The following is a community-curated list of free books, articles, blog posts, podcasts and art that recognize liberation from gender-based violence (GBV) cannot take place without an end to white supremacy and anti-Black racism. We invite gender justice advocates at community organizations and post-secondary institutions to read, engage and strengthen/implement action plans with the help of the resources below.
This is a living document: if you have resources to add, please email operations@possibilityseeds.ca.
Information on Sexual Violence as it Intersects with Anti-Black Racism:
The Cultural Betrayal of Black Women and Girls: a Black Feminist Approach to Healing from Sexual Abuse is a must-read book from Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez, the first chapter of which is available free here.
You can also listen to Dr. Gómez discuss The Importance of Cultural Betrayal Trauma and Finding Hope & Joy in the face of Cultural Betrayal on these two episodes of the How We Can Heal podcast.
This article discusses Kalimah Johnson’s work as the Executive Director at Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness and the model they developed called Black Women’s Triangulation of Rape.
Black women and sexual assault stats sheet from the Washington-based National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community (2021).
For Many Black Survivors, Reporting Raises Complicated Issues from RAINN lists some of the factors that prevent Black survivors from reporting sexual violence.
Unlocking Us Podcast on being heard and seen with Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo Movement, and Brene Brown
Roots and Resistance: A webinar by Yamikani Msosa on the connections between sexual violence, state violence, and healing from collective and individual sexual abuse and trauma for Black survivors.
#MeToo Won’t Succeed If We Don’t Listen to Black Women, an article by Shanon Lee, outlines the ways Black women have laid the groundwork for modern rape crisis centers, and asks why they are left out of the healing process for #MeToo.
One Year of #MeToo: The Legacy of Black Women’s Testimonies by Allyson Hobbs associate professor of American history and the director of African and African-American studies at Stanford University,
Culturally Specific Services for African-American Self-Identified Sexual Assault Survivors in Detroit from Kalimah Johnson, LMSW, Executive Director of Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness.
Expanding Our Frame: Deepening Our Demands for Healing and Safety for Black Survivors of Sexual Violence by Andrea Ritchie is a policy brief written in partnership with the National Black Women’s Justice Institute and the Ms. Foundation in 2019. It examines Black women, girls, trans and gender-nonconforming people’s experiences of sexual assault and uplifts recommendations for prevention and transformative healing.
On Anti-Racism as a Cornerstone of Gender-Based Violence Prevention Work
Centering Black Survivors in Gender-Based Violence Work is the 4th episode of the Possibility Seeds Podcast – a conversation with Fechi Onyegbule, Chloe Kemeni, and Notisha Massaquoi.
Futures without Violence compiled this list of resources that addresses how racism and oppression have shaped our anti-violence movements and how we can dismantle racism in our organizations and communities.
The Colour of Violence, Angela Davis’ seminal keynote address at the inaugural INCITE! Women of Colour Against Violence Conference in Santa Cruz, explores the connections between police violence, prison abolition and the movement to end violence against women.
For Those in Management and Leadership:
Institutional Courage in Action: Racism, Sexual Violence, & Concrete Institutional Change (2023), a journal article from Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez, Dr. Jennifer J. Freyd, Dr. Jorge Delva, Brenda Tracy Lori Nishiura Mackenzie, Dr. Victor Ray, and Beverly Weathington.
A recorded lecture on Cultural Betrayal, Sexual Abuse, and Black Women: The Role of Institutional Courage in Mental Health and Wellness from Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez
Exposé of Women’s Workplace Experiences Challenges Antiracist Leaders to Step Up, a 2023 report from Catalyst on prevailing workplace racism in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States after so many leaders pledged to better address racism in 2020.
A blog post from the Management Center on How to Manage When Things Are Not Okay (And Haven’t Been For Centuries)
An article by Bryce Celotto on Supporting Black Staff In Times of Crisis: What Managers and Organizational Leaders Can Do To Support Black Lives
A blog post by Michelle Kim on How to Manage Your Team in Times of Political Trauma
A Google Doc with recommendations for Leading during traumatic and triggering events
For Academics:
Cite Black Women is a campaign that pushes for the acknowledgement of Black women’s transnational intellectual production
The Lemonade Syllabus curated by Candance Benbow includes books, poetry, photography, music, theatre, film and documentary inspired by Beyoncé’s visual album, Lemonade. It’s a compilation of work celebrating black women.
Canadian Education is steeped in anti-Black racism is an excerpt from Robyn Maynard’s book Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present.
For Campus Organizers:
Campus Toolkit for Combatting Racism by the Canadian Federation of Students is a starter kit to help those who are new to organizing on-campus anti-racism efforts.
