As part of efforts to build a welcoming culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the college offers resources and opportunities for all members of our community to learn about how to be a better Ally to underrepresented/underserved groups and diversity in general.
Resources for Allies, Advocates, and Accomplices
Allyship is a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people and of ongoing learning about how we can all change our behavior to make people from marginalized groups feel safe and included. Allyships is not something we can self-identify with, it must be recognized by the communities we seek to support. Increasingly marginalized communities encourage people who wish to support them to go beyond allyship and to become advocates and active partners, rather than passive supporters.
We all add diversity to our community and we all have learning to do about how to interact with and think about groups to which we ourselves don’t belong. Here is a list of resources you can use to learn more.
Readings For Everyone:
- Teaching Tolerance.org Ally Toolkit - This brief overview and toolkit is a great place to start!
- White Ally Toolkit
- Racial Equity Institute
- Putting Racism On The Table
- Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
- Speaking Up Against Discrimination And Racism In The Workplace
- Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides
- A Message to White Allies From A Black Anti-Racism Expert: You’re Doing It Wrong
- How to Be an Ally to New Minority Scholars
- Becoming an Anti-Racist White Ally: How a White Affinity Group Can Help
- Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Appropriation: Why It Matters
- Social Justice Books
- What does it mean to be an Ally? Definition and Characteristics
- Guide to Allyship - An open-source guide “contributed to by people from all walks of life....,a resource where anyone who is considering becoming an ally understands the pros and cons of what being an ally entails.”
- Being a Good Ally - In this Diverse Issues in Education Magazine Blog, an Asian American ally of the African-American community notes that “a good ally takes care to avoid appropriating another person’s suffering.”
- Moving for Ally to Accomplice: How Far Are You Willing to Go to Disrupt Racism in the Workplace? – Diverse Issues in Higher Education - “Allyship is not enough. In order to disrupt racism and work on achieving equity, one must be willing to move from ally to accomplice. As an accomplice, you will walk the talk and take the steps necessary to dismantle the power structure of White privilege and supremacy and create substantial and sustainable societal and institutional change that treats all persons with dignity and respect.”
- 35 Dumb Things Well-Intended People Say - Dr. Maura Cullen
- How Diversity Makes Us Smarter
- Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science
- A Note From Your Hearing-Impaired Colleagues: Just Use a Microphone Already - The Chronicle of Higher Education - “It’s not about how you feel using a microphone. It’s about how others can best hear.”
- Ableism/Language – This post discusses the way Ableist Language perpetuates systems that are oppressive to some people and is experienced as a type of violence. It is meant to help us be aware of how our language and the ways those of us who can, can work the change our language to be more inclusive.
- We Need to Talk About Digital Blackface in Reaction GIFs - A short article by Teen Vouge that covered the potentially unforeseen harm caused by the use of black people as reaction GIFs, part of what is called “digital blackface.”
- White people assume niceness is the answer to racial inequality. It's not - This article talks about how “nice” doesn’t equal not racist and how our ideas that “nice” people cannot be racist is a major obstacle to dealing with problems around race
- Liberal Arts dean examines the history of civil rights and civil unrest
“Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and professor of African American Studies, recently joined the Democracy Works podcast to discuss his research on social movements among African American communities and how to think about current protests in light of the Civil Rights era. Listen to the podcast episode at wpsu.org/democracy or by searching “Democracy Works” in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app.” - Libraries marks Juneteenth with resources for historical, present context
“Penn State University Libraries has compiled a listing of resources, including books, articles, films, artifacts and more, that uplift those voices — throughout history and today ¬— who document the systemic racism that plagues African Americans and People of Color, with the intention of education and working toward anti-racism. “ - Juneteenth: Our Other Independence Day
“Two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, American slavery came to an end and a celebration of freedom was born…. Americans have even more reasons to continue learning about the roots of racism in American history and how all Americans must confront the great contradiction in our past —that a “nation conceived in liberty” was also born in shackles.” - Juneteenth” Friday, June 19th episode of the New York Times Podcast The Daily
Listen and subscribe to The Daily podcast from your mobile device: Via Apple Podcasts | Via Spotify | Via Stitcher Also available through other podcast apps - The Life of a Black Academic: Tired and Terrorized
“What has not been acknowledged is the world of terror enveloping many black academics that has changed feeling tired to absolute exhaustion, Henrika McCoy writes.” - A short history of black women and police violence
“Although the majority of black people killed by police in the United States are young men, black women and girls are also vulnerable to state-sanctioned violence.” - The African American Chronicles
Compiled by Alumnus Darryl Daisey, this historical timeline is a wealth of information about black history at Penn State. - From 1967 to 2020: A history of the racism Black students have faced at Penn State
This article was written by one of our own EMS undergraduates, Andrea Garcia, who is a Geography major and a Millennium Scholar, and provides historical background and context at Penn State. - Black community members at Penn State share frustrations with university's administration
Also by EMS student Andrea Garcia - Penn Staters give advice on becoming better allies of Black Lives Matter movement
Advice from Penn State's black community on how to be allies to the Black Lives Matter movement - Black and Exhausted in America: How long must we wait, plan, work, march, agitate, forgive, and vote before we have a society in which all lives matter equally?
