RCASU would like to express its solidarity with the Black Lives Matters movement and protests taking place across the globe. The demand for an end to structural racism and oppression facing black people is an issue that we should all be engaging with in some way or another. The struggle for change is also a collective and individual one, so we would like to share the following resources with you in the spirit of transformation that strives for equality and justice for all:

 

*Click here for resources for black students.

*Click here for Black Led LGBTQIA organisations.

 

Race & Racism

Books

Ain't No Black In the Union Jack - Paul Gilroy

Assata: An Autobiography- Assata Shakur

The Autobiography of Malcolm X -  Alex Haley  

Black Power, The Politics Of Liberation - Charles V Hamilton and Stokely Carmichael

Black Skin,White Masks - Frantz Fanon

The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison

This Bridge Called My Back - Rosario Morales 

The Fire Next Time - James Baldwin

Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination - Robin D.G Kelley

Freedom Is A Constant Struggle - Angela Y Davis

Here to stay, here to fight: A Race today anthology - Paul Field, Robin Bunce, Leila Hassan and Margaret Peacock

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa - Walter Rodney 

How We Get Free: Black Feminism and The Combahee River Collective - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Medicine Stories: Essays for Radicals - Aurora Levi Morales

Moving Towards Home: Political Essays - June Jordan

Policing The Crisis - Stuart Hall

Sister Outsider - Audre Lorde

White Fragility - Robin Diangelo

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge

The Wretched of The Earth - Frantz Fanon

 

Articles

Black Study, Black Struggle- Robin D. G Kelley 

Building The Anti-Racist University - Tate & Buggeley 

The Combahee River Collective Statement - Combahee River Collective

For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies - Courtney Ariel 

From Minneapolis to London - London Campaign Against Police and State Violence

How to be an ally if you are a person with privilege - Frances E. Kendall

The Intersectionality Wars - Jane Coaston

We Should Be Afraid, But Not Of Protestors - Melvin Rogers

White Privilege: Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack - Peggy Mcintosh

RCA Dissertation

Black British Designer - Timi Oyedeji

 

RCASU Decolonising the Institution talks 2018

 

The Prison Industrial Complex & Prison Abolition

Abolition now: 10 years of Strategy and Struggle Against the Prison Industrial Complex - Critical Resistance

Are Prisons Necessary? - Ruth Wilson Gilmore 

Are Prisons Obsolete? - Angela Davis

Discipline and Punish - Michel Focault

Dying for Justice - Institute for Race Relations 

The End of Policing - Alex S. Vitale 

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness  - Michelle Alexander

Prisons and Universities Are Two Sides Of the Same Coin - Eli Meyerhoff 

Who do you serve? Who do you protect?: Police Violence and Resistance In The United States - Joe Macare, Maya Schenwar, Alan Yu Ian-Prince

 

What to watch and listen to

Documentaries

13th

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of The Revolution 

The Black Power Mixtape 

Concerning Violence 

A Place of Rage

 

 

Podcasts

About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge

Intersectionality Matters

The Lockdown

Millenials Are Killing Capitalism 

Seeing White

With Friends Like These 

 

 

Racial Justice Organisations in the U.S.

Black Vision Collective: A black, trans and queer led organisation that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression an violence.

Campaign Zero: Online Platform and organisation that utilises research based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.

Minnesota Freedom Fund: Community based non profit that pays bail & immigration bonds for individuals how have been arrested while protesting police brutality.

Reclaim The Block: Coalition that advocates and invests in community led safety initiatives in Minneapolis neighbourhoods.

Unicorn Riot: Non-profit organisation that is dedicated to exposing root causes of dynamic social and environmental issues. 

 

Racial Justice Organisations In The U.K.

Akwaaba Social Centre: Akwaaba is a Hackney-based social centre for migrants. They offer a space for rest, play, learning and mutual support.

Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC): Campaigning organisation against racism, injustice & disproportionate impact of cuts on black  communities & workers.

The Black Curriculum: A social enterprise that delivers Black British history through the arts, in schools and out of schools to all young people in the UK.

Black Lives Matter UK (BLMUK): A coalition of people from across the UK who believe deeply that Black Lives Matter.

Community Action On Prison Expansion (CAPE): network of grassroots groups fighting prison expansion in England, Wales and Scotland.

ICFree: A group of young black and brown south London kids fighting to end the criminalisation young people in the education and criminal Justice system.

INQUEST: combines specialist support for bereaved people following a state related death, with the influence to achieve change in legislation, policy & practice.

Kids Of Colour: Organisation exploring race, identity and culture, and challenging the everyday, institutionalised racism that shapes young people's lives.

London Campaign Against Police and State Violence (LCAPSV): London Campaign against Police and State Violence: community organising against police and state brutality in South London and beyond.

Runnymede Trust: UK's leading independent race equality think tank.

United Friends And Family Campaign (UFFC): The United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC), is a coalition of those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody. They support others in similar situations and organise yearly marches commemorating the lives lost at the hand of state.

Windrush National Organising Group: A african-Caribbean political movement for Justice Or Else & fighting the Hostile Environment & all forms of Racism.

Wretched Of The Earth: Grassroots collective for Indigenous, black, brown & diaspora groups/individuals, demanding climate justice + in solidarity w/ our UK & Global South communities
 

 

Protests

There are Black Lives Matters protests taking place across cities in the UK over the coming weeks. Keep an eye on #LDNBLM on social media for updates but key London Dates are:

At Home Protest: Thursday 4th June, 7pm

Organised by Black Lives Matter UK. They are asking that people acknowledge that racism is a public health crisis. Show your support from your doorstep by playing Jimmy Cliff’s ‘The Harder They Come’ out loud.

Peaceful Protest: Parliament Square, Saturday 6th June, 1PM

Peaceful Protest: US Embassy, Sunday 7th June, 2PM

If you attend one please keep safe. Organisers advise you to: wear protective masks, bring food, water and wear non identifiable clothing. It’s also important you are aware of your rights. Check out the bust card below for up to date information on covid-19 police powers and general stop and search information.

We know that this is a particularly difficult time. We are working to create online spaces where students can connect and share experiences and feelings. Please remember we are here to help you, email us via students-union@rca.ac.uk.
 

In Solidarity,

RCASU