The May EA Newsletter addressed privilege and how everyone's experiences are unique in part because of the ways in which we are each sidelined and/or afforded advantages. Intersectionality shows us how access to power also overlaps these ideas and affects each of us differently -- and helps us see that social structures such as race, gender, class, ability and sexual orientation do not exist on their own but are interlocking systems. Since race influences and is tangled up with ways we tend to socially group people, racial justice cannot be achieved without an intersectional approach.

One example is how a lack of intersectional focus in women's right efforts actually failed many people during the Women's Suffrage Movement in the U.S. Many of us were taught in school that women gained the right to vote in 1920. However, African American women were not guaranteed the vote until 1965 with passage of the Voting Rights Act. Native and Asian American women continued to face voting discrimination as their citizenship was debated and states had control over voting restrictions. See this Teen Vogue article to read more about how the Suffragette movement left out black women and other women of color time and time again. Even today, voting restrictions disproportionately affect people of color.

Intersectionality 101 is a great beginner's guide to understanding intersectionality. The video was created by Teaching Tolerance, a program of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In the #RaceAnd series produced by Race Forward's Kat Lazo, each video "features a different artist, activist, or thinker, sharing their lived experience how race intertwines with their other identities, and how that mix impacts their lives both personally and systemically."

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]

Looking for ways to laugh, cry and deepen your understanding of the human experience this Summer?

We have compiled a list of books (nonfiction and fiction), tv shows, documentaries and feature films that can be read, viewed and enjoyed this Summer. Since this Equity Alliance newsletter covers June-August 2018 we wanted to give you plenty of options to choose from.

NONFICTION READING

“Indian Country remembers the Trauma of Children Taken from Their Parents” YES! Magazine article by Mark Trahant  http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/indian-country-remembers-the-trauma-of-children-taken-from-their-parents-20180618

“ Roxane Gay on clothes in the workplace: ‘I have never been good at dressing like a woman’” excerpt from Gay’s new book https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/19/roxane-gay-clothes-workplace-female-employees

Sick memoir by Porochista Khakpour https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/06/04/memoirs-of-disease-and-disbelief

White Fragility nonfiction by Robin DiAngelo https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566247/white-fragility-by-robin-diangelo/9780807047415/

Squeezed: Why Our Families Can’t Afford America nonfiction by Alissa Quart https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/20/alissa-quart-squeezed-interview-struggling-middle-class

The Trans Generation: How Trans Kids (and Their Parents) are Creating a Gender Revolution nonfiction by Ann Travers https://nyupress.org/books/9781479885794/

No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America memoir by Darnell L. Moore https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/darnell-l-moore/no-ashes-in-the-fire/9781549168727/

The Lines Becomes A River: Dispatches from the Border memoir by Francisco Cantú https://www.npr.org/2018/02/08/580988104/the-line-becomes-a-river-chronicles-life-in-the-border-patrol

Well, That Escalated Quickly nonfiction by MTV Decoded host and social media maven Franchesca Ramsey https://www.bustle.com/p/franchesca-ramseys-new-book-well-that-escalated-quickly-is-a-guide-to-being-online-activist-while-protecting-your-own-mental-health-9121176 

FICTION READING

There There novel by Tommy Orange https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/31/books/tommy-orange-there-there-native-american.html

Love War Stories short fiction by Ivelisse Rodriguez

https://www.feministpress.org/books-a-m/love-war-stories

On the Come Up fiction by Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give) https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062498564/on-the-come-up/

TELEVISION & WEB VIEWING

“United Shades of America” with host W. Kamau Bell https://www.npr.org/2018/04/29/606932493/in-the-third-season-of-united-shades-of-america-w-kamau-bell-goes-home-to-alabam

“Pose” Ryan Murphy’s new show on NYC ballroom culture, Janet Mock is a writer https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/arts/television/pose-ryan-murphy-janet-mock.html

“The Last Defense” seven part TV documentary, Executive Produced by Viola Davis https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/arts/television/the-last-defense-review-viola-davis-abc.html

QUEST documentary about a family from North Philadelphia http://www.pbs.org/pov/quest/

“Decoded with Franchesca Ramsey” MTV web series on race, pop culture and other uncomfortable topics http://www.mtv.com/shows/decoded

