that is candid, safe and respectful of other viewpoints and experiences.

"The portal offers a wealth of resources to inform and guide discussions-videos, role-playing exercises, targeted questions and more, said Crew." "We hope that people will use this site to become more comfortable about engaging in honest dialogue and self-reflection."

Talking About Race builds upon decades of work by the museum's educators. It is the result of extensive research, studies, consultations, and educational resources from these fields: history, education, psychology and human development. It includes published research from leading experts, activists, historians, and thought leaders on race, equity, and inclusion, including Brené Brown, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Robin DiAngelo, Julie Olsen Edwards, Jerry Kang, Ibram X Kendi, Enid Lee, Audre Lorde, Beverly Daniel Tatum, Bishop Desmond Tutu, and Tim Wise.

Phase one of the portal features eight foundational subjects including:

Being Anti-Racist: a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily.

Bias: the inclination or prejudice toward or against something or someone.

Community Building: connecting and engaging with others doing anti-racism work and exploring issues of race.

Historical Foundations of Race: how race, white privilege, and anti-blackness are woven into the very fabric of American society.

Race and Racial Identity: how societies use race to establish and justify systems of power, privilege, disenfranchisement, and oppression.

Self-Care: caring for one's mental, emotional, and physical health to sustain the work of dismantling racism.

Social Identities and Systems of Oppression: systems built around the ideology that some groups are superior to others.

Whiteness: an ideology that reinforces power at the expense of others.

Explore Talking About Race at nmaahc.si.edu/talkingaboutrace. The portal is free and does not require a registration or sign-up to use. Talking About Race is generously supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies.
Download Images for Media Use Social Media Toolkit
About the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Since opening September 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed more than 7 million visitors. Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000 square-foot museum is the nation's largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. For more information about the museum, visit, follow @NMAAHC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or call Smithsonian information at (202) 633-1000.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Releases "Talking About Race" Web Portal

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The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture today launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture.

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How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

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How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

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https://www.bu.edu/antiracism-center/

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Our Mission: To build an antiracist society that ensures racial equity and social justice

The mission of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research is to convene researchers and practitioners from various disciplines to figure out novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and solve seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice. We foster exhaustive racial research, research-based policy innovation, data-driven educational and advocacy campaigns, and narrative-change initiatives. We are working toward building an antiracist society that ensures equity and justice for all.
Read the Founder's Statement by Ibram X. Kendi
What is antiracist research?

Whereas racist research historically has posed the question, "What is wrong with people?" antiracist research now asks a different question, a better question: "What is wrong with policies?" Our belief is that framing research on race and racism around antiracist questions leads to antiracist narratives, effective policy solutions, and impactful advocacy campaigns that cut to the root of racial inequality: racist policy.
Learn more about our research

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The Center for Antiracist Research is dedicated to solving seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice.

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So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

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So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

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"[T]his book is much-needed and timely. It is more than a primer on racism. It is a comprehensive conversation guide." - National Review of Books

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is a writer, speaker and internet yeller. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and most recently, . Her work on race has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post, among many other publications. She was named to the 2021 TIME 100 Next list and has twice been named to the Root 100. She received the 2018 Feminist Humanist Award and the 2020 Harvard Humanist of the Year Award from the American Humanist Association. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

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Ijeoma Oluo | Writer, Speaker, Internet Yeller

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is a writer, speaker and internet yeller. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and most recently, . Her work on race has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post, among many other publications.

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Leadership matters. Good leaders know that you can't solve a problem without talking about it. Yet many feel unprepared to exercise the leadership needed to address racial issues and take the necessary steps to create truly inclusive communities on their campuses, in their corporations, or in their communities. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, an award-winning educational leader, best-selling author, and noted expert on the psychology of racism, brings unique insights and strategies in both her writing and public speaking to those eager to jump-start the kind of productive conversations that can lead to effective action for social change.

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Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum Can We Talk About Race? Meet Dr. Tatum It's time for straight talk about race and racism in our society. Leadership matters. Good leaders know that you can't solve a problem without talking about it. Yet many feel unprepared to exercise the leadership needed to address racial issues and take the...

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Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence? Wes Moore, the author of this fascinating book, sets out to answer this profound question. In alternating narratives that take readers from heart-wrenching losses to moments of surprising redemption, The Other Wes Moore tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostile world.

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The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates

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Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD

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Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD

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Beverly Daniel Tatum's 1997 book on race relations -- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? -- has become a modern classic in college and high school classrooms, used to educate and prompt healthy discussions among young people about race.

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Beverly Daniel Tatum's 1997 book on race relations -- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? -- has become a modern classic in college and high school classrooms, used to educate and prompt healthy discussions among young people about race. Tatum, a psychology scholar, stepped down as president of Spelman College in 2015. Her first major project after leaving administration was updating the book -- still relevant but with the original version missing the elections of Presidents Obama and Trump, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the police shootings that prompted the movement and galvanized many black youth. The new version of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? was released this week by Basic Books.

Tatum responded via email to questions about the new edition.
Q: When you wrote the book in 1997, did you expect race relations in the U.S. to be better by 2017?
A: Twenty years ago my goal in writing my book was to help others move beyond fear, anger and denial to a new understanding of what racism is, how it impacts all of us and ultimately what we can do about it. I wanted to inspire readers to break the silence about racism and to use their spheres of influence to effect positive social change. Shortly after my book was published, I was on the stage with President Clinton at a town hall meeting at the University of Akron, for the launch of his Initiative on Race, and he explained that the time was right to work on the difficult issue of racism in American society because the nation was at peace and the economy was expanding. At that time, I shared President Clinton's belief in the power of dialogue to help all of us move forward together in pursuit of racial equity and justice.
Q: What do you consider the most significant changes in the new version of the book?
A: [It is] more than 100 pages longer than the original edition; I begin with an analysis of the U.S. social and political context of the last 20 years, addressing issues such as the impact of changing demographics, persistent school and neighborhood segregation, the affirmative action backlash, Great Recession of 2008, the election of Barack Obama and subsequent "postracial" narratives, the emergence of Black Lives Matter and campus activism, and the early days of the Trump presidency -- all in the context of contemporary race relations. Readers will find my answer to the title question remains unchanged, but the psychological research supporting it has been completely updated to reflect the current state of the literature, as well as an expanded consideration of the critical issues in the identity development of Latinx, Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern/North African, Muslim, and multiracial youth, in recognition of the demographic diversity of the U.S. in the 21st century.
Q: Many studies show that K-12 schools are now more segregated than they were a generation ago. How much does such segregation limit understanding of one another, and how much does it complicate race relations in higher education?
A: Because of persistent K-12 school segregation, colleges and universities are among the few places where people of different racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds can engage with each other in more than just a superficial way. However, because of both lack of direct contact and repeated exposure to cultural stereotypes while growing up, cross-group interactions can be uncomfortable. Even genuine efforts at friendship and connection can be derailed by awkward interactions and unconscious bias. Ideally, the college years offer a unique opportunity to engage with people whose life experiences and viewpoints are different than one's own and to develop the leadership capacity needed to function effectively in a diverse, increasingly global, world. However, whether college students develop that capacity will depend in large part on whether the institution they attend has provided structures for those learning experiences to take place. Intentionality matters.
Q: You discuss the issue of white identity, and yet many scholars who talk about white people as a group get slammed these days -- it seems to be something of a third-rail issue. Why do you think it's important to talk not just about black identity but white identity?
A: In a race-conscious society, we all have a racial identity that develops in predictable ways, shaped largely by the interactions we have with others. An understanding of that identity-development process can help all of us begin to build bridges across lines of difference. With that understanding, we are better able to do what I call the ABCs of leadership -- affirm identity, build community and cultivate the 21st-century leadership we all need to dismantle the racism that threatens our diverse society.
Q: Several times since the original version of your book, we have seen major court rulings that left some thinking that affirmative action was a resolved issue (at least legally), and yet it keeps coming back, most recently with the Trump Justice Department investigating allegations of discrimination. You note that many people of different races have very different conceptions of affirmative action. How can educators promote better understanding of what affirmative action is and isn't?
A: Because many people are confused about the basic facts of affirmative action, I thought it important to provide that information in my book, and I would urge educators to familiarize themselves with it. I provide a brief overview of the history of affirmative action policies, going back to the introduction of the term in 1965, distinguishing between quotas (which are illegal) and measurable goals (which are necessary for evaluating progress). A recent national survey indicated that as many as 50 percent of whites believe that discrimination against whites has become a problem equivalent to that against people of color, despite the fact that national data show that whites as a group consistently fare better on all measures of social or economic well-being (i.e., access to housing, education, employment, health care). Helping readers understand the differences between commonly held perceptions and measurable realities is what I have tried to do in the book, and what informed educators can do in the classroom.
Q: You end the book on an optimistic note, discussing encouraging projects. You, of course, went to press before Charlottesville and President Trump promoting the idea that there were good people "on many sides" there. Has your optimism been challenged by recent events?
A: There is no question that we are living in a difficult time, and recent events in Charlottesville and elsewhere have been very disturbing. I work at maintaining my optimism because I believe that in times of darkness, we all need to generate more light. The epilogue is titled "Signs of Hope, Sites of Progress," because we all need to remember that each of us can exercise the kind of inclusive leadership we need to interrupt the cycle of racism. With the collective hard work and effort of many, I still believe positive social change is possible.

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Beverly Daniel Tatum discusses new version of 'Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?'

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Beverly Daniel Tatum's 1997 book on race relations -- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? -- has become a modern classic in college and high school classrooms, used to educate and prompt healthy discussions among young people about race.

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Physician Jonathan Metzl reveals
how right-wing backlash policies have mortal consequences–even for the
white populations they promise to help.

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NAMED ONE OF

2019'S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS

BY ESQUIRE, THE BOSTON GLOBE & PUBLISHERS WEEKLY !

Jonathan M. Metzl is the Frederick B. Rentschler II professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and director of its Center for Medicine, Health, and Society. He is the author of several books and a prominent expert on gun violence and mental illness. He hails from Kansas City, Missouri, and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

​

For speaking requests, contact

"Here is the diagnosis, America, and it's not reassuring: Failing health, falling graduation rates, guns everywhere. Our fantasies are driving us to an early grave, and Jonathan Metzl is lucid and careful and mercifully clinical in telling us exactly how this public health disaster came to be. Read it today: there's still time before the autopsy."

​

-Thomas Frank, author of What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America

Politicon 2019 - 'The Cult of Trump'

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Jonathan M. Metzl is the Frederick B. Rentschler II professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and director of its Center for Medicine, Health, and Society. He is the author of several books and a prominent expert on gun violence and mental illness. He hails from Kansas City, Missouri, and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

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A Call to Action for White Educators Who Seek to Be Anti-Racist

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A Call to Action for White Educators Who Seek to Be Anti-Racist

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pbs.org

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Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

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Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children

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Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children

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Myles Pinkney, along with his wife Sandra Pinkney, is the creator of the NAACP Image Award winning Shades of Black, along with A Rainbow All Around Me, and Read and Rise, a collaboration with the National Urban League.

Myles illustrated each title in a dazzling multicultural photo essay style. They show the diversity of skin color and other characteristics of African American children, and feature appearances by their own children, Myles (Leon), Charnelle-Rene and Rashad.

