Digital Learning Commons: Maine's March Toward Justice: Home

Print Resources

Non-Fiction

The African-American Struggle for Legal Equality in American History by Carole Boston Weatherford
Call Number: 323.1196 WEA (African-American Experience)
Traces the African American struggle, from slavery to the present, to overcome racism and racist laws thereby becoming constitutionally and legally equal to other American citizens.
The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward
Call Number: 305.896 FIR (African-American Experience)
National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward takes James Baldwin's 1963 examination of race in America," The Fire Next Time," as a jumping off point for this groundbreaking collection of essays and poems about race from the most important voices of her generation and our time.
Race by Marc Aronson
Call Number: 394.2663 ARO
Race. You know it at a glance: he's black; she's white. They're Asian; we're Latino. Racism. I'm better; she's worse. Those people do those kinds of things. We all know it's wrong to make these judgments, but they come faster than thought. Why? Where did those feelings come from? Why are they so powerful? Why have millions been enslaved, murdered, denied their rights because of the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes?
Rest in Power by Sybrina Fulton; Tracy Martin
Call Number: 921 MAR (African-American Experience)
Trayvon Martin's parents take readers beyond the news cycle with an account only they could give: the intimate story of a tragically foreshortened life and the rise of a movement.

Fiction

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds; Brendan Kiely
Call Number: F REY
When sixteen-year-old Rashad is mistakenly accused of stealing, classmate Quinn witnesses his brutal beating at the hands of a police officer who happens to be the older brother of his best friend. Told through Rashad and Quinn's alternating viewpoints.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Call Number: F STO
Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Call Number: F THO
After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.

Online Resources

Maine Initiatives
Maine Initiatives is a network of individuals supporting greater social, economic, and environmental justice in Maine through informed, intentional, and collective philanthropy.
Racial Justice 101
A well thought out collection of terms as well as videos and short articles that aim to build foundational understandings of racial justice. A great place to start!
Racial Justice Deep Dive
Books, articles, videos, blogs, and podcasts that dive deeper into issues surrounding racial justice and provide a more nuanced understanding.
Lebron James to Kaepernick: Can America’s Raceless Athlete Fight Racial Injustice
Attorney Antonio Moore evaluates Lebron James and Colin Kaepernick in context of racial tensions in America. Moore delves into the Lebron James I Promise School, Kaepernick taking a knee, and several other racial issues surrounding sports in America.

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Moore, Antonio. “Lebron James to Kaepernick: Can America’s Raceless Athlete Fight Racial Injustice.” Tonetalks' Podcast, Podbean, 4 Aug. 2018, tonetalks.podbean.com/e/lebron-james-to-kaepernick-can-americas-raceless-athlete-fight-racial-injustice-nba-nfl-mlb/.
Racial Justice - American Civil Liberties Union
The ACLU Racial Justice Program aims to preserve and extend constitutionally guaranteed rights to people who have historically been denied their rights on the basis of race. Looks into what is at stake, current issues, the latest news, and how to get involved.
15 Charts That Prove We’re Far From Post-Racial
On July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, officially banning discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also ended racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and in general public facilities. Fifty years removed from that milestone, it’s apparently easy to think that we’re over racism. Here are 15 facts that prove that’s not the case.

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Goyette, Braden, and Alissa Scheller. “15 Charts That Show The U.S. Isn't Over Racism.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/civil-rights-act-anniversary-racism-charts_n_5521104.html.
This is what dealing with racism is really like for a person of color in Maine
Portland musician and writer, Samuel James, recounts his experiences as a person of color living in Maine.

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James, Samuel. “This Is What Dealing with Racism Is Really like for a Person of Color in Maine.” Bangor Daily News, Bangor Daily News, 25 Jan. 2016, bangordailynews.com/2016/01/25/the-point/this-is-what-dealing-with-racism-is-really-like-for-a-person-of-color-in-maine/.

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