Resources for Racial Understanding

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”
– Ida B. Wells, The Light of Truth: Writings of an Anti-Lynching Crusader

The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is committed to supporting lifelong learning in our community, and we know that learning about other cultures and races can be a lifelong project. We offer this collection of resources for our patrons who wish to broaden their empathy and understanding, in the hope of building a kinder and more accepting world.

Online Resources

• Smithsonian Talking About Race
The Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
offers tools and guidance to help parents, educators, and anyone committed to equity.
Explore discussion prompts, videos, and activities that empower you to understand race
in America.
• 1619 Project
Marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia, the
New York Times Magazine’s 1619 Project examines the legacy of slavery in America by
revealing how it continues to influence many aspects of present-day life in the US.
• 13 eye-opening essays and articles from Black writers
Crystal M. Fleming, associate professor of sociology and Africana Studies, recommends
some of the most important essays by Black authors on race in America.
• Project Implicit
Implicit biases are preferences and associations that we may not be aware of
holding…and just about everyone has some. We can understand our own biases more
fully with the help of this test, developed by researchers from Harvard, the University of
Washington, and the University of Virginia.
• CLP’s community resources page
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has compiled a list of local resources on racial issues,
trauma, legal issues, civil rights, and civic engagement.

Always-Available eBooks and Audiobooks

If you can’t make it to the library, check out these ebooks and audiobooks through Hoopla and
Libby.

Books at the Carnegie Carnegie
We recommend these titles from our adult nonfiction collection. Click to place a hold on each book.

Books at the Carnegie Carnegie
We recommend these titles from our adult nonfiction collection. Click to place a hold on each book.

Books for Kids
Kids need to learn about discrimination and prejudice too.
Explore these titles from our children’s collection.