Myles Pinkney is a free-lance photographer who, in addition to collaborating with his wife, has illustrated books by celebrated children's author, Nikki Grimes. Myles graduated from Marist College with a BA in communications; however he has been studying photography since he was a child.

Myles and Sandra Pinkney live in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Sandra Pinkney, along with her husband Myles, is the creator of the NAACP Image Award winning Shades of Black, along with A Rainbow All Around Me, and Read and Rise, a collaboration with the National Urban League.

Each title was created in a dazzling multicultural photo essay style. They show the diversity of skin color and other characteristics of African American children, and feature appearances by their own children, Myles (Leon), Charnelle-Rene and Rashad.

Sandra received her CDA in Early Childhood Development from Washington, and went on to become the owner and director of a daycare in Poughkeepsie, New York. She is also actively involved in the organizations, which aim to help the development and enrichment of young children, including the New York Association of Early Childhood, and the National Black Child Development Institute.

Myles and Sandra Pinkney live in Poughkeepsie, New York.

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Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children

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The best-selling picture book is now available as a board book.I am Black / I am Unique / I am the creamy white frost in vanilla ice cream / and the milky smooth brown in a chocolate bar...Using simple poetic language and stunning photographs, Sandra and Myles Pinkney have created a remarkable book of affirmation for African-American children.

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Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices is a live-action collection of twelve five minute episodes featuring prominent Black celebrities and artists reading children's books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience.

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Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices is a live-action collection of twelve five minute episodes featuring prominent Black celebrities and artists reading children's books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience.

The books featured in the series were chosen using a social justice education framework that focused on concepts of Identity, Respect, Justice, and Action.

In addition to the series selections, here are recommendations for additional books, questions, and activities for children of different ages.

The book recommendations, educator guides, videos and information found on this site were developed in partnership with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, an ALA Affiliate, and the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the ALA.

In order to share these amazing stories more broadly, Netflix has partnered with First Book, a nonprofit who believes that education is the best path out of poverty, to donate and distribute copies of each of the books featured in the collection to educators serving kids in need across the country, and in select international countries.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association serves as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the nation's African American community; and provides leadership for the recruitment and professional development of African American librarians. BCALA has partnered with Netflix to provide age-appropriate book suggestions, topics for discussion, video resources and activities to further conversations among families.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is the world's largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. From creative programming and best practices to continuing education and professional connections-ALSC members are innovators in the field of children's library service. ALSC has provided Netflix with a comprehensive list of books related to social justice along with resources for serving diverse communities.

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Additional resources for families and their young kids as they start conversations about difficult topics.

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It's tough being the new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin had lots of friends at his old school, but the kids here don't even know that he's pretty good at skateboarding, or how awesome he is at soccer. And when his classmate Richard comes over and the boys end up in trouble, not only does Gavin risk losing his one new friend, he has to take care of his great aunt Myrtle's horrible little dog as punishment.
To make matters worse, Gavin seems to have attracted the attention of the school bully. Will he be able to avoid getting pounded at the skate park? And how is he ever going to prove he's cool with a yappy little Pomeranian wearing a pink bow at his side?

Product Details

ISBN-13:

9780544339125

Publisher:

HMH Books

Publication date:

10/14/2014

Series:

Carver Chronicles Series , #1

Edition description:

Reprint

Pages:

128

Sales rank:

83,055

Product dimensions:

7.40(w) x 5.00(h) x 0.40(d)

Lexile:

710L ( what's this?)

Age Range:

6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Karen English is a Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning author and retired elementary school teacher. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Laura Freeman has illustrated many books for children. She grew up in New York City and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two young sons. For more information visit www.lfreemanart.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/07/2013
English returns to Carver Elementary, the setting of her Nikka and Deja books, in this strong kickoff to her Carver Chronicles series. This time, the protagonist is new student Gavin, whose cool-kid potential (namely his basketball and skateboard skills) is undermined by his family. His parents don't allow him to play "overly violent" video games, and his older sister, Danielle, calls him mortifying nicknames like Gavmeister. Both of these horrors are revealed when Gavin's new friend, Richard, comes over, a visit that ends with the boys accidentally breaking Danielle's prized snow globe. In order to pay back his sister, Gavin earns money by walking his great-aunt Myrtle's cranky and extremely accessorized Pomeranian, Carlotta. English captures Gavin's realistic frustrations on the home front and the social nuances of elementary school life as he struggles to fit in without compromising himself ("Gavin doesn't know if he likes that Deja girl. She reminds him too much of his sister"). Freeman's upbeat spot illustrations and English's accessible storytelling target the book to emerging independent readers. Ages 6-9. Illustrator's agent: Bernadette Szost, Portfolio Solutions. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"English returns to Carver Elementary, the setting of her Nikka and Deja books, in this strong kickoff to her Carver Chronicles series. Freeman's upbeat spot illustrations and English's accessible storytelling target the book to emerging independent readers."
-Publishers Weekly

"Black-and-white spot illustrations break up the text and make this an accessible book for emerging chapter-book readers."
-Booklist

"Chapter book readers have few options if they want to read about urban boys of color; here's hoping for more about Gavin and his friends."
-The Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

2013-10-02
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility. Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin's desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. "After all, it isn't his fault that Danielle's snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn't have been in her room--but then, she shouldn't be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!" opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle's yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English ( Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener. This outing lacks the sophistication of suchcategory standards as Clementine; here's hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews

Read More

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Dog Days (The Carver Chronicles Series #1)|Paperback

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It's tough being the new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin had lots of friends at his old school, but the kids here don't even know that he's pretty good at skateboarding, or how awesome he is at soccer. And when his classmate Richard comes over and the boys end up in trouble,...

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How To Talk To Kids About Black Lives And Police Violence

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How To Talk To Kids About Black Lives And Police Violence

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NPR

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Like most public school educators, Jesse Hagopian has spent the spring struggling to teach his students online. Some are homeless, while others are working frontline jobs to support their families.

And now many of his students, like others around the country, are on the front lines in another sense: protesting the deaths of George Floyd and other black people at the hands of police.

"I don't think their schooling is stopped at all. I think, if anything, it's on hyperdrive," Hagopian says. He is an author, an activist, a father of two sons and a black teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle, a city where more than 80% of the teachers are white. And he is the co-editor, with Dyan Watson and Wayne Au, of the 2018 book Teaching For Black Lives.

I talked with Hagopian about what it means to teach for black lives and why it's important. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I want to start with a word for parents, since so many parents are home teaching their kids now and may not know how to talk about what's happening. What's your advice for them?
Absolutely. I think that teaching for black lives now doesn't just mean teachers, right? It means all the parents who have been conscripted into home schooling. And they should take this opportunity to have these hard conversations with their kids about what's happening in our world today.
How old are your sons?
I have a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old.
How do you talk to your 7-year-old about police violence?
It's been a challenge his whole life. On his 2nd birthday, it was Martin Luther King Day, and I gave the final speech at the rally in Seattle. And a few minutes after that, a police officer pepper-sprayed me in the face. It was horrific pain. I got to his party late. I spent the party pouring milk in my eyes and my face. And it was traumatizing to him. So he's been knowing what police violence is about for most of his life.

And then [last week], we all went down to the rally. My wife and my kids and I. And we were there for about 20 minutes listening to speeches and chants before the police shot a flash-bang grenade into the crowd, just seemingly unprovoked and out of nowhere.

The smoke was rising. People were screaming. Everyone was running as fast as they can away. And my kids were really rattled and upset. And so, you know, I've had to have some very difficult talks that I wish I didn't have to have yet with my kids about this moment and about police violence.

He's learning from our experiences, and what I try to do is give him some context to it, help him process his emotions. And tell them he is not wrong for being scared, that it's nothing to be ashamed of. That it was OK to cry when we were at the rally and that we left right away. And I told him I would always keep him safe. So I'm just trying to hold them close right now.
Why did you publish the book Teaching for Black Lives?
We knew that there was a need to bring conversations about police violence, and about the loss of black life, and about the great contributions and struggles that black people have gone through throughout history, into the classroom.
And what is included in those conversations? Or to put it another way, what's missing from most school curricula?
You know, our students were having discussions about these horrific videos that they were seeing. And yet too many classrooms were not safe spaces to hold those discussions, so that kids are talking about it in the hallway, on the playground or on the school bus. But then actually analyzing it and what it means and how it relates to their lives was absent from too many classrooms.
And how is this coming into your teaching right now?
And so we wanted to help provide inroads for teachers to be able to have difficult conversations about the real-life situations that their kids are going through.

Too often black people are reduced to slavery, and the only way that kids learn about black history is learning about enslavement. And, you know, we wanted to say, actually there is this incredible legacy of struggle and contributions to our country that are far bigger than our oppression.

I've been trying to give historical context so that they can learn from the struggles of the past and then apply those lessons today.

We had Barbara Ransby [a professor of gender and women's studies and African-American studies at the University of Illinois Chicago] come to focus in on black women educators. So we looked at Septima Clark and Mamie Till ... and Ella Baker, and the way she always uplifted black youth.

But I think one of my biggest roles is just to be there for emotional support. Just to tell [my students] I care about them and that if they're having a hard time, you know, I'm someone they can talk to as they go through grief and trauma.
Schools are very segregated. But at the same time, they're among the more diverse spaces sometimes in our lives. What does teaching for black lives look like when your classroom is mixed?
We check in with their feelings every day. The first thing we do in my class is we do a mood meter. There's four quadrants with different colors. And they describe how they're feeling based on what color they're feeling. Beginning class with that. And using that as a way to then enter into a discussion about what's causing those feelings has been really important.
What does it look like for white teachers?

I think that I've had some of my most powerful moments of teaching in mixed-race settings. I have some really powerful stories of white students who had incredible breakthroughs with understanding their own identity and committing themselves to being allies for their black peers.

The vast majority of teachers in Seattle and across the country are white. And so if we're going to teach for black lives, it's going to require white teachers to do so. And that can be difficult. It can make you uncomfortable. But I hope that the video of George Floyd and the ensuing uprising that's happening around the country is enough of a catalyst to convince teachers that they need to educate themselves about the history of institutional racism. They need to explore their own identity as white educators and what that means. And then they need to take action by teaching about what they've learned.
Can you talk about the specific demands of the Black Lives Matter At School movement? I saw that Minneapolis public schools has just voted unanimously to terminate its contract with the police department.
And sometimes that looks like opening up space to allow the black students to teach and to share their experience. And sometimes that means contextualizing current events with history. Right. So, especially this week, teaching about the Tulsa massacres.

So I think that we need to struggle to get more black teachers in the workforce. But we also need to expect that the white teachers teach for black lives.

Absolutely. I think it will be a beacon to many educators across the country who are going to start putting similar resolutions forward at their school board meetings in this moment.

"Counselors, not cops," is one of the four demands we have, and I think it's one of the concrete reforms that could make a huge difference right now. The other three demands are to end "zero-tolerance" discipline policies, mandate black history and ethnic studies, and hire more black teachers.

