Black Lives Matter & Global Racial Justice
The Center for International Studies (CIS) announced its “Black Lives Matter and Global Racial Justice” initiative, an integrative and evolving commitment to addressing racism and its many manifestations in the United States and abroad, in 2020.
Our position paper, Black Lives Matter: Center for International Studies’ Position on Social Justice and Equity, which inaugurated the initiative, is both a statement of principles and an action plan. It prompts us to consider and respond to fundamental structures, practices, and sensibilities that inform racism, racial discrimination, and other forms of racial inequity, which range from the subtle to the stark.
This position paper is a collaboration of the faculty and staff of the Center for International Studies of OHIO University. This paper was conceived during the summer and fall of 2020 as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper critically evaluates the past, present and future positioning of the Center for International Studies within OHIO University and develops recommendations in the struggle against systemic racism that move us toward equity and social justice.
We also join OHIO’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion in condemning the ongoing Anti-Asian Violence and calling or Solidarity with Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities and we stand with Ohio University in supporting students, faculty, and staff affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Deeper Engagement and Understanding
Beyond the Center for International Studies' position paper, the following resources are intended as a helpful starting point for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the issues and discussions around this topic.
Resources for Black Individuals and Communities
- Black Lives Matter: Meditations
- Black Lives Matter: Toolkits
- Common Coping Strategies
- Disarming Racial Microaggressions: Microintervention Strategies for Targets, White Allies, and Bystanders
- Discrimination: What It Is and How to Cope
- Emotionally Restorative Self-Care for People of Color
- Filling Our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color Can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing
- Grief is a Direct Impact of Racism: Eight Ways to Support Yourself
- Healing Justice is How We Can Sustain Black Lives
- Liberate Meditation App (by and for people of color)
- NAMI: African American Mental Health
- Proactively Coping with Racism
- Racial Trauma is Real
- Radical Self-Care in the Face of Mounting Racial Stress
- Racism Recovery Steps
- Recovering Emotionally From Disaster
- Scholarships for Black & African American Stem Majors
- Scholarships for Black & African American Students
- Supporting Kids of Color in the Wake of Racialized Violence
- Talking about Race: Self-Care
- Tips for Self-Care: When Police Brutality Has You Questioning Humanity and Social Media is Enough
- Tips for Support
- Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
Antiracism Resources
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- Antiracism Learning Opportunities through Enrich Chicago
- Antiracist Toolkit for Teachers and Researchers
- Detour-Spotting for White Antiracists
- Disarming Racial Microaggressions: Microintervention Strategies for Targets, White Allies, and Bystanders
- Expressive Writing Prompts to Use if You’ve Been Accused of White Fragility, Spiritual Bypassing, or White Privilege
- Harvard Implicit Bias Test
- How To Be An Anti-Racist
- How to Talk to Kids about Race: Books and Resources That Can Help
- How Well-Intentioned White Families Can Perpetuate Racism
- Resources for Educators Focusing on Antiracist Learning and Teaching
- Talking About Race: Being Antiracist
- Toolkit for Teaching about Racism
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Books to Read
On Antiracism
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Dr. Robin DiAngelo
On the Experience of Racism
- Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
- Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- The Bridge Called My Back, Writings by Radical Women of Color edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa
- My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
- How We Fight for Our Lives by Saaed Jones
Organizations to Support
- Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective
- Black Girls Smiles
- Black Women’s Blueprint
- Equal Justice Initiative
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- Showing up for Racial Justice
- Sister Song
- The Audre Lorde Project
- The Antiracist Research and Policy Center
- The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Employee Assistance Program
Ohio University's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work/Life program is offered through Impact Behavioral Health Care Services.
The EAP is available to all Ohio University employees and their family members.
Program features include confidential 24/7 live professional assistance (1-800-227-6007) and more.
Student Resources for Faculty & Staff
Harassment, Discrimination, Bias, and Retaliation Incident Report
Campus Security Authority (CSA) Crime Reporting Form
Equity and Civil Rights Compliance
Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS)
IMPACT Student Support Meetings
OHIO students are encouraged to email diversity@ohio.edu to express interest in attending an IMPACT meeting, which is a support group convened for any Ohio University student who wishes to discuss special issues that may be impacting our community of students.