- A Short History of Black Feminist Scholars (PDF)
- Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color
- re-thinking intersectionality (PDF)
- Ready to Be an Ally for Black Academics? Here’s a Start
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: A conversation
- 10 things Not To Say to Latinx/Hispanic Professionals
- What Does 'Latinx' Mean?
- List of Latinx-Owned Businesses and Services in Centre County (and neighboring counties) Note: The creator of this list and the administrators of Centre County Latinxs do not personally endorse any of the following businesses or services. This list's only purpose is to provide information to the community
- GLSEN Safe Space Kit - Is a 48 page Guide to Being an Ally to LGBT Students.
- Straight for Equality - Materials include a number of free downloadable resources including Guide to being a straight Ally, 10 Things You Can Do to Be an Ally, Equality Literacy 101, and other materials.
- Explore: Allies - Learn how allies can help make the world more understanding and supportive for the LGBTQ community.
- Coming Out as a Supporter: A Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans Human Rights Campaign - Produced by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Partnership with PFLAG (the nation's largest family and ally organization), “this guide is designed to help build understanding and comfort.
- What LGBTQ students want from their faculty (video)
- 'Ask Me': What LGBTQ Students Want Their Professors to Know (video)
- 500 Queer Scientists: Celebrating Diversity in STEM
- An A-Z Guide to Being a Muslim Ally - This is a short article from Huffington Post provides a list of ways people can help support Muslim-Americans.
- ALLYSHIP - The Anti-Oppression Network is a coalition of individuals and groups dedicated to working towards liberation, decolonization, anti-oppression and intersectionality (representing diverse minority groups). This page lays out roles and responsibilities of people seeking to engage in allyship.
- Changing the Narrative about Native Americans: A Guide for Allies (PDF)- This is a 44 page long guide to help people unlearn false and harmful narratives about Native American Peoples, learn history and ways to support positive new narratives.
- Indigenous allyship: An overview (and Toolkit) - “This document will act as a resource for non-Indigenous people seeking to become allies to Aboriginal people. To help allies understand the struggle for decolonization and nationhood and what effective allyship to Aboriginal peoples means.”
- How to Be An Ally To Indigenous People - Indigenous Perspectives Society: “While a few Indigenous people have taken on the task of educating all of us about our collective history, while at the same time healing their own deep wounds, this work is not their responsibility alone. Allies need to take on the task of social transformation, and share the responsibility of ensuring we move into a future built on integrity, good relationships, and trust.” Includes a link to an “Ally Bill of Responsibilities” and a list of resources.
- What Every Teacher Needs to Know to Teach Native American Students (PDF)– This article discusses the cultural learning styles of Native students in relation to classroom environments that often interfere with the way Native students learn, and offers promising practices.
- Indigenous Peoples terminology guidelines for usage
- Note: this resource is Canada-specific, but may be helpful in understanding the complexities of terminology.
- Oyate - a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed with honesty and integrity, and that all people know that our stories belong to us.
- As Long As We Dance: The News Faces of an Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow (Penn State Powwow)
- In Whose Honor? American Indian Mascots in Sports. Available through KANOPY with Penn State login, or through University Libraries
- A Treaty Right For Cherokee Representation- NPR CodeSwitch
- Rethinking How We Celebrate American History—Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Five Ideas for Celebrating Indigenous People’s Day 2020
- 7 Things to NEVER Say to Your Indigenous, Native American Colleagues
- The Biggest Issues Facing the Native American Community Right Now
- The line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation
- Native Appropriations: Examining Representations of Indigenous Peoples
- Thinking Twice about Stereotypes of American Indian Women - TEDx by Nancy Marie Mithlo
- Beyond Buckskin: About Native American Fashion - a website and business dedicated to promoting and selling Native American made fashion
- Indigenous Knowledge & Western Science GCSE Learning Series. In this series, participants are invited to widen the lens through which they view science, decision-making and climate solutions
- Interactive Time-Lapse Map Shows How the U.S. Took More Than 1.5 Billion Acres From Native Americans
- Rethinking How We Celebrate American History—Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Nangaghneghput – our way of life - Vera K Metcalf Eskimo Walrus Commission, Nome, AK discusses Indigenous Knowledge, the cultural importance of Arctic Sea Ice, and adapting to climate change.