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Q&A: How To Talk To Kids About Black Lives And Police Violence

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Like most public school educators, Jesse Hagopian has spent the spring struggling to teach his students online. Some are homeless, while others are working frontline jobs to support their families. And now many of his students, like others around the country, are on the front lines in another sense: protesting the deaths of George Floyd and other black people at the hands of police.

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How do we teach our children anti-racism? These resources will help.

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How do we teach our children anti-racism? These resources will help.

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today.com

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Racism and violence against black people has been a problem in America for hundreds of years. But with recent events and protests, there's a feeling the country could be headed toward " a turning point for real change," as President Barack Obama wrote in an essay for Medium.

If you are a parent looking for resources to help you raise and teach your kids to be anti-racist, you might not know where to start. We followed the direction of educators and activists of different races to give you some ideas.

"I hope that we can all realize that we have our part to play in this," TODAY's Al Roker said in a discussion with his co-anchors. Before we can teach our own children, we need to understand anti-racism ourselves - and then lead by example.

On her Facebook page, author Luvvie Ajayi ("I'm Judging You") recommended a list entitled " 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice," curated by Corinne Shutack, with advice like: "45. Seek out a diverse group of friends for your kids" and "46. Seek out a diverse group of friends for you."

Author and teen expert Lisa Damour ("Untangled," "Under Pressure") shared the words of Shaker Heights, Ohio, high school principal Eric Juli, along with a Google document that has been shared all over social media with a list of anti-racism resources for adults and children.

Author, blogger, and leadership consultant Karen Walrond (Chookooloonks) compiled a list of "works by amazing people and organizations of all races, creeds, faiths and nationalities" for her readers to follow and explore "to help you live a more inclusive life, spark some self-reflection on how you can be an ally (and how you might be a part of the problem) and finally, inspire you to make light."

Walrond's list includes work by Revolutionary Love Project activist Valarie Kaur and author Mira Jacob ("Good Talk").

And Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks also curated a list of things white parents can do as well as how to talk to their kids on their own Facebook page.

"We need to raise the next generation of compassionate, empathetic, enlightened kids," the pair wrote. "It's on us, parents. We can do this."
Never miss a parenting story with the TODAY Parents newsletter. Sign up here!
In fighting racism, a critical component is talking to children about race, discrimination, and how to be anti-racist. Though parents' first reflex might be to aim for their children to be "colorblind," blogger and photographer Jennifer Borget of Cherish365 recently explained to her followers why that is not the most helpful goal.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has compiled a guide for educators about engaging youth in conversations about race that can also be useful for parents.

"From police-involved deaths of Black and Latinx men to everyday racism to Confederate flag controversy with sports figures and celebrities getting involved in the conversation, there is a lot to grapple with and discuss," the ADL writes in their introduction.

Another good resource is the Center for Racial Justice in Education's list of resources for talking to children about race, racism, and racialized violence. Common Sense Media also compiled a list of media resources to help spark discussions with children, including movies, books, TV shows, and video games.

Finally, sometimes the best ways to communicate to children, especially younger children, is through books. Here's a sample list of 31 books created by The Conscious Kid and American Indians in Children's Literature.

"These books showcase the many ways people of all ages and races have worked to disrupt racism and highlight how race intersects with other issues, such as capitalism, class, and colonization," writes the authors.

"The majority of books center on BIPOC [Black and Indigenous People of Color], whose lives and bodies have been on the front lines of racial justice work, yet whose stories often go untold. The essential work of white activists is also included - to underscore that anti-racist work is not the responsibility of BIPOC; and exemplify the ways white people have stood up against racial injustice."

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How do we teach our children anti-racism? These resources will help

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Racism and violence against black people has been a problem in America for hundreds of years. But with recent events and protests, there's a feeling the country could be headed toward " a turning point for real change," as President Barack Obama wrote in an essay for Medium.

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A clear description of what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens.

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Being African American & LGBTQ: An Introduction

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Being African American & LGBTQ: An Introduction

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Human Rights Campain

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African Americans are, and have always been, a vibrant part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and same gender-loving community. From trailblazing pioneers such as openly gay novelist James Baldwin and transgender rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, to modern-day heroes such as actress Laverne Cox and basketball star Jason Collins, LGBTQ African Americans have made enormous contributions to the ongoing fight for social, racial and economic justice.

According to the Williams Institute, there are more than 1 million LGBTQ African Americans currently living in the United States, with approximately 3.7 percent of all African American people identifying as LGBTQ. LGBTQ African Americans are disproportionately young and disproportionately female, and nearly one-third of all African American same-sex couples are raising children.

LGBTQ African Americans live in communities across the nation, but there are some areas of the country where the LGBTQ African American population is more heavily concentrated. Washington, D.C. comes in at number one due in part to the large number of African Americans who live in and around the nation's capital. Maryland, Georgia, New York and North Carolina also have large numbers of LGBTQ African American residents, as do several other states in the Deep South. Notably, many of these states lack statewide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

What are some important issues facing LGBTQ African Americans?

While the Civil Rights Movement resulted in monumental legal changes for a country just 100 years removed from slavery, African Americans continue to experience bias, discrimination and prejudice at all levels of society. The situation is even more severe for LGBTQ African Americans, who live at the intersection of racism, homophobia and transphobia and face a number of critical issues, including:

Economic Insecurity - Although economic conditions in the U.S. are improving, LGBTQ African Americans continue to be economically disadvantaged because of persistent discrimination, housing insecurity, a lack of quality, affordable healthcare and fewer educational opportunities. A 2012 report found that "32 percent of children being raised by Black same-sex couples live in poverty, compared to 13 percent of children being raised by heterosexual Black parents and just 7 percent being raised by married heterosexual white parents." Additionally, Black transgender people face severe rates of poverty, with 34 percent living in extreme poverty compared to just 9 percent of non-transgender Black people.

Violence & Harassment - According to a 2014 report on hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities, Black survivors of hate violence were 1.3 times more likely to experience police violence than their non-Black counterparts. Black survivors were also twice as likely to experience any physical violence, twice as likely to experience discrimination and 1.4 times more likely to experience threats and intimidation during acts of hate violence. Additionally, Black transgender women face the highest levels of fatal violence within the LGBTQ community and are less likely to turn to police for help for fear of revictimization by law enforcement personnel. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 38 percent of Black transgender people who interacted with police reported harassment; 14 percent reported physical assault from police and 6 percent reported sexual assault. Such high rates of revictimization by police is a major barrier to dealing with anti-transgender violence.

HIV & Health Inequity - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young, Black gay and bisexual men are among the communities most heavily affected by HIV. In the city of Atlanta, for example, a young, Black gay man now has a 60 percent chance of becoming HIV-positive by the age of 30 even though Black gay and bisexual men are more likely to engage in safer sex practices than their white counterparts.

Religious Intolerance - While LGBTQ African Americans identify with various faith traditions, the Christian church remains a source of both hope and trepidation for many--but acceptance of LGBTQ people is increasing in communities of faith. For example, according to the Public Religion Research Institute, support for marriage equality increased from 23 percent to 38 percent among Black Protestants between 2013 and 2014.

Criminal Injustice - A number of recent, highly publicized cases of police brutality and misconduct have highlighted how broken our criminal justice system really is. Findings from a 2014 U.S. Department of Justice investigation revealed patterns of excessive force in the Albuquerque and Cleveland police departments. Findings of clear racial disparities and discriminatory intent were also revealed in a 2015 study of Ferguson, Missouri, which became a site of major protests following the police shooting of unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown in 2014. Additionally, data from the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey found disproportionately high rates of arrest and incarceration among Black transgender people when compared to all other racial and ethnic groups.

Where can I find resources that are relevant to the LGBTQ African American community?

Human Rights Campaign

Additional Resources
This resource is specific to the experiences of LGBTQ people living in the United States who identify as African American. For more on the experiences of Black LGBTQ people living outside of the U.S., click here.

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Being African American & LGBTQ: An Introduction | Human Rights Campaign

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African Americans are, and have always been, a vibrant part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and same gender-loving community. From trailblazing pioneers such as openly gay novelist James Baldwin and transgender rights activist Marsha P.

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Anti-Racist Resource Guide by Victoria Alexander, MEd.

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Anti-Racist Resource Guide by Victoria Alexander, MEd.

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Resources by Robin DiAngelo author of White Fragility

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Resources by Robin DiAngelo author of White Fragility

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https://robindiangelo.com/

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White Fragility is a vital, necessary and beautiful book, a bracing call to white folk everywhere to see their whiteness for what it is and to seize the opportunity to make things better now. DiAngelo joins the front ranks of white anti-racist thinkers with a stirring call to conscience, and most important, consciousness, in her white brothers. White fragility is a truly generative idea... an idea whose time has come.

Michael Eric Dyson

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White Fragility is a vital, necessary and beautiful book, a bracing call to white folk everywhere to see their whiteness for what it is and to seize the opportunity to make things better now. DiAngelo joins the front ranks of white anti-racist thinkers with a stirring call to conscience, and most important, consciousness, in her white brothers.

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Robin DiAngelo On Racism and Whiteness SD

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Resources related to Black Lives Matter, Racial Trauma, Ally Development

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Resources related to Black Lives Matter, Racial Trauma, Ally Development

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University of Kentucky Counseling Center

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Action steps broken down into daily readings and education.

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NIGMS Feedback Loop Blog – National Institute of General Medical Sciences

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NIGMS Feedback Loop Blog – National Institute of General Medical Sciences

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A catalyst for interaction with the scientific community

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The recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, in addition to the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on African Americans, are wrenching reminders of the many harms that societal racism, inequality, and injustice inflict on the Black community. These injustices are rooted in centuries of oppression-including slavery and Jim Crow, redlining, school segregation, and mass incarceration-that continue to influence American life, including the biomedical research enterprise. Despite leading an NIH Institute whose mission includes building a diverse scientific workforce, at NIGMS we've struggled with what an adequate response to this moment would be, knowing that the systems that mediate the distinct and disparate burdens Black students, postdocs, and scientists face are complex and often aren't easily moved with the urgency that they demand. With that in mind, below we share thoughts on what each of us who is in the majority or in a position of power can do to help break the cycles of racial disparities that are woven into the fabric of the biomedical research enterprise and that limit opportunities for Black scientists .

Institutional structures, policies, and cultures , including those in the biomedical research enterprise, all contribute to racial inequality and injustice. This fact was laid bare for us by the responses to the request for information (RFI) we issued in 2018 on strategies to enhance successful postdoctoral career transitions to promote faculty diversity. Respondents cited bias and discrimination-including racism-most frequently as a key barrier to postdoctoral researchers attaining independent faculty positions.

In the words of one response from the postdoctoral association at a well-known NIH-funded institution:

"A major barrier that underrepresented minority scientists face is discrimination and harassment. As postdocs at [major research university], many of us have witnessed or have been the target of numerous forms of discrimination and harassment ranging from the covert (e.g. microaggressions and implicit bias) to the overt (e.g. hate speech, isolation, and intimidation). Examples include having inappropriate and hurtful comments about our intelligence, race, ethnicity, religion, and national origin directed at us and our peers; being scrutinized more harshly by our peers and advisors based on our race and/or appearance; consistently being ignored or talked over during meetings; having our contributions and accomplishments undermined, devalued or overlooked entirely; being isolated within laboratories such that colleagues neither acknowledge us nor respond to formal requests for research materials or information; having our access to reagents and equipment restricted by colleagues; and, being stopped and questioned by campus/city police while going about our university business. Even when witnessed by our supervisors, most of these incidents were overlooked, which served to increase our sense of isolation and not belonging. The effect of such a hostile work environment is detrimental to underrepresented minority scientists' research productivity and a severe mental health burden. This is compounded by the fact that underrepresented minority scientists will most likely continue to face hostility and isolation as they advance through the faculty ranks. Together, the reality of a hostile work environment coupled with the prospect of future hostile work environments at the faculty level saps underrepresented minority scientists of their energy, creativity, and resolve to pursue a career in academia."

