Anti-Racism, Health Equity, and Support Resources

Anti-racist education and action are essential if we are to achieve a just society and health equity. The resources below, while not meant to be a comprehensive list, offer a starting point to explore, learn, and find support. Download a printable list of CPH and UI campus resources here.

Anti-Racism Resources

Books

  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
  • Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
  • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
  • Evicted by Matthew Desmond
  • The Fire Next time by James Baldwin
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
  • Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
  • Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
    by Michelle Alexander
  • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century
    by Grace Lee Boggs
  • Police Brutality: An Anthology by Jill Nelson
  • Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
  • Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
  • Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  • Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (for YA readers) by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga
  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
  • When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson
  • White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robyn DiAngelo

Children’s Books

Black Lives Matter Instructional Library — links to videos featuring read-aloud children’s books on activism and advocacy, self-love and empowerment, Black history, libros en español, and additional resources.

For Faculty and Instructors

Inclusion and Belonging Essential Readings (PDF) – from Harvard University’s Pursuing Excellence on a Foundation of Inclusion 

Websites and Other Resources

50 Anti-Racism Resources (Word doc) collected by UI Human Resources

Racial Equity Tools

Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large.
https://www.racialequitytools.org/home

Talking About Race

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture has launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity, and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race

University of Iowa Libraries Anti-Racism Guide

A collection of resources for allies, people of color, parents, and educators.
https://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/antiracism/general

Health Equity Resources

College of Public Health Resources

Building Health Equity Webinar Series

 This webinar series of hour-long recorded sessions focus on applying a health equity-related topic to public health practice. The intended audience is public health department employees and the general public health workforce.

Health Equity Advancement Lab
The Health Equity Advancement Lab (HEAL) is a group of students, faculty, and staff who are interested in social justice in public health. HEAL provides a space for student and staff learning, discussion around health equity frameworks and principles, and opportunities to collaborate on projects. HEAL seeks to increase the capacity within individuals, agencies, and organizations to promote health equity.

“Achieving Health Equity: Tools for a National Campaign Against Racism”
Dr. Camara Jones’ Hansen Award Lecture
Camara Jones, MD, MPH, PhD, is a family physician and epidemiologist whose work focuses on the impacts of racism on the health and well-being of the nation. She seeks to broaden the national health debate to include not only universal access to high quality health care, but also attention to the social determinants of health (including poverty) and the social determinants of equity (including racism). Dr. Jones was the recipient of the college’s 2017 Richard and Barbara Hansen Leadership Award and Distinguished Lecture. Watch video

Podcast: From the Front Row
This College of Public Health student-produced podcast frequently covers health equity topics. https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/from-the-front-row/

Podcast: Share Public Health
This podcast (http://www.mphtc.org/share-public-health/) produced by the Midwestern Public Health Training Center explores public health topics including leadership, mental health, health equity, hot topics, and emerging practices.

Research
Many of our faculty and centers based in the college investigate and address health inequities experienced by various groups, including rural populations, African Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Latinx communities, the LGBTQ community, and others.

Guest Speakers
The college frequently invites nationally known health leaders and authors to present talks and meet with small groups about topics related to health disparities. Past speakers have included David R. Williams, Mona Hanna-Attisha, Matthew Desmond, Jennifer Harvey, Bernard J. Tyson, Camara Jones, and Byllye Avery.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the College of Public Health
https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/diversity/

Healing and Support

University of Iowa Resources

Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement – Cultural Centers 

The UI Cultural Centers provide a “Home Away From Home” atmosphere for many students and can be utilized by any UI student or reserved for student organization events. The Centers also provide intra-and cross-cultural education, leadership and organizational development opportunities, social justice education, and change.

University Counseling Service

University of Iowa Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

University of Iowa Libraries