FILM

Hearts Beat Loud feature film about a daughter and father forming a band before she leaves for college https://www.autostraddle.com/hearts-beat-loud-is-quirky-queer-romantic-comedy-we-all-deserve-422474/

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? documentary on Mister Rogers http://www.vulture.com/2018/06/wont-you-be-my-neighbor-s-director-on-the-loss-of-civility.html

Sorry to Bother You feature film debut from Boots Riley https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/sorry-to-bother-you-is-a-dystopian-send-up-of-dystopias/565037/

Crazy Rich Asians feature film adaptation of the book by Kevin Kwan https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/04/26/an-all-asian-cast-and-no-martial-arts-why-the-crazy-rich-asians-movie-matters/?utm_term=.479c14d6f88e

Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story documentary on how the death of Trayvon Martin sparked a movement http://www.vulture.com/2018/05/rest-in-power-the-trayvon-martin-story-to-debut-in-july.html

“Decoded with Franchesca Ramsey” MTV web series on race, pop culture and other uncomfortable topics http://www.mtv.com/shows/decoded

The 2020 Census will include a question about citizenship. Here is an article from NPR to help you learn more about this new question.

An accurate census count is essential to California children’s well-being.

Here are is one way to help:

Submit Comments on the Citizenship Question

The current Administration’s inclusion of a citizenship question in the 2020 Census will dramatically reduce participation by immigrant communities, resulting in an inaccurate census. The Census Bureau published a notice on June 8 that allows public comment on the citizenship question . Send a strong, clear message opposing the citizenship question by submitting comments before August 7. Advocates across the country are seeking to submit 100,000 comments on the citizenship question – let’s ensure California makes a big contribution towards that goal!

Have you struggled to find a space to deepen your understanding and conversations about race and racial inequities? The Equity Alliance of the North Coast is sponsoring Racial Equity Roundtables the first Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m., offering an opportunity to discuss race in an open and brave space of learning and dialogue for both the newcomer to and the experienced in such conversations. 

If race is not biology, what is it? Please join us as we examine how race resides not in nature but in politics, economics, and culture. Using part 1 of Episode 3 of the PBS series PBS series Race: the Power of an Illusion as a beginning point, we will work to understand the ways in which social institutions (like schools, banks, and governments) “create” race by disproportionately channeling resources, power, status, and wealth to white people.

Facilitated by Melissa Meiris and Ron White. Register in advance below, space is limited! Low cost options and scholarships are available.

Windmills: Changing the Perception of Ability

Wednesday, July 25 (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

This is a great opportunity for employers and employees to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Employers, this event will help you maximize recruitment, network, increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover through hiring people with disabilities. Presented by Dr. Richard Pimentel and Milt Wright at Humboldt State University's Goodwin Forum in Arcata. Please RSVP to Sierra Braggs by July 16 by calling 707-445-0893 ext. 348 or via email [email protected]. This event is free. Please see flyer below for more information.

RADA Social Action Book Group

Thursday, July 26 (6:00-7:00 p.m.)

"Reading. Awareness. Dialogue. Action." This book discussion group highlights issues impacting society, such as race and immigration. The R.A.D.A. book group provides a safe space for people to talk openly with respect and compassion. Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns is our featured title from June through August (one-third per month). This group hopes to raise social consciousness; exchange ideas, understanding, and experiences; and discuss actions individuals and communities can take to address problems.  Contact Arcata Public Library for more details .

EA Roundtable

Race and Society Part II

Thursday, September 6 (5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Have you struggled to find a space to deepen your understanding and conversations about race and racial inequities? The Equity Alliance of the North Coast is sponsoring Racial Equity Roundtables the first Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m., offering an opportunity to discuss race in an open and brave space of learning and dialogue for both the newcomer to and the experienced in such conversations. 

If race is not biology, what is it? Please join us as we examine how race resides not in nature but in politics, economics, and culture. Using part 2 of Episode 3 of the PBS series PBS series Race: the Power of an Illusion as a beginning point, we will work to understand the ways in which social institutions (like schools, banks, and governments) “create” race by disproportionately channeling resources, power, status, and wealth to white people.

Facilitated by Melissa Meiris and Ron White. Register in advance below, space is limited! Low cost options and scholarships are available.

  Email [email protected] to share upcoming events you know about related to racial equity and we will post it on our website!

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