Another respondent, who identified as a Black woman and postdoc, noted:

"It feels strange to hear people say "we don't have enough Black faculty" and I'll be sitting here talking to other Black colleagues about how we are running out of grant funding or are underpaid and we're trying to get faculty positions and not having any luck...I read all these articles online and see all these people saying they do diversity work for the university, and then I still see me and the other Black staff scientists (many of whom hold PhDs from ivy leagues schools) and we are just sitting here unsure of how to find our way into a faculty position. If diversity in academia is such a problem, why doesn't anyone look under their nose and see that we are right here and try to give us a leg up?"
What Is NIGMS Doing?
We at NIGMS are committed to using every strategy we can to enable and incentivize institutions to develop structures, policies, and cultures that are inclusive, safe, and supportive of all community members, including those from groups that have historically been and continue to be subject to racial discrimination, such as African Americans. For example, we recently launched the Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers ( MOSAIC) program to enhance diversity within the academic biomedical research workforce. We hope the program will help address the significant underrepresentation of Black (as well as Latinx and Indigenous) faculty in the professoriate , and we have been encouraged by the fact that over half of the applicants to the first round of the MOSAIC K99s were Black/African American.

Additionally, we completely reworked the expectations for all of our training programs, incorporating strong emphasis on the creation of safe, supportive, and inclusive institutional cultures; enhancing faculty and student diversity; and training culturally competent mentors. Institutional change in these areas is necessary because diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just about fairness, they are integral to excellence in research and research training. Reviewers are carefully considering these criteria when evaluating training grant applications, and programs that are making strong progress in these areas are doing well, whereas programs that are not focusing on them are not. These review outcomes have been and will continue to be reflected in our funding decisions. To monitor progress and be fully transparent, we are working on a report showing the demographic data for NIGMS-supported trainees over time and intend to update and release the information annually.

We have also been carefully monitoring the applicant and awardee demographics in our Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) program to look for and try to mitigate any signs of potential bias. Thus far, for the early-stage investigator MIRA program, applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are getting funded at the same rates as those from well-represented groups, although this is not yet true of the established investigator program. In partnership with the Center for Scientific Review and the NIH Office of Scientific Workforce Diversity, we will be piloting bias awareness training for reviewers, scientific review officers, and program officers involved in review and funding recommendations for the established and early-stage investigator MIRA programs.

However, we recognize that these steps will not be enough on their own to reverse the decades of discrimination and inequity in the biomedical research enterprise. As with the rest of NIH, Black scientists represented around 1% of NIGMS R01/R35 investigator pool in FY 2019. With the community's help, we will redouble our efforts to find additional strategies to advance the careers of Black students and scientists.
What Can Those of Us in the Majority Do?
At an individual level, those of us who have not truly acknowledged the gravity of the situation in the biomedical research workforce must recognize that there is a very real problem that needs to be solved. We must educate ourselves using the many resources available, including university Africana studies departments and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). We must carefully listen to the experiences and views of our Black trainees and faculty, such as those expressed above in the responses to the RFI. These conversations can be facilitated through the NMAAHC's " Talking About Race " website. And then we must use what we learn as the basis for making positive change at our institutions.

Researchers who study bias and discrimination have pointed to some of the following actions for creating environments in which Black students and scientists can thrive:

Recognize and reduce systemic and explicit bias, e.g., through bystander interventions

Mitigate unconscious bias

Increase cultural awareness and sensitivity when teaching and mentoring

Emphasize cultural assets rather than deficits

Diminish imposter phenomenon

Reduce stereotype threat

Eliminate micro aggressions

Increase micro affirmations

Support the need for a higher purpose, e.g., giving back to the community (see articles published in 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010)

Look to organizations that have a record of producing and supporting Black scientists, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and learn from them (see NSF data )

Reassess evaluation metrics for entry and advancement at the trainee and faculty levels to ensure they don't perpetuate systemic bias (e.g., 2017 , 2014 )

Link institutional appointment and promotion criteria to demonstrated efforts to create more equitable and just training environments that supports Black trainees and students, as well as others from underrepresented groups

We at NIGMS and the organizations and researchers we support must use this information to continually improve the institutions in which we work and make them safe, inclusive, and supportive scientific and training environments for Black students and researchers, as well as for students and researchers from all backgrounds. For example, anyone with concerns that harassment is affecting an NIH funded project at a grantee institution should submit information regarding the situation through the anonymous reporting portal.

We encourage you to also get involved in diversity-enhancing programs such as those supported by NIGMS. If your institution does not have such a program, consider taking the lead in starting one. If you want guidance on how to do this, please contact one of the program directors in our Divisions of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity or Research Capacity Building. Finally, for principal investigators on NIH research grants, consider applying for diversity supplements to enhance the diversity-and scientific strength-of your laboratory.

Our commitment to a diverse workforce can't be realized until our Black students, postdocs, and colleagues have the same opportunities to enter and advance within the biomedical research community as anyone else. Eliminating biases of all kinds-scientific, institutional, regional, gender, and racial-is essential to the continued strength of the biomedical research enterprise in our country. At NIGMS we are committed to doing everything we can to achieve this goal.

We recognize this is a limited list of ideas and welcome your comments.

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What Can We Do to Combat Anti-Black Racism in the Biomedical Research Enterprise?

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The recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, in addition to the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on African Americans, are wrenching reminders of the many harms that societal racism, inequality, and injustice inflict on the Black community.

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11,773 views|Jun 16, 2020,10:30am EDTBlack Doctors Need More Than Demonstrations, They Need Change

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11,773 views|Jun 16, 2020,10:30am EDTBlack Doctors Need More Than Demonstrations, They Need Change

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All across the United States, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers recently knelt in solidarity during demonstrations for #WhiteCoatsforBlackLives. Many organizations, from the American Medical Association to Harvard Medical School also sent out statements to their communities condemning racism. These actions were a show of support, and a nice gesture, but many black physicians remain skeptical of real change happening inside of academia or the hospital walls. And, for good reason. One need only read the hashtag #BlackintheIvory to begin to understand.

In part one of this series, we heard from black doctors who discussed their emotional experiences fighting two pandemics at the same time, and in part two, we will explore their feelings about the role of their colleagues and institutions in this critical moment. Will they make sustainable change? Is it finally time to have more than hope? Or is it, again, empty words.

Danielle Jackson MD, MPH, Psychiatry Resident and REACH Scholar, The Yale School of Medicine

As I sat across from my colleagues in virtual space on a zoom meeting I was taken aback by the ease at which folks made small talk. There were discussions about the country "opening up" and what someone's plans for vacation were, but no mention of the current protests in the wake of the viscous murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others. It was just Wednesday.

This was in spite of the fact that every retailer in a one mile radius had reinforced their storefronts with plyboard and 2x2s as if we were awaiting an unseasonal hurricane.

I interjected into the random conversation before the meeting started and invited my colleagues to join me in solidarity and protest again police brutality and structural racism. I was met by silence, and then one question: "Are we going looting afterwards?"

I stopped speaking. It was like the entire room faded away and I was sitting on a street corner crying out for help, but no one could hear me. When their words had been fully processed, my brief response was, "No."

We continued that afternoon with all but me unphased by previous events. I left our "wellness meeting" ironically feeling quite unwell. Shortly after I received text messages from two other colleagues. They all informed me "it was terrible what was said," " it was insensitive," and "they are really sorry, they just made a bad joke."

This was not the first time I had been on the receiving end of remarks like this in medicine. On the day Laquan McDonald 's alleged murderer obtained freedom from conviction, I sat in a class about trauma engagement in refugee communities. At the conclusion of the lecture, I asked what interventions were underway to address the daily trauma in the black community. This was met with: "There is no trauma in the black community." Once again I walked away in disbelief.

These were my peers and colleagues and of all medical specialties psychiatrists should strive for empathy and to understand our patient population.

In the last few weeks since all of America witnessed the violent death of Mr. Floyd captured on video, followed by the news of Ms. Breonna Taylor's murder while sleeping in her own bed during the execution of a "no knock" warrant, the black community has been in mourning. As I write this the list of black people murdered in the last 2 months alone continues to grow. The emotional toll is palpable, as is despair, frustration, and longing for a community that understands my blackness. One that accepts it, rather than simply tolerating it. Most importantly there is a longing, a desire to educate a level of understanding into folks. While I have no problem with sharing our painful history of being black in America with the engaged scholar, we should not have to repeatedly rationalize our black pain or the importance of the movement for an audience incapable of change.

Fatima Cody Stanford MD, MPH, MPA, Obesity Medicine and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

We are worn. We are tired. We are mustering up "just enough" energy to make it through.

The current focus on the plight of the black community, which has become a daily international focus, has truly caused significant distress in black physicians. We are supposed to show up to evaluate patients, continue our teaching of students and junior faculty, continue our research endeavors, present lectures, and also engage in all efforts to fix the structural racism that is entrenched in our society after the recent senseless deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd at the hands of police officers. There are often times when I just want a break. Yet, I realize that I have a limited time window in which anyone cares about what I have to think about injustice in healthcare and daily life.

I continue to ponder how I can fix a 400 year old problem in the US, especially as the oppressed party. The answer is I can't. Neither can the black and brown community without significant help from the majority white community. But, here we are with an added component to the "black tax" as I am called to meetings to fix the injustice that I experience most days of my 40+ years on this earth.

I am hurt. We are hurt. Please help. We cannot do this alone.

Anthony Chin-Quee MD, Otolaryngologist, Los Angeles, CA

This might be breaking news to you, my dear white colleague, but it's been yesterday's paper to me: the institution of academic medicine is a microcosm of the story of American white supremacy.

The American medical profession is the province of learned white men, founded on the premise of the White Man's Burden: your intellect would be wielded for the greater good of society. All people, of all colors, cultures, and beliefs would be your domain. You would innovate, experiment, and sacrifice the expendable in the singular pursuit of conquering disease and ending suffering. And the world would revere you for it.

That is a powerful position to hold-and it came with all the familiar trappings: social standing, wealth, and that often elusive commodity: professional self-satisfaction.

When new faces came knocking to share in your bounty, your first thought was to protect your power. It was you who had meticulously garnered the power to save lives. Why would you share it?

But you'd taken an oath of beneficence. So you allowed incremental steps forward, and disguised them as mighty gifts. Much like the right for blacks to vote was tempered by gerrymandering and voter suppression, you allowed minorities and women into your halls, but left us to neglect. We were held to your unfamiliar rituals of decorum and your narrow standards of excellence, but you never shared the secrets of how to satisfy either. It was an invisible discrimination that couldn't be proven, and so couldn't be fought. Your power was safe. It was brilliant.