Creating Black Survivor Spaces on Campus, an article by Vatineh Magaji and Casandra Fullwood for the Courage to Act blog (also available in French)
On Police and Prison Abolition:
Tarana Burke on the Connection Between Police Brutality and Sexual Violence, a video interview with Full Frontal on TBS.
In Our Own Hands, a toolkit from social justice educator Rania El Mugammar on how to talk about abolition & transformative justice with little ones.
TransformHarm.org curated by Mariame Kaba lists extensive resources around transformative justice, restorative justice, community accountability, healing justice, carceral feminism and abolition.
A Q&A with Robyn Maynard, author of Policing Black Lives
A blog post by Sandra Hudson for the Broadbent Institute: Creating Policy Options for Defunding the Police and Creating Alternative Services of Safety and Support
A Prison Abolition Resource Guide curated by Micah Herskind
What Does Defund the Police Mean for Sexual Violence Victims? An article by Jane Gerster that explores how the issue of defunding the police impacts sexual violence survivors.
On Black Healing and Support:
When It Comes to Anti-Black Racism, How Do Healers Heal Themselves? An article by Yamikani Msosa
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s 2023 profiles of Black Canadian mental health advocates and list of resources for Black communities across Canada
We Heal Together: a Colouring Book for Black Survivors celebrates Black joy, self-love, healing, and community care. From TMU’s Consent Comes First and Carlton University’s Sexual Assault Support Centre in collaboration with Cassandra Fullwood, with illustrations by artists Ashanti Fortson and KeZna Dalz.
This Resource Guide for Black Healing and Support in the Greater Toronto Area
Healing and Justice for African-American Survivors by Kalimah Johnson, LMSW, Executive Director of Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness
An article on Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community, including a section on the importance of culturally competent care, by Sunshine Behavioral Health.
A video about Recognizing Microaggressions in Therapy by Derrick J. Hoard, LMFT
On Black Women and Girls’ Lived Experiences in Canada:
An article for Chatelaine by Eternity Martis, 5 Black Women Talk About Their Lives In Canada–Past, Present And Future featuring Tanya Hayles, Deanna Bowen, Kanika Samuels-Wortley, Notisha Massaquoi, and Atong Ater.
Black Women in Canada, a report written by Jen Katshunga, Dr. Notisha Massaquoi, The City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, OCASI, and Justine Wallace describes the experiences of Black women and girls in Canada with a focus on education, health, criminal justice, labour market, academia, and data.
On Blackness and Queerness:
How Local 2SLGBTQ+Organizations Can Better Serve Black Communities, a guide from the Enchanté Network.
I dreamt of a march for Black queer liberation, a piece by Cicely-Belle Blain that reflects on issues of identity, injustice, racism and queerness, and the balance of protest and celebration, anger and joy, fight and flight.
Black & LGBTQ+: At the Intersection of Race, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity, a webinar hosted by the American Medical Association with Drs. LeAnne Roberts, Bianca D.M. Wilson, Maya Green, and Christopher Harris.
Queering Black History Month is a campaign put on each year since 2019 by Queer Events with help from the folks of House of Anansi.
What does it mean to be Black and queer? A piece by India Hosten-Hughes reflects on the power of being Black and queer.
On Health Care and Reproductive Justice
The October 2022 edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal focuses entirely on Black health and the impacts of anti-Black racism on healthcare in Canada.
The 2021 Black Experiences in Health Care Symposium Report looks at the health inequities experienced by Black communities in Ontario.
This news article by Rebecca Grant on how Black women’s experience of pregnancy and maternal care is affected by race.
On Media Representation
Desmond Cole and Tea Mutonji in conversation about media representation, anti-Black violence and liberation
On Allyship and Anti-Racism:
This article by Ijeoma Oluo titled, Welcome To The Anti-Racism Movement — Here’s What You’ve Missed
Ibram X. Kendi compiled An Antiracist Reading List for the New York Times.
A Guide to Allyship is a Google doc with a robust list of resources, do’s/don’ts, and ideas on how non-black community members can support black communities.
20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now by Michelle Kim lists actions and resources on how the Asian community can practice allyship.
Detour-Spotting for white anti-racists by Joan Olsson is a short article about 18 common detours we must avoid on our anti-racist journey.
This Google Doc offers a comprehensive list of anti-racism resources compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein.
This blog post that lists 106 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice.
Last updated: February 2023
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Suggested Citation: Courage to Act. (2020, June). Resources for Gender Justice Advocates to Challenge Anti-Black Racism. Courage to Act. www.possibilityseeds.ca/resources-for-gender-justice-advocates-to-challenge-anti-black-racism.
