Racial Equity Resources
Since NYSCA's founding, equal opportunity for all has been at the core of our mission, and a commitment to an inclusive culture has always been an essential part of NYSCA's DNA. As our nation confronts persistent and inexcusable racism, we must address the continued injustices faced by the Black community. Recognizing that the events of 2020 are not isolated incidents, systemic change must be enacted through long-term, far-reaching commitments. We unequivocally believe that Black Lives Matter. NYSCA resolves to contribute to a just and equitable future, working both internally and in support of others to institute change that realizes equality for BIPOC.
Throughout history, artists have created out of collective pain, and artists will continue to contribute to affecting change and to our healing as we move together to strengthen our communities, our state, and our country. As an agency, we work to empower artists, arts and cultural organizations, and the public statewide, and this mission demands our assertion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As we deepen our work to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, we're sharing Educational Resources; Tools for Organizational Change; and Resources for Families and Kids.
Educational Resources: Websites
Discover books, articles, podcasts, videos, films, TV series and organizations to follow on social media that illuminate the history and current state of race relations and how to be an ally.
Find articles, media, and sociological research to better understand systemic racism and race in the criminal justice system.
Howlround collects content that calls out systemic racism in theatre and points toward anti-racist practices.
Explore tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for groups and individuals to work toward justice.
Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. Race Forward publishes the daily news site Colorlines and presents Facing Race, the country’s largest multiracial conference on racial justice.
Find resources on how racial identity, bias, and systemic oppression shape society, plus conversational guides tailored to individuals committed to equity, parents and caregivers, and educators.
Educational Resources: Books
Robin DiAngelo explicates the dynamics of White Fragility and how we might build our capacity in the on-going work towards racial justice.
An expert on audience development involving America’s growing multicultural population, Donna Walker-Kuhne describes her strategies and methods to engage diverse communities as participants for arts and culture.
Thousands of people from around the world were galvanized by Layla Saad's #meandwhitesupremacy challenge, examining and owning responsibility for the ways in which they uphold white supremacy. Over 80,000 people downloaded her guide to the movement, Me and White Supremacy Workbook in the space of just six months. And now, that guide is a published book.
Edgar Villanueva's book aims to drive a national conversation to help advance racial and economic equity by transforming how money is used by philanthropy and finance to better serve the needs of Indigenous people and communities of color.
Award-winning journalist Pamela Newkirk shows how workplace diversity initiatives have turned into a profoundly misguided industry–and have done little to bring equality to America’s major industries and institutions.
In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to “model minorities” in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life.
This updated and revised edition of the American Book Award-winner and national bestseller revitalizes the truth of America’s history, explores how myths continue to be perpetrated, and includes a new chapter on 9/11 and the Iraq War.
Howard Zinn tells U.S. history from the point of view of — and in the words of — America’s women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers.
Ibram X. Kendi's memoir asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it, weaving together ethics, history, law, and science.
Educational Resources: Articles
Donna Walker-Kuhne interviews Erik Gensler, founder of Capacity Interactive (CI) , a digital marketing consulting firm for arts and culture, about his DEI strategies and the evolution of his approach.
Museums who have achieved goals of increasing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion show how they think about these issues in relation to collections, programs, community engagement, partnerships, and board development.
Building on studies that show how reducing inequality is fundamental to the economic future of cities, regions, and the nation, this guide presents key strategies to advance equitable growth.
Howlround's series on Decolonizing Theatre Practice prompts discussion of topics such as “The Shakespeare Missionary Complex," a lack of stories by indigenous artists, the relationship between creative placemaking and gentrification/displacement, and ways to decenter and decolonize.
Not Just Money shows that philanthropic resources still disproportionately flow to the largest cultural institutions, which do not represent the diversity of our country, and suggests ways to move forward.
The Atlantic's Adam Serwer explores the terms of the U.S.' racial contract and systemic discrimination laid bare by the pandemic, police violence, and criminal justice, as well as in issues surrounding addiction, federal aid, immigration, and more.
Peggy McIntosh enumerates 50 daily examples, conditions and effects of white privilege, exploring topics such as public perception, educational opportunities, representation in entertainment and public life, and their implications.
Educational Resources: Media
Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished, Remember This House. The result is a radical, up-to-the-minute examination of race in America, using Baldwin’s original words and flood of rich archival material. The film is a journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter.
“Just Mercy” is based on the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice, defending those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation.
Dr. Robin DiAngelo reads from her book "White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism," explains the phenomenon, and discusses how white people can develop their capacity to engage more constructively across race.
In her TED talk, scholar and activist Peggy McIntosh explains what led her to recognize her privilege — and how it can be used by those with power to ensure a fairer life for others.
A short film based on the book, The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, ‘Segregated By Design’ examines the forgotten history of how our governments segregated metropolitan areas through law and policy.
Angelique Power, President of the Field Foundation, shares a deeply personal talk about how the recent flurry of equity statements without teeth actually harms the movement.
Diversity advocate Verna Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable. In a funny, impassioned, important talk, she shows us how.
Find tools to integrate explicit consideration of racial equity in policies, practices, programs, and budgets to develop strategies and actions that reduce racial inequities.
Follow the guide's 7 steps to advance and embed racial equity and inclusion within your organization, including analyzing root causes of inequities, uniting stakeholders to achieve social change, goal setting, and evaluation.
The Dismantling Racism Project at Western States Center shares questions to examine and change the ways your organization replicates larger racist patterns.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation outlines the importance of assessing an organization through a racial lens, how to use a racial equity questionnaire, and tools and next steps.
Learn strategies for organizational assessment, job posting, and interviewing, and find publications, websites and listservs to aid in recruitment.
Policy Link highlights promising and proven practices that demonstrate equity-focused arts and culture policies, strategies, and tools.
The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable has been hosting affinity group meetings to promote anti-racist practices. There is a White Affinity Group, a Black Affinity Group and a Non-Black POC Affinity Group – all meet biweekly and are open to anyone (participants are encouraged to invite others from their organization).
Discover a podcast by NPR and the Sesame Street Workshop for young children, plus articles and tips for parents and caregivers, books for children ands adults, and additional resources for teachers and other adults.
From the Center for Racial Justice in Education, find interviews and advice from experts, articles, and additional resource lists for parents and teachers to guide conversations with kids from toddlers to teens.
ADL’s collection address issues of identity, bias and bullying. Featured books come with discussion guides for teachers and parents.
The National Museum of African American History & Culture provides tools and guidance to empower your journey and inspire conversation - with resources specific to educators, parents and caregivers, and anyone committed to equity.
Teaching Tolerance provides resources to help spur much-needed discussion around implicit bias and systemic racism, and empower students to enact the changes that will create a more just society.
Black Lives Matter’s instructional library for kids includes books on Black history, activism and advocacy, self-love and empowerment, and books in Spanish – click on each book to hear a read-aloud.