And now, to be on the right side of history, you want to join the fight for racial justice. By writing a social media post. By taking a knee in solidarity. By doing only what comes at no cost to the world you've so deftly crafted because you'll maintain control.

The true fight requires sacrifice. Do you know what that looks like? I do. I know the face of my own sacrifice to you all too well. I kept my hair short, presentable. I smiled. I danced. I lost sight of my humanity and self-worth. All in an effort to learn at your altar. All so I could stand now on the platform of the pedigree of expertise that you so graciously gave to me. So I could finally use my voice today to risk everything that I've sweat, cried, and nearly died for.

Today my bandwidth to constructively criticize 'white allies' dances on a razor's edge, with the abyss of despair on either side. The only thing keeping me upright is a sliver of hope. I've been disheartened by the performative, self-aggrandizing support of the masses of 'allies'. But I hold out hope that this insular, self-governing community of yours that believes itself to be the best of us will earn the reverence society has given it.

To survive in your world, I've already risked and lost so much of myself. That was your price.

But now we all ask: What will you risk? What are you prepared to lose?

Lisa Harding MD, Chief Resident, Yale Intervention Psychiatry Services, The Yale School of Medicine

"Your son tolerated the procedure well, and he is in the recovery area. It will be about 30 mins before you can see him, but you will be updated as things progress."

"Thank you, may I speak with the doctor anyway?"

This invisibility has been a theme in my career regardless of acuity in political or social climates.

The world has inflicted a mental and physical trauma on black people that have no words to make you understand. It is the time for everyone, especially white people to accept it in a way that one accepts a god and needs no proof.

With the murder of every black person, either by law enforcement or a self-righteous citizen, I go through the motions. There are tears from a physical pain I feel in my chest. There are days I am convinced every single white person is the same, even my patients. Sometimes I wonder if they really had a choice, would I even be their doctor? Then there are more tears of guilt for thinking these things. The transient relief comes when I focus on my black son and husband who still breathe, for now.

George Floyd's death is different. This time is different. It is because it comes on the heels of a pandemic and the world is very raw. Why this time? For all the black people murdered, lynched, raped and dehumanized, for the first time in my lifetime anyway, I don't feel outrage alone. I have had so many white people call me, e-mail, text me, and reach out with actionable intent. They have stood by me at Black Lives Matter rallies and I have seen them cry. I am hopeful, and hope is the most powerful feeling I have this time, but the anger still comes in waves.

I hear them asking me: What do you want me to do in my position? What policy can I support? Where do I find information to change the curriculum?

Why are you asking me? After all, this is not a problem I created!

Yet, as much as I am annoyed by these questions it points out to me that the mindset has shifted. No more empty thoughts and prayers. There appears to be an awakening of consciousness that we all need to actively participate to achieve equality.

Darrell M. Gray II MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine,Division of Gastroenterology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University

"I can't breathe."

These were among the last words of George Floyd before he was killed. These words are now plastered on signs held by children, women, and men across the world in global protests. I joined peaceful protests because I too, at times, have felt like I can't breathe and I too seek justice in the eradication of police brutality and racism.

As a physician leader and a black man, the fight against racism is tangible and a daily lived experience. I treat patients with chronic diseases and they leave my office and head home to their neighborhoods - those lacking sidewalks for exercise and those in food deserts with limited to no healthy food grocers - that fostered those conditions and, in some cases, have been shaped by discriminatory policies and practices.

And with or without my white coat, I've been subject to racism, implicit biases, and microaggressions by patients and peers throughout my career. I've been racially profiled by police. I've been followed in stores by security guards and store clerks. I've had patients give me the look of disdainful surprise when walked in the examination room,"You're Dr. Gray?"

Yet, even beneath the weight of these experiences and the pain of recent events (the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, to name only a few), I remain hopeful. I choose not to live in fear. My faith and focus on trying to model Christ grounds me and grants me clearer vision for my purpose during this time. They allow me to channel my emotions into constructive action to dismantle racism, address social determinants of health, and eradicate the downstream health disparities.

I believe we are at a tipping point as a society. When I see colleagues in medicine protesting, chanting "black lives matter" and demanding change, I believe that it's not just a moment or photo-op. It's a movement, one that will cultivate a safer and more just world for my family, peers, and patients.

And so, I will breathe.

Jessica Shepherd MD, MBA, OB/GYN, Dallas, TX

I remember having an older black woman in my office last week and her telling me of her experiences as a child in East Texas going to the community pool on certain days for "colored people," picking cotton, and arriving to Dallas with her family when JFK was shot. How was this a conversation that I was having with a patient-Her memories rang so harshly with me. I wondered about our lives as black women and how these experiences were not so long ago. The irony of this was that we both saw how her having a black female doctor was progress, but yet we still had to sit and discuss the recent tragedies of George Floyd.

Diversity in the US is increasing, yet this diversity is not paralleled in the medical field or in healthcare leadership. I continue to see these inequalities infiltrate the treatment of black women when it comes to their health, whether it's in pregnancy or conditions such as fibroids. I have seen countless women who have been given the option of only hysterectomy when the options for fibroid management are extensive. Why are they not worth a discussion or a relationship to determine where they are in their journey with fibroids? We see these statistics continually affecting black mothers in pregnancy with preeclampsia, preterm labor, and maternal death.

There is deep rooted structural racism in medicine, and subconscious implicit bias still present in many physicians. As a part of the 2% black female physicians, we know the daunting amount of work needed to support the backbone of black communities. We need change. This begins with medical communities, organizations, hospital administration, and insurances being vulnerable to the horrible truths of racism in health care.

I am now even more determined to call action to the overt discrimination that I have personally experienced and that will continue to stain medicine in America. These struggles are not only mine, but also those of the entire black community.
"fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not properly communicated with each other."
- Martin Luther King, Jr

MichaelMcClurkin MD MPP, Psychiatry Resident, The Yale School of Medicine

The profound, underlying economic, health, and judicial disparities of the black community, together with the Covid-19 pandemic has been a disaster for the black Americans who share a disproportionate burden of the impact due to policy decisions that made black Americans more likely to face unemployment or financial hardship during this crisis and more likely to die from Covid-19. This, together with the murder of George Floyd by police, makes this period incredibly stressful and emotionally draining.

As a black man, I have experienced racism in every step of my journey. From growing up on public assistance in a single-parent household struggling for survival to a medical student working through racially-biased clinical training and the residency admission process, to becoming a burgeoning physician-scientist in academia learning how black applications for NIH research grants in areas such as community-oriented research are less likely to be funded. I did this all while doing my best to avoid becoming the next hashtag, as like most black men in this country, I have had a less than cordial encounter with law enforcement.

The trauma of black America extends for over 400 years. Supporting the mental health in black America is something that I have always felt called to do and the recent events only make clear the urgency of the need for the support of mental health care by our institutions and policies. Addressing these issues requires a workforce of black physicians and scientists.

Estell J. Williams MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine

On Saturday, June 6 th, I co-organized a healthcare workers' march for justice, attracting nearly 10,000 individuals from across Washington State. It all began with a letter I penned explaining my life experiences and encounters with racism and police. The protest was a beautiful sight, but I don't consider it a win. Don't get me wrong, it was inspiring to see so many healthcare workers demanding justice for black lives. But in all of the enthusiasm and joy was the reminder that black voices are often unheard.

In the aftermath, I received numerous emails from black colleagues who commended me for my letter and the courage to speak up and speak out. They were inspired by my unapologetic truth and shared how they felt they could not speak their truth and their experience, until now. Honestly, receiving these emails made me feel such sadness and anger. We as black healthcare workers have felt the pressure to perform and be "better" than everyone around us because we felt the judgment, spoken and unspoken, that we were only in our profession to fill some diversity quota. Our existence in these walls is a protest everyday against a narrative that we are unqualified and unwelcome.

Yet, we suffer in silence. Not wanting to ruffle feathers. So grateful to have "made it" and hoping to achieve a position within our organization to change things for the next generation. We keep repeating the same mantra, "just make it through" and you can achieve some penultimate position and status that will allow you to change things. But there is no pinnacle. I survived the inner city, raised by a single father, first in my family to go to college, only to work in academia and question my very belonging. There is isolation in hearing yet again with the Covid-19 pandemic that black people are more prone to yet another disease. What were all the long nights studying and unrelenting dedication to my craft for? Our outcomes haven't changed. We are still dying.

Breonna Taylor was an EMT. She did everything right, studied hard, and yet it still didn't stop her ultimate demise at the hands of police violence. She is a colleague, an ally in healthcare. Yet she couldn't lend her voice to speak for the injustice of George Floyd because hers too was stolen. I feel time and time again in speaking with colleagues and navigating an academic career a feeling of being a stolen voice. Afraid to speak too loudly or too strong because, what will my colleagues say? I don't want to be the angry Black woman. I am here to take care of all patient's not just Black patients. I am just trying to survive, I don't want to have to constantly explain why we should spend extra time learning about bias and racism.
I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I am changing the things I cannot accept. - Angela Davis
But, I found the courage to speak in that letter and I do not regret it one bit. It gave so many others the courage to speak as well. While I may feel the stagnation of progress, I am speaking up for change, because I refuse to suffer in silence any longer.

Garth Walker MD, MPH, Emergency Physician, Northwestern Buehler Center For Health Economics and Policy And Chief Equity Officer At IMPACT

WEB Dubois coined the term "double consciousness" to describe the feeling that you have more than one social identity, which makes it difficult to develop a sense of self and a vantage point of continuously viewing an oppressed group through the eyes of a white racist society. As a black physician practicing in a healthcare system marred with ethical abuse on black and brown bodies, this internal conflict often leaves an emotional toll and exhaustion enviously not felt by our other colleagues. For all of our constant advocacy for equal access, equitable representation, and attention to social justice for our communities, the utter lack of progress can at times feel deflating.

The irony and cruel reality of the current climate is that the pressure to protest falls heaviest on those who have been hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, African Americans. Of course no one wants Covid-19 to spread, but, for black physicians like myself, the call to action is multiplied. How do we as doctors effectively continue to fight on the frontlines while dealing with the hurt, anger, frustration, and sadness in our community resulting from the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, and Breonna Taylor? That reality, against the backdrop of gross healthcare disparities, places black physicians in a very difficult conundrum: weighing the risk and benefit of recommendations centered around physically isolating during the pandemic against protesting for justice and equality.

Personally this irony feels unfair, unwarranted, and defeating at times because there is no right answer. The right to protest has brought forth advancements in civil rights that have not only improved black communities livelihood, but the livelihood for many other marginalized groups. With the police brutality so easily witnessed with George Floyd's death on video, it seems like there is no choice but to protest when staying inside can feel just as lethal given the repercussion of racism.

As physician leaders we recognize the need to fight both Covid-19 and racism simultaneously can seem impossible, but we are not strangers to tackling the impossible. As we go forward we will need our colleagues to think differently about how we support minority physicians compassionately, emotionally, and professionally. Such action can start by re-examining our institutions strategy to achieve equity and diversity both internally and externally. The beauty of social progress has been witnessed with mass gatherings from all walks of life in support black lives matter, however our true test will be seen in how we earnestly translate our collective voices into action and progress from our own platforms.

