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racial  justice  resources

Camp Blodgett is committed to providing resources for our community to educate, inform and support the community regarding issues of racism and racial injustice.  View our videos, below, to learn more about these truly important issues. You may also be interested to view our Statement on Institutional Racism. 

what  is  racism,  really? 

Our Executive Director, Lucy Dyer Joswick, has studied race and racism since college, focusing on whiteness and how white people can change the picture by becoming allies.
 
This is our first brief video designed for white people who want to learn and potentially unlearn realities about race in our country. Email comments or suggestions to lucy@campblodgett.org

Hi. I'm White.

Learn more about the work of Damali Ayo in the resource "I Can Fix It" HERE.

The statistics Lucy shared in this video online through the links shared with each fact.

The suicide rate for black children ages 5-12 is twice that of white children the same.
 https://www.ajmc.com/newsroom/racial-disparities-seen-for-black-children-age-512-in-youth-suicide-
 
Black and African American babies born in Grand Rapids are 2.2x more likely to die than white babies - even when their mothers have the same age, health, education and income.
https://www.wkkf.org/what-we-do/featured-work/strong-beginnings-uses-holistic-approach-to-reduce-infant-mortality-among-communities-of-color
 
Latino, black and biracial children in Grand Rapids experience poverty at three times the rate of their white counterparts
https://nationalequityatlas.org/sites/default/files/GrandRapids_final_profile.pdf

listen  to  the  outrage!

To learn more from the voices of people of color, as Lucy suggests in the video, see links below:

Your Stories of Racism: https://www.google.com/…/amp.theatlanti…/amp/article/398117/

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: https://youtu.be/h8jUA7JBkF4

First Encounters with Racism: https://www.google.com/…/first-encounters-with-racism.amp.h…

A Brief Chronology of the Violence Against African Americans: https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/ever-growing-list-what-b…/…

How Racism Makes Us Sick (Ted Talk): https://www.ted.com/…/david_r_williams_how_racism_…/up-next…

How to Deconstruct Racism in the Media: https://youtu.be/RZgkjEdMbSw

 EDUCATION

History:  Institutional  Racism,  From  the  beginning

For more opportunities to learn about the history of racism in the founding of our nation, we recommend the following films and learning opportunities:

Race: The Power of an Illusion is a video series that addresses the history of racism in its many forms, and the origins, beliefs and consequences of what we call race. This website is FULL of readings, videos and photos to help us all better understand the history of institutional racism in the United States.

The Long Shadow is a film that documents the history of racism in the American South, and how it impacts many of our societal constructs today. The Long Shadow is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

Reconstruction: America After the Civil War is a PBS 4-part series featuring host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and covers the realities of life for black Americans following the Civil War and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Full episodes are available for streaming on the PBS website.

history:  institutional  racism  from  1924  until  today

There are MANY excellent books and films that help us better understand the realities of racial oppression and institutional racism in our country both historically and in our current lives.

Some BOOKS to consider:

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X Kendi 
This book also has a Young Adult version, STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism and You which is co-authored by well-known YA author Jason Reynolds. The audiobook version of this book has also been highly recommended for middle and high school  youth and a trusted adult to learn about together.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

FILMS that bring light to this important topic:

13th by Ava Duvernay. This film looks at the 13th Amendment to the constitution that outlawed slavery in the US, and the ways that incarceration of black men became the 'new slavery' in our country.

Selma documents the civil rights era, taking a close look at the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Senator John Lewis and others who led the civil rights protest in Selma, Alabama marching across the Edmund Pettis Bridge.

Just Mercy is the story of Bryan Stevenson, an attorney who represents death row inmates in the southern United States.

Our Mission

To empower youth in West Michigan through educational and recreational experiences that promote social responsibility, encourage academic success, and support the development of healthy self-esteem. ​
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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Summer Camp
    • STEM Academy
    • School Year Programs >
      • STEM Squad
      • Day Camps
    • Young Leaders
    • Virtual Camp Activities
  • About Us
    • Our Approach
    • Our Big IDEA
  • Invest in Kids
    • For the Kids! Event
    • Camp Conversations
    • Donate >
      • Camperships
      • Sponsorship >
        • Sponsorship Form
      • Charitable Giving Benefits 2020
      • Wish List
    • Volunteer
    • Employment
  • Rent Our Space
    • Special Event Rentals >
      • Rental Pricing - Special Event
    • Meeting Rentals
    • School and Community Groups >
      • Rental Pricing
    • Preferred Vendors >
      • Become a Vendor
    • FAQ
  • NEWS
    • high ropes course photo gallery
    • 100 Years at Camp Blodgett >
      • Share Camp Blodgett Memories
    • Acoustic Sunset Concert Series
  • Contact Us