- Missing and Murdered Haunt Tribal Nations
- Culture Not Costume
- My Culture Is Not a Costume
- This Is Indian Country
- Library Guide to Indigenous Peoples in Pennsylvania History
Recommended books:
- American Indian - It can be difficult to educate yourself about American Indian cultures because so many books and other materials are inaccurate and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
- National Museum of the American Indian - Information about museum exhibitions as well as Food, Mascots, American Indian Veterans, American Indian Women, Thanksgiving, Removal, Repatriation, Education Resources and more
- Reciprocal Research: a Guidebook to Centering Community in Partnership with Indigenous Nations - This guide should be used as part of a larger effort to support planning for, and reflecting on research partnerships. It can be used individually, in a community of scholars, or within a graduate level course.
- How some men are challenging gender inequity in the lab -Offering support to female colleagues can trigger a culture change that makes science and engineering more equitable for all: In this article in Nature international journal of science, six male researchers describe their efforts to support their female colleagues.
- Women in Science Propose Changes to Discriminatory Measures of Scientific Success - This is just one approach—proposed by Spalding and 23 other women scientists from around the world, in a new article published in PLOS Biology—that calls for a shift in the value system of science to emphasize a more equal, diverse and inclusive academic culture
- Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science.
- A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journal through science and sexism.
- The unequal impact of parenthood in Academia
- What's So Special about STEM? A Comparison of Women's Retention in STEM and Professional Occupations
- Blueprint for the Future: Framing the Issues of Women in Science in a Global Context: Summary of a Workshop (2012)
- The Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2021)
For Further Study: Books and Additional Materials
Anti-Racism Resources
As part of efforts to build a welcoming culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the college offers resources and opportunities for all members of our community to learn about how to be more aware of and how to combat racism.
Visit Anti-Racism Resources to learn more >>
Micro-aggressions
- Sue, Derald Wing. (2010) Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender and sexual orientation. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
- Sue, Derald Wing. (2010) Microaggressions and marginality. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
- Best Practices in Diversity Strategic Planning Workshop: Derald Wing Sue Presentation- link to workshop and materials, including a radio interview and a brief introduction to microaggressions.
- What is a microaggression? 14 things people think are fine to say at work — but are actually racist, sexist, or offensive
- When and How to Respond to Microaggressions - Harvard Business Review article provides a few examples, a framework for reacting, and advice to allies.
Implicit Bias and Interventions:
- Steele, Claude. (2010). Whistling Vivaldi: How stereotypes affect us and what we can do. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
- Distinguished Lecture on Engineering and Humanity: Stereotype Threat and Identity Threat: The Science of a Diverse Community by Claude Steele - site lists resources about implicit bias
Note: The site requires Penn State access ID login. EMS distributed copies of the book and conducted a series of discussions.
Bystander Intervention:
- EMS has partnered with Penn State’s Stand For State Program to offer a series of scenario-based discussions for faculty, staff, post-docs, and graduate students to “build awareness of situations that are problematic” and “brainstorm proactive choices that lead towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.”
Visit the Bystander Intervention webpage >>
Inclusive Instructional Environments:
- Best Practices in Diversity Strategic Planning Workshop - "Improving Courses and Curricula by Including Diversity" by Thomas F. Nelson: Materials, including session recordings are available online.
- Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence - offers workshops on Creating Inclusive Courses and other topics
- John A. Dutton e-Eductaion Institute - offers learning design and faculty development services supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in both online and resident instruction.
Workshops, Discussions, and Training:
If you are interested in increasing your facility with diversity, equity, and inclusion, there are several options for learning more.
- Penn State Learning Resources Network - offers a number of Diversity/Inclusion courses at no cost, both online or in-person. (Access ID login required).
- Safer People Safer Places - offers regular workshops, including the pre-requisite “Safer People Safer Places – LGBTQ Foundations Workshop.”
- Stand for State - Penn State’s bystander intervention program focusies on sexual and relationship violence, mental health concerns, acts of bias, and risky drinking and drug use, with workshops open to students as well as faculty and staff. Stand For State promotes a simple methodology of 3Ds: Direct interaction, Distraction, and/or Delegation to guide responses that bystanders can undertake in any situation.