Shekinah N. C. Elmore MD, MPH, Resident, Harvard Radiation Oncology Program

I am a black physician in training at a predominantly white institution. That is to say my belonging and performance is called into question by my patients, teammates, and supervisors frequently and differentially from my non-black colleagues. We do not have body cameras, and so these injuries are harder to validate to those who would never experience them. When I do recount a particularly extraordinary incident to a non-black colleague - let's say a department chair wondering aloud to me, apropos of nothing, whether the only black faculty member that the department has ever had left because they "just didn't like it up North." - it's my reliability as a narrator that is called into question. As you might imagine, this series of near constant onslaughts without a mechanism for accountability is deeply wearing.

This week, however, I have received a rather alarming number of messages from non-black physicians, both peers and superiors alike, asking me how I am doing. Or noting that I am "in their thoughts." A few have even gone so far as to ask what they can do. To be clear, this has never happened in my decade at this institution. I can admire that the intentions behind this outreach are noble, but the impact is quite different.

If a patient were gasping for air, tired and cyanotic, it would be absurd for a physician to walk into the room, put a hand on the patient's shoulder and ask "How are you feeling?" It would be more preposterous still to ask the patient "What can I do about your shortness of breath?" And, finally, it would be totally beyond the pale to sit down and announce "One of my college friends had a neighbor who was short of breath and it seemed very difficult."

Instead, any physician would either try to restore the patient's oxygenation immediately, or call for the help of a more qualified doctor. And, when the second doctor came, the first would keenly observe the exact nature and order of steps needed to address the problem, so that they would be prepared to help next time. There is an aphorism in medical education that says this about learning such procedures: See one, do one, teach one. This is an exaggerated runway of competence. But, it would be unthinkable to see one, then see another one, then see yet another one until you had given up on seeing and decided to exasperatedly ask "what can I do?" That lack of autonomy would never be tolerated in junior, much less senior physicians.

But that is exactly the message that it sends when white physicians with leadership roles tell me that I am in their thoughts. These are physicians who I have seen radically transform their departments and hospitals in a matter of days to address the novel coronavirus. I have a Master's in Public Health and a decade of experience in supporting health systems change, but they did not need to ask me how to do this. They deemed the cause worthy and essential and got to work.

I worry that focusing on my individual suffering without actively looking to address its systemic underpinnings simply naturalizes it as inevitable. It denies power and abdicates responsibility. I am not saying that allowing grace for black healthcare workers in this extraordinarily painful moment isn't essential. It is. And yet a swift and total remaking of the academic medical environment that enables, perpetuates and rewards anti-black racism would do much more for my mental health than a well-meaning text message.

What Can Allies Do To Actually Help Change Medicine?

Educate Yourself on How To Be An Anti-Racist

Read about how to be an Ally. Two books to get started are White Fragility by Dr. Robin DiAngelo and How To Be An Anti-Racist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and purchase them from black bookstores. Consider this Ally Box.

Watch 13th by Ava DuVernay and other things on this list or the TED Talks on this list. Don't watch The Help.

10 discussion questions (applicable to all levels of conversation):

Help promote visibility in addition to equity:

If you are going to make institutional change and expect black people to do the work, expect to pay and support them for it:

Change and help support the pipeline to get into and stay in medicine:

Look at your own hospital policies and procedures for treatment of black patients, especially when it comes to violence and use of security. Think and learn about Alan Pean's case of being shot in the hospital (he survived).

Remember, it is not about you.

It is the time to truly get uncomfortable.

... Read More

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Black Doctors Need More Than Demonstrations, They Need Change

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All across the United States, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers recently knelt in solidarity during demonstrations for #WhiteCoatsforBlackLives. Many organizations, from the American Medical Association to Harvard Medical School also sent out statements to their communities condemning racism.

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The 2019 Racial Justice Report Card (RJRC) consists of 14 metrics that evaluate an academic center's curriculum and climate, student and faculty diversity, policing, racial integration of clinical care sites, treatment of workers, and research protocols. For our second pilot report, local student evaluators graded 17 medical institutions.

In recent years, URM faculty, administrators, and students have spearheaded efforts to recruit diverse student bodies. The RJRC hopes to galvanize support for the institutional changes required not only to create an environment in which URM students and their patients can thrive, but also actively fight for racial justice.

Ultimately, the RJRC seeks to encourage academic medical centers to take seriously their responsibility to fight racism in medicine. The report card is not exhaustive. We hope, however, that it will serve as a springboard for evaluating and enacting anti-racist medical education and care. WC4BL also hopes that prospective and current students, faculty, staff, and health organizations can utilize the RJRC to galvanize action and change at these medical schools and academic medical centers.

View the 2019 full report: WC4BL Racial Justice Report Card -- 2019 Full Report

View the 2018 report: WC4BL Racial Justice Report Card -- 2018 Full Report

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Send us Feedback/Suggestions/RJRC Stories!
Learn More about Joining the RJRC National Committee

Encourage friends to sign up for the WC4BL newsletter

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The 2019 Racial Justice Report Card (RJRC) consists of 14 metrics that evaluate an academic center's curriculum and climate, student and faculty diversity, policing, racial integration of clinical care sites, treatment of workers, and research protocols. For our second pilot report, local student evaluators graded 17 medical institutions.

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Structural Solutions for the Rarest of the Rare — Underrepresented-Minority Faculty in Medical Subspecialties

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Structural Solutions for the Rarest of the Rare — Underrepresented-Minority Faculty in Medical Subspecialties

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Kemi M. Doll, M.D., and Charles R. Thomas, Jr., M.D.

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1-800-843-6356 | [email protected]

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Psychological and Cognitive Sciences

Significance

The present work examines beliefs associated with racial bias in pain management, a critical health care domain with well-documented racial disparities. Specifically, this work reveals that a substantial number of white laypeople and medical students and residents hold false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites and demonstrates that these beliefs predict racial bias in pain perception and treatment recommendation accuracy. It also provides the first evidence that racial bias in pain perception is associated with racial bias in pain treatment recommendations. Taken together, this work provides evidence that false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites continue to shape the way we perceive and treat black people-they are associated with racial disparities in pain assessment and treatment recommendations.

Keywords: racial bias, pain perception, health care disparities, pain treatment

Abstract

Black Americans are systematically undertreated for pain relative to white Americans. We examine whether this racial bias is related to false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites (e.g., "black people's skin is thicker than white people's skin"). Study 1 documented these beliefs among white laypersons and revealed that participants who more strongly endorsed false beliefs about biological differences reported lower pain ratings for a black (vs. white) target. Study 2 extended these findings to the medical context and found that half of a sample of white medical students and residents endorsed these beliefs. Moreover, participants who endorsed these beliefs rated the black (vs. white) patient's pain as lower and made less accurate treatment recommendations. Participants who did not endorse these beliefs rated the black (vs. white) patient's pain as higher, but showed no bias in treatment recommendations. These findings suggest that individuals with at least some medical training hold and may use false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites to inform medical judgments, which may contribute to racial disparities in pain assessment and treatment.

A young man goes to the doctor complaining of severe pain in his back. He expects and trusts that a medical expert, his physician, will assess his pain and prescribe the appropriate treatment to reduce his suffering. After all, a primary goal of health care is to reduce pain and suffering. Whether he receives the standard of care that he expects, however, is likely contingent on his race/ethnicity. Prior research suggests that if he is black, then his pain will likely be underestimated and undertreated compared with if he is white ( 1- 10). The present work investigates one potential factor associated with this racial bias. Specifically, in the present research, we provide evidence that white laypeople and medical students and residents believe that the black body is biologically different-and in many cases, stronger-than the white body. Moreover, we provide evidence that these beliefs are associated with racial bias in perceptions of others' pain, which in turn predict accuracy in pain treatment recommendations. The current work, then, addresses an important social factor that may contribute to racial bias in health and health care.

Extant research has shown that, relative to white patients, black patients are less likely to be given pain medications and, if given pain medications, they receive lower quantities ( 1- 10). For example, in a retrospective study, Todd et al. ( 10) found that black patients were significantly less likely than white patients to receive analgesics for extremity fractures in the emergency room (57% vs. 74%), despite having similar self-reports of pain. This disparity in pain treatment is true even among young children. For instance, a study of nearly one million children diagnosed with appendicitis revealed that, relative to white patients, black patients were less likely to receive any pain medication for moderate pain and were less likely to receive opioids-the appropriate treatment-for severe pain ( 6).

These disparities in pain treatment could reflect an overprescription of medications for white patients, underprescription of medications for black patients, or, more likely, both. Indeed, there is evidence that overprescription is an issue, but there is also clear evidence that the underprescription of pain medications for black patients is a real, documented phenomenon ( 1, 4). For example, a study examining pain management among patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer found that only 35% of racial minority patients received the appropriate prescriptions-as established by the World Health Organization guidelines-compared with 50% of nonminority patients ( 4).

Broadly speaking, there are two potential ways by which racial disparities in pain management could arise. The first possibility is that physicians recognize black patients' pain, but do not to treat it, perhaps due to concerns about noncompliance or access to health care ( 7, 8). The second possibility is that physicians do not recognize black patients' pain in the first place, and thus cannot treat it. In fact, recent work suggests that racial bias in pain treatment may stem, in part, from racial bias in perceptions of others' pain. This research has shown that people assume a priori that blacks feel less pain than do whites ( 11- 17). In a study by Staton et al. ( 14), for instance, patients were asked to report how much pain they were experiencing, and physicians were asked to rate how much pain they thought the patients were experiencing. Physicians were more likely to underestimate the pain of black patients (47%) relative to nonblack patients (33.5%). Of note, this research has also shown that racial attitudes, measured both implicitly and explicitly, do not predict racial bias in pain perception or treatment ( 11, 15, 18), with the exception of one study showing that implicit pro-white attitudes predicted physicians' likelihood of recommending thrombolysis treatment ( 19). Racial bias in perceptions of pain (and possibly treatment) does not appear to be borne out of racist attitudes. In other words, it is likely not the result of racist individuals acting in racist ways. To date, then, it is unclear what beliefs account for disparities in pain assessment and treatment. Here, we examine the extent to which beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites (e.g., beliefs that blacks have thicker skin than do white people or that black people's blood coagulates more quickly than white people's blood) are associated with racial bias in pain perception and treatment recommendations.

Beliefs that blacks and whites are fundamentally and biologically different have been prevalent in various forms for centuries. In the United States, these beliefs were championed by scientists, physicians, and slave owners alike to justify slavery and the inhumane treatment of black men and women in medical research ( 20- 25). In the 19th century, prominent physicians sought to establish the "physical peculiarities" of blacks that could "serve to distinguish him from the white man" ( 23). Such "peculiarities" included thicker skulls, less sensitive nervous systems, and diseases inherent in dark skin ( 20, 21, 23). Dr. Samuel Cartright, for instance, wrote that blacks bore a "Negro disease [making them] insensible to pain when subjected to punishment" ( 20). Other physicians believed that blacks could tolerate surgical operations with little, if any, pain at all ( 22, 25). Well into the 20th century, researchers continued to experiment on black people based in part on the assumption that the black body was more resistant to pain and injury. The military covertly tested mustard gas and other chemicals on black soldiers during World War II, and the US Public Health Service, in collaboration with the Tuskegee Institute, studied the progression of untreated syphilis in black men from 1932 to 1972.

