

UNDERSTANDING RACISM & SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
King In The Wilderness (Peter Kunhardt) — HBO
See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (Stanley Nelson, Jr.) — Available to rent
The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Available to rent for free
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi) — Available to rent
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE
ALLYSHIP & ADVOCACY

- Ask your colleagues how they would like to be supported.
- Don’t ask your Black colleagues to explain complex racial issues to you.
- Listen and acknowledge their feelings.
- Hold your peers and managers accountable and report any instances of racism, however big or small they may seem to you.
- Mentor: Identify talent within teams and support them with the knowledge and opportunity to succeed.
- Speak out, because silence is not allyship.
- Empower and support Employee/Business Resource Groups.
- Donate to causes that further education and take action to end racism.
- Read -- seek out books to educate yourself about the history of systemic racism across the world.

Business Resource Groups
Business Resource Groups are company sanctioned, employee-led affinity groups built around a specific dimension of diversity or characteristics designed to leverage diversity to enhance business objectives and goals.
Major League Baseball’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are open to all employees who support the group's mission - regardless of their race, gender, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, ancestry, gender identity, military veteran status, or sexual orientation. All MLB employees are encouraged to join and become allies for all Business Resource Groups.

From White Racist to White Anti-Racist: The Life-Long Journey by Tema Okun
Opportunities for White People in the Fight for Racial Justice edited by Jonathan Osler
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo
The Costs of Racism to White People by Paul Kivel
Waking up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race



The organizations listed may or may not be partners of MLB or its Clubs. This is for informational purposes only.
CONVERSATION GUIