An antiracist society starts with you. Gain the psychological skills you need to adopt an antiracist mindset and make meaningful and equitable changes in your community—and in the world.
Racism has reached epidemic levels in our country, and every single day we see acts of racial injustice. From police brutality and the prison industrial complex, to crumbling infrastructure and toxic drinking water in predominantly Black neighborhoods—many people have finally opened their eyes to the harsh realities of inequality and systemic racism in America. But awareness isn't enough. We need to take action to create real change.
Written by two psychologists and experts in race, identity, equity, and inclusion, The Antiracism Handbook will empower you to make your own personal contribution to creating an antiracist society. You'll find practical, evidence-based tools grounded in psychology to help you recognize and resist racial stereotypes in day-to-day interactions; and strategies to help you communicate with family, loved ones, and children about race and racism. You'll also learn skills to help you navigate race in professional workspaces, and advocate for antiracist politics, policies, and practices in your community, civic, and spiritual life.
By shifting your thought patterns and behaviors to cultivate an antiracist mindset, you can actively change your community—and the world—beginning with yourself. This handbook will help you get started now.
AUTHORS
Thema Bryant, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who has worked nationally and globally to provide relief and empowerment to marginalized persons. She is past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women, and past American Psychological Association (APA) representative to the United Nations, as well as the current president-elect of the APA. Bryant has been honored by the APA; the Institute of Violence, Abuse, and Trauma; and the California Psychological Association for her contributions to psychology. A professor at Pepperdine University, she earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology from Duke University, and completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. Bryant has served as a mental health media consultant for numerous print, radio, and television outlets, and is host of The Homecoming Podcast.
Edith G. Arrington, PhD, is a licensed psychologist whose research, writing, and consulting focus on race, identity, development, and education; equity, diversity, and inclusion; and promoting health and well-being for individuals and communities. She has provided a range of professional services, including evaluation, assessment, and strategic planning to schools, families, community-based organizations, and philanthropic organizations. Arrington earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology from Duke University; her master’s degree in clinical/community psychology from the University of Virginia; and her doctorate in school, community, and clinical child psychology from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.
Foreword writer Kevin L. Nadal, PhD, is professor of psychology at both John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Graduate Center at the City University of New York. He received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University. Nadal’s research focuses on the impacts of microaggressions on the mental and physical health of marginalized groups.
PRAISE
“Wherever you are in your journey of learning about and challenging racism in your life, The Antiracism Handbook will help you move ahead with clarity, courage, and compassion for yourself and your fellow travelers. Grounded in psychological research and informed by practitioners’ experience, it is a much-needed resource for anyone—White or BIPOC—who wants to become more effective in interrupting the cycle of racism. Use it yourself and share it with others!”
—Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
“A must-read for mental health professionals, this cutting-edge masterwork from two acclaimed therapist/scholars pairs clinical strategies with targeted exercises to provide current navigation of the challenges in becoming an effective antiracist advocate. Thema Bryant and Edith Arrington demonstrate that cultivating antiracism is a significant step in the creation of a just and equitable society—and show you how. I highly recommend this excellent handbook!”
—Lillian Comas-Díaz, PhD, clinical professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University, and author of Multicultural Care
“TheAntiracism Handbook is an urgent invitation to confront the truth about race and racism, and build the capabilities needed to do the work of racial justice in our lives and society. Drawing from resources in mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—as well as liberatory, decolonial, and community psychology—the authors expertly guide readers through a curriculum that requires active participation: rigorous self-examination, truth-telling, deep learning and unlearning, identifying barriers, and skill building. Eradicating racism will take all of us. Practitioners everywhere should read this book, which is sure to become required reading in the years ahead.”
—Tabatha L. Jones Jolivet, PhD, associate professor of higher education at Azusa Pacific University, community organizer, and coauthor of White Jesus