Today, many laypeople, scientists, and scholars continue to believe that the black body is biologically and fundamentally different from the white body and that race is a fixed marker of group membership, rooted in biology ( 26- 28). In fact, many people insist that black people are better athletes-stronger, faster, and more agile-as a result of natural selection and deliberate breeding practices during slavery ( 29- 33). Research suggests that people even believe that black people are more likely than white people to be capable of fantastical mental and physical feats, such as withstanding extreme heat from burning coals ( 17). These biological conceptions of race are only weakly if at all correlated with racial attitudes ( 27, 34). They are nonetheless consequential. Research has shown that biological conceptions and related beliefs are associated with greater acceptance of racial disparities ( 27) and even racial bias in pain perception ( 17). Indeed, in one study, white participants who believed black people can tolerate extreme heat more than white people can, for example, were more likely to think that black people feel less pain than do white people ( 17).

In the present work, we examine whether beliefs about biological differences are associated with racial bias in pain perception and treatment recommendations. Specifically, we test whether people-including people with some medical training-believe that black people feel less pain than do white people, and we test whether people with some medical training recommend fewer or weaker pain medications to black vs. white patients. In addition, the present work extends prior work in three important ways. First, it documents whether people with some medical training (medical students and residents who already treat patients) hold false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites in contemporary times. Second, it tests whether these beliefs predict racial bias in perceptions of others' pain and racial bias in the accuracy of treatment recommendations among a sample of white medical students and residents. Third, it investigates whether racial bias in pain perception is related to racial bias in pain management. We focus on white participants given the historical context of black-white relations, particularly in the medical context ( 20- 25). Analyses for nonwhite participants can be found in the for the interested reader.

In two studies, we asked people to make judgments about another person's pain. In study 1, we used a between-participants design in which laypeople were randomly assigned to rate the pain of either a black or a white target. In study 2, we used a within-participants design in which medical students and residents provided pain ratings and treatment recommendations for both a black and a white target. In addition to pain ratings, we measured beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites using 15 items (e.g., black people's skin is thicker than white people's skin; see for the full list of items). We predicted that these beliefs would be associated with racial bias in pain perception.

Study 1

In study 1, we first establish that individuals without medical training endorse beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites and demonstrate that these beliefs are related to racial bias in pain perception. We recruited 121 participants, 92 of whom met our a priori criteria (i.e., white, born in the United States, native English speakers). Participants gave informed consent in accordance with policies of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Virginia. Participants reported the amount of pain they would feel across 18 scenarios (e.g., "I slam my hand in a car door"; scale: 1 = not painful, 2 = somewhat painful, 3 = moderately painful, 4 = extremely painful) and were then randomly assigned to rate the pain of a gender-matched black or white target across the same scenarios.

Participants also rated the extent to which 15 biological differences between blacks and whites are true or untrue on a six-point scale (1 = definitely untrue, 2 = probably untrue, 3 = possibly untrue, 4 = possibly true, 5 = probably true, 6 = definitely true; see for a list of the items, and and for additional descriptive information for the measure). Here, we report results using a composite averaging the false items about biological differences between the black body and the white body for each participant (α = 0.92). We provide analyses using all items in .

Table 1.

We conducted all of the analyses using continuous measures of false beliefs and pain ratings. On average, participants endorsed 23.82% (SD = 24.01) of the biological beliefs and 22.43% (SD = 22.93) of the false beliefs specifically. About 73% of the sample endorsed at least one of the false items (i.e., indicated that an item was possibly, probably, or definitely true; ). We regressed pain ratings on target race, false beliefs, and their interaction, controlling for age, gender, and self-ratings of pain (see for the correlations between covariates and dependent measures for both studies). Consistent with previous work, results revealed a main effect of target race [β = −0.07, SE = 0.03, F(1,85) = 5.50, P = 0.021, = 0.06, such that participants reported lower pain ratings for the black vs. white target. This effect was qualified by the predicted interaction between target race and false beliefs [β = −0.07, SE = 0.03, F(1,85) = 4.36, P = 0.040, = 0.05; ]. Simple slope analyses revealed that participants who endorsed fewer false beliefs (−1 SD) did not differ in their pain estimates for a black vs. a white target [β = −0.01, SE = 0.05, F(1, 85) = 0.02, P > 0.250]. However, target race did predict racial bias in pain ratings among participants who endorsed more false beliefs (+1 SD) [β = −0.14, SE = 0.05, F(1,85) = 9.78, P = 0.002, = 0.10], such that participants who rated the black target reported lower pain estimates than did participants who rated the white target. Interestingly, among this sample, the bias emerged because participants high in false beliefs rated the pain of the black target lower and the pain of the white target higher than did participants low in false beliefs. In other words, relative to participants low in false beliefs, they seemed to assume that the black body is stronger and that the white body is weaker.

Table S3.

Study 1 thus demonstrates that white adults without medical training endorse at least some beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites, many of which are false and fantastical in nature (e.g., black people's blood coagulates more quickly than white people's blood). Study 1 also demonstrates that these beliefs are related to racial bias in pain perception among a sample of white adults without medical training. Given the well-documented, pervasive racial disparities in pain management, understanding who might contribute to this racial bias and why is of paramount importance. Thus, we next examined whether people with some degree of medical training also endorse these beliefs, and if so, whether these beliefs are associated with racial bias in pain perception and pain treatment recommendations. Study 2 extends the findings of study 1 in at least three important ways: ( i) it examines racial bias in a relevant context-medicine-using medical cases similar to those used in medical training; ( ii) it extends our investigation to a sample with at least some medical training-medical students and residents; and ( iii) it considers a critical downstream outcome-racial bias in pain treatment recommendations.

Study 2

We collected data from a total of 418 medical students and residents. Two hundred twenty-two met the same a priori criteria as in study 1 and completed the study (first years, n = 63; second years, n = 72; third years, n = 59; residents, n = 28). Participants gave informed consent in accordance with policies of the IRB of the University of Virginia. After consenting, participants read two mock medical cases about a black and a white patient and made pain ratings (scale: 0 = no pain to 10 = worst possible pain) and medication recommendations (dummy coded for accuracy: 1 = accurate, 0 = inaccurate) for each. They also completed the same measure of beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites as in study 1. We again averaged the 11 items that captured our variable of interest (α = 0.92) (see and for descriptive information; analyses for the composite with all items can be found in ). On average, participants endorsed 11.55% (SD = 17.38) of the false beliefs. About 50% reported that at least one of the false belief items was possibly, probably, or definitely true (). These percentages are noticeably lower compared with those in study 1 (50% vs. 73%); however, given this sample (medical students and residents), the percentages for false beliefs are surprisingly high.

Table S4.

First, we examined whether those who endorsed false beliefs exhibited a racial bias in pain assessment. We modeled pain ratings as a function of target race (as a repeated measure), false beliefs (as a between-participants measure), and their interaction, controlling for age, gender, and medical cohort., Results revealed only the predicted target race by false beliefs interaction [ F(1,211) = 9.56, P = 0.002, = 0.02; ]. To decompose this interaction, we conducted simple slope analyses. We constructed a difference score to reflect racial bias in pain perception, subtracting black pain scores from white pain scores; greater, positive scores indicate that a participant rated the white patient as feeling more pain than the black patient. The simple slope analyses indicated that participants who endorsed more false beliefs (+1 SD) rated the black target as feeling less pain than the white target [β = 0.45, SE = 0.20, t(211) = 2.24, P = 0.026]. Conversely, participants who endorsed fewer false beliefs (−1 SD) rated the black target as feeling more pain than the white target [β = −0.48, SE = 0.20, t(211) = −2.34, P = 0.020]. In other words, as in study 1, participants in study 2 who endorsed false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites exhibited a racial bias in pain perception similar to the bias shown in previous work ( 11- 17). Unexpectedly, participants who did not endorse such beliefs exhibited a bias in the opposite direction.

Table S5.

We next modeled the accuracy of treatment recommendations (coded as 1 = accurate, 0 = inaccurate) as a function of target race (as a repeated measure), false beliefs (as a between-participants measure), and their interaction, controlling for age, gender, and medical cohort. Once again, we found only the predicted interaction between target race and false beliefs [ F(1,192) = 5.68, P = 0.018, = 0.01; ]. To decompose this interaction, we again conducted simple slope analyses on the difference score in treatment recommendation accuracy for the black vs. white target (white accuracy minus black accuracy; greater, positive scores indicate greater likelihood of recommending an accurate treatment for a white vs. black target). These analyses indicated that participants who endorsed more false beliefs (+1 SD) were less accurate in their treatment recommendations for the black target compared with the white target [β = 0.15, SE = 0.06, t(192) = 2.47, P = 0.014]. Conversely, participants who endorsed fewer false beliefs (−1 SD) did not differ in their treatment recommendation accuracy [β = −0.06, SE = 0.06, t(192) = −1.05, P > 0.250]. In other words, participants who endorsed more false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites showed a racial bias in the accuracy of their treatment recommendations. Participants who did not endorse such beliefs showed no bias in treatment recommendation accuracy.

We also examined the relationship between racial bias in pain perception and racial bias in treatment recommendation accuracy. We correlated racial bias in pain perception (white pain minus black pain) with racial bias in treatment recommendation accuracy (accuracy for white patient minus accuracy for black patient), covarying out age, gender, and medical cohort. This analysis revealed a significant and sizable positive correlation, such that greater racial bias in pain ratings was associated with greater racial bias in the accuracy of treatment recommendations ( r = 0.46, P < 0.0001). As predicted, racial bias in pain perception is related to racial bias in the accuracy of treatment recommendations.

Last, we conducted a mediation analysis to test whether racial bias in pain perception mediated the racial bias in treatment recommendation accuracy. When adding racial bias in pain assessment (white pain minus black pain) to the model predicting racial bias in treatment recommendation accuracy, false beliefs was no longer a significant predictor [ B = 0.05, SE = 0.04, F(1,191) = 1.22, P > 0.250, = 0.01], whereas racial bias in pain perception continued to predict racial bias in treatment recommendation accuracy [ B = 0.25, SE = 0.04, F (1,191) = 44.44, P < 0.0001, = 0.19], suggesting mediation.

Study 2 demonstrates that, similar to white laypersons in study 1, many white medical students and residents hold beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites, many of which are false and fantastical in nature, and that these false beliefs are related to racial bias in pain perception. Furthermore, study 2 also reveals that white medical students and residents who endorsed false beliefs showed racial bias in the accuracy of their pain treatment recommendations. Specifically, participants who endorsed more of these beliefs reported that a black (vs. white) target patient would feel less pain and they were less accurate in their treatment recommendations for the black (vs. white) patient. Although the effect sizes for these findings were not large ( = 0.03 and 0.04), the practical importance is significant: those endorsing more false beliefs rated the pain of a black (vs. white) patient half a scale point lower and were less accurate in their treatment recommendations 15% of the time.

