Resources on Race and Antiracism for Mercy School Communities
Anti-Defamation League
Teaching about Racism, Violence, Inequity and the Criminal Justice System
Includes lesson plans for elementary, middle and high school.
Black Catholics Syllabus
This syllabus is a collection of resources related to Black Catholics in the United States curated by Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt. This syllabus prioritizes the work of Blacks in order to center the voice of Black Catholics in the creation of their own narrative.
Catholic Resources for Racial Justice
Link to resource in Google Docs
This resource was assembled by Michael Bayer, a lay Catholic minister who holds degrees in theology from Georgetown University and the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley. This resource owes a great deal to the input of scholars, theologians, historians, and pastoral ministers around the United States.
Center for Racial Justice in Education
Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators and Families
Excellent resources for year-round education on Black history and experience.
CNN
Black women’s roles in the civil rights movement have been understated — but that’s changing
In 1955, Claudette Colvin, age 15, was the first to refuse to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus – 10 months before Rosa Parks’ famous act of defiance.
Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism
CNN and Sesame Street team up for a town hall for kids and families. One segment focuses on how to explain racism to kids.
EmbraceRace.org
31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
Film: “Just Mercy” and study guide
Based on a true story, this 2019 film chronicles a civil rights defense attorney aiding a man on death row. Warner Brothers announced that “Just Mercy” will be free to rent on AppleTV, Fandango Now, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and YouTube throughout the month of June 2020. After you see the film, check out the accompanying Catholic study guide.
Global Sisters Report In the Classroom
Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
Anti-Racist Resources from Greater Good
This link Includes categories for educators and parents.
Ignatian Solidarity Network
Ignatian Solidarity Podcast featuring Olga Segura, Mercy school graduate
Olga Segura is a graduate of St. Catharine Academy in Bronx, New York. In this podcast, she talks about Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church.
Learning for Justice
Social Justice Standards: The Learning for Justice Anti-Bias Framework
Mercy Education
Black Catholic History Month Resources for Mercy Schools
Black HERstory: Making Voices Heard – download the video (MP4 file) here
From the Black Student Union of Merion Mercy Academy (Merion Station, Pennsylvania), “Black HERstory: Making Voices Heard” is a student-produced celebration of music, dance, art, poetry, rap and historical profiles of Black women.
For those seeking new ways to engage students on the Mercy Critical Concerns, we share a new resource: Critical Concerns Bingo cards, a spin on the traditional game of Bingo that offers pathways for engagement with the Critical Concerns through readings, videos, suggested actions and spirituality. Most activities are suitable for in-person and online instruction.
Critical Concerns Summer Reading Lists
The English department at Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, developed a summer reading program that highlights our Mercy Critical Concerns. All files for the summer reading program are available. You an also view them as PDFs: English 1, English 2, English 3, English 4
Developed by Mercy educators in 2018. Curriculum guides for all Mercy Critical Concerns are available here.
How to Talk about Racism in a Predominantly White School
Sarah Peace, principal of Mercy Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, shares helpful resources to inspire great conversations in the classroom.
Mercy Volunteer Corps
Critical Concern Challenge for Antiracism
This clickable five-week calendar provides daily opportunities to watch, listen, learn and act and pray. Mercy Volunteer Corps has also shared this blank version of the calendar that can be customized with resources appropriate for younger children – please contact us if you need help setting one up for your classroom.
National Geographic
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Includes a section specifically for educators.
Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut
Anti-Racism Resources for Students, Educators, and Citizens
Resources are organized by topic and medium, including books, podcasts, movies and shows.
New York Times
- Resources for Teaching About Race and Racism: A curated collection of over 75 lesson plans, writing prompts, short films and graphs relating to racism and racial justice.
- Talking to Kids about Racism
- An Antiracist Reading List
Saint Mary’s Press
Understanding Racism Mini-Course
This mini-course focuses on themes of change, unity and solidarity. By connecting racism to the greater Catholic Social Teaching of Human Dignity, the course helps students understand more about its origins, how it affects others, and how to confront racism and stand in solidarity with people of all walks of life.
- Overview
- Scope and sequence
- View a sample lesson from “Understanding Racism” by logging in here.
Username: justice@smp.org
Password: Justice123!
Educators can also contact the Saint Mary’s Press Ministry Care Team to request complete access.
Sisters of Mercy
- Racism – “We work to become an anti-racist community—committed to eliminating personal and institutional racism and dismantling oppressive structures, policies and processes.”
Smithsonian Magazine
158 Resources to Understand Racism in America
A chronicle of anti-black violence and inequality in the United States with links to articles, videos, podcasts and websites.
Tolerance.org
Black Oppression and Resistance
A learning plan with readings for grades 6-8 and 9-12.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
A Prayer Service for Racial Healing in Our Land
Combatting Racism – Educational Resources
Includes resources for K-12 classrooms, school activities and resources for reflection.
Vox.com
11 movies that confront American racism
*As several of these resources come from secular sources, we request that administrators and educators review carefully before sharing within your school community.
Don’t forget to visit the resources section of our website for more inspiration.
What other types of resource would be helpful to you?
Do you have resources that you think would be helpful to share with the Mercy Education community?
Please contact us at mercyedu@sistersofmercy.org.