In contrast to white medical students and residents who endorsed false beliefs, those who did not endorse (or endorsed fewer) false beliefs reported that a white (vs. black) target patient would feel less pain. This opposite bias perhaps reflects real-world differences, as previous work has shown that black patients tend to report greater pain than do white patients ( 7, 24, 42). This opposite bias could also reflect participants' attempt to compensate for known racial disparities (see ref. 13 for a similar explanation). Of note, these medical students and residents did not exhibit a racial bias in treatment recommendations. In other words, endorsing fewer false beliefs was associated with the perception that whites feel less pain but not with insufficient treatment recommendations for white patients. In contrast, endorsing more false beliefs was associated with perceptions that blacks feel less pain and a "commensurate" insufficient treatment recommendation for black patients. It thus seems that racial bias in pain perception has pernicious consequences for accuracy in treatment recommendations for black patients and not for white patients.

Unexpectedly, shifts in racial bias as a function of false beliefs stemmed from shifts in perceptions of the white target and not the black target in study 2 (it stemmed from both shifts in perceptions of the white target and black target in study 1). Although perhaps counterintuitive, this pattern of results is consistent with research on intergroup bias demonstrating that discrimination often occurs due to ingroup favoritism rather than outgroup hostility ( 43). In the present case, it is possible that shifts in perceptions of the white target (and not the black target) reflect this kind of bias; it is possible that these shifts reflect positive (empathic) cognitions about white ingroup members rather than negative (callous) cognitions about black outgroup members.

Limitations of the present work offer avenues for future research. For practical reasons, we used survey methods to document medical students' and residents' beliefs and racial bias. Future work will need to test whether white and nonwhite medical personnel in more advanced stages of their career also hold beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites, and if so, whether these beliefs have consequences for pain assessment and treatment in real medical contexts. Future work may also delve into the nature of the racial bias: whether it reflects ingroup favoritism rather than outgroup derogation. This distinction may be useful for the development of interventions. These limitations aside, studies 1 and 2 make at least three important contributions. First, they provide the first evidence that racial bias in pain assessment is associated with racial bias in the accuracy of pain treatment recommendations. Second, they reveal that a substantial number of white people-laypersons with no medical training and medical students and residents-hold beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites, many of which are false and even fantastical in nature. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of medical personnel (students and residents with at least some medical training) endorsing such beliefs in modern times. Third, the current studies demonstrate that these beliefs are associated with racial bias in perceptions of others' pain. Interestingly, in study 2, that bias seemed to result from shifts in perceptions of the white target's pain more so than perceptions of the black target's pain, suggesting that perceptions of whites' frailty may shape racial bias in pain perception as much, if not more, than perceptions of blacks' strength.

Concluding Remarks

This last year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark 1985 Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health-more commonly known as the Heckler Report-the first comprehensive documentation of racial disparities in health by medical experts. This report put a national spotlight on the pervasive racial inequities in health and issued a resounding call to eliminate health disparities. Although this call was met with a surge in research efforts and substantial changes in medical programs, policy, and legislation, the ultimate goal of eliminating racial disparities remains elusive. Racial disparities in health and health care continue to be a problem in the United States, a point underscored by the US Department of Health and Human Services' "clarion call to continue to take action toward ending health disparities" ( minorityhealth.hhs.gov/Blog/BlogPost.aspx?BlogID=68). The present work sheds light on a heretofore unexplored source of racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations within a relevant population (i.e., medical students and residents), in a context where racial disparities are well documented (i.e., pain management). It demonstrates that beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites-beliefs dating back to slavery-are associated with the perception that black people feel less pain than do white people and with inadequate treatment recommendations for black patients' pain.

Materials and Methods

Study 1.

Participants.

We recruited a sample of 121 adults on Amazon's Mechanical Turk in exchange for a small amount of money. As in previous work ( 15), we excluded participants who were not born in the United States or native English speakers, as well as participants who did not complete all of the relevant measures. We also excluded all nonwhite participants, given the historical context of black-white relations, particularly in the medical context ( 20- 25). Our final sample consisted of 92 participants (28% female; M age= 26.70, SD = 8.76).

Procedure and materials.

Participants gave informed consent in accordance with policies of the IRB of the University of Virginia. After consenting, participants were asked to provide their age and gender so the survey program could route the participant to a gender-matched target. They then rated the amount of physical pain they would feel across 18 scenarios and were randomly assigned to rate the pain of a gender-matched black or white target across the same 18 scenarios (). Next, participants completed a 15-item measure of beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites that are true or untrue (see and for a list of items and descriptive information). To compose our conceptual variable of interest-false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites-we created an average rating of 11 of the items (α = 0.92; see bold items in and see for additional information on the measure). All analyses were conducted using continuous measures of beliefs and pain ratings. After this measure, participants provided demographic information, including their race/ethnicity, nationality, and primary language. provides additional information on materials, methods, and results. Data and study materials are also available at https://osf.io/crxwa/.

Study 2.

Participants.

We recruited cohorts of first-, second-, and third-year medical students from a large public university, who completed the study online during class sessions. We also recruited medical residents from multiple sites, who completed the study online at their convenience. The sample included 418 participants (first years, n = 134; second years, n = 133; third years, n = 117; residents, n = 34); we had no set sample size, but rather collected data from as many participants as we were able to obtain. As in previous work ( 15), we excluded participants who were not native English speakers and/or American because racial bias in pain perception is likely a cultural phenomenon. Including these participants in our analyses does not change the pattern of results. We again excluded nonwhite participants given the historical context of black-white relations, particularly in the medical context ( 20- 25). The final sample consisted of 222 participants (first years, n = 63; second years, n = 72; third years, n = 59; residents, n = 28; 48% female; M age= 25.18, SD = 2.66). Some participants did not report age, gender, and/or race/ethnicity and thus degrees of freedom vary across analyses.

Procedure and materials.

Participants gave informed consent in accordance with policies of the IRB of the University of Virginia. After consenting, participants were asked to provide their age and gender so the survey program could route the participant to gender-matched targets. Participants then read two mock medical cases about a black and a white patient. They were asked to estimate the pain of each patient and to make a recommendation to treat the patient's pain. Next, participants were asked to provide demographic information and to complete the same measure of beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites as in study 1, averaging the 11 false items to create a measure of false beliefs (α = 0.92). Last, participants responded to debriefing questions about the study and then were debriefed in person (medical students) or read an electronic debriefing (medical residents). provides additional information on materials, methods, and results. Data and study materials are also available at https://osf.io/crxwa/.

SI Text

All study materials and data can be freely and openly accessed online at https://osf.io/crxwa/.

Study 1: Laypersons Without Medical Training (Method and Materials).

Participants gave informed consent in accordance with policies of the IRB of the University of Virginia. After consenting, participants were asked to provide their age and gender so the survey program could route the participant to a gender-matched target. They then rated the amount of physical pain they would feel across 18 scenarios (e.g., "I slam my hand in a car door," "I cut myself with a sheet of paper") using a four-point scale (1 = not painful, 2 = somewhat painful, 3 = moderately painful, 4 = extremely painful). Participants were then randomly assigned to rate the pain of a gender-matched black or white target across the same 18 scenarios.

Next, participants completed a 15-item measure of beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites that are true or untrue on a six-point scale (1 = definitely untrue, 2 = probably untrue, 3 = possibly untrue, 4 = possibly true, 5 = probably true, 6 = definitely true; see list of items and descriptive information below and ). Of the 15 items, 4 were true, including 3 items pertaining to disease and morbidity (e.g., blacks are less likely to contract spinal cord diseases); 11 items were false statements about blacks and whites (e.g., black people's blood coagulates more quickly than white people's blood), and of these, 8 were in the direction of black strength and white frailty (see previous example) and 3 were in the direction of white strength and black frailty (e.g., whites have a better sense of hearing compared with blacks). To compose our conceptual variable of interest-false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites-we created an average rating of the 11 false items (α = 0.92; see bold items in ). Note that one item about racial differences in bone density is tricky; bone strength is strongly associated with lifestyle and diet, and research on racial group differences in bone density and its relationship to fracture risk is mixed. For example, a recent review of the literature on ethnic differences in bone health concluded that there are numerous factors that are crucial to consider when investigating bone strength between racial groups and that bone density alone cannot account for fracture risk ( 44). Given this mixed evidence, we exclude this item from our composite.

We report results using the false beliefs composite, but we provide descriptive information and analyses using a composite of all items in and . Both composites yielded similar patterns of results. All analyses were conducted using continuous measures of false beliefs and pain ratings. After this measure, participants provided demographic information, including their race/ethnicity, age, nationality, and primary language. See for correlations between covariates (age, gender, self-ratings of pain) and pain ratings.

Study 2: Medical Students and Residents.

Method.

Results.

Acknowledgments

We thank Laurie Archbald-Pannone and Mary Kate Worden for help and support recruiting medical students; Tim Wilson for helpful comments on this manuscript; and Jennifer Doleac, Derek Ford, Isaac Mbiti, and Jay Shimshack for providing advice regarding data analyses.

Footnotes

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

† We counterbalanced the order of target race (black, white) and medical case (kidney stone, ankle fracture) across participants. Preliminary analyses revealed that the order of target race and medical case did not moderate the effects, and we thus exclude them from our models for parsimony. Including them does not change the pattern of results.

‡We present analyses using ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions. For the continuous pain measure in study 2, we provide the mixed-effects model for comparison in . For binary outcomes, such as treatment recommendation accuracy in study 2, logistic or OLS regressions are appropriate and produce similar results. The OLS regression is our preferred specification because interpretation requires weaker functional form assumptions than a linear dependent variable model ( 35) and provides unbiased, reliable estimates of a variable's average effect ( 36- 40). However, because the outcome is binary, some may prefer a logit and/or probit specification; we provide these specifications in .

§This analysis also revealed that medical cohort was a significant predictor of both pain ratings and treatment recommendation accuracy irrespective of patient race [ F(1,211) = 38.79, P < 0.0001 and F(1,192) = 8.08, P = .005, respectively]. As participants progressed in their training from first-year students through residents, they rated the targets as feeling more pain and they were more accurate in their treatment recommendations. This finding is interesting given the common perception that medical training hardens physicians to others' pain and suffering (see ref. 41 for a review). At least in our sample, people with more medical training were actually more, not less, sensitive to others' pain. Perhaps in the present sample, as more senior medical students and residents gained "hands-on" experience on the medical wards and witnessed patients in pain, they perceived greater pain for the scenarios we provided-both of which would be extremely painful. In addition, it is perhaps not surprising that treatment recommendation accuracy was higher among more senior students, as additional training and experience should yield greater accuracy. Medical cohort did not moderate the interaction between target race and false beliefs for pain ratings or treatment recommendation accuracy ( F s < 1). We thus included medical cohort as a covariate and not as a moderator of the target race × false beliefs interaction term in all of our analyses.

This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.

Data deposition: Data and materials are available through the Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/crxwa/.

This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1516047113/-/DCSupplemental.

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Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites

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Psychological and Cognitive Sciences The present work examines beliefs associated with racial bias in pain management, a critical health care domain with well-documented racial disparities. Specifically, this work reveals that a substantial number of white laypeople and medical students and residents hold false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites and demonstrates that these beliefs predict racial bias in pain perception and treatment recommendation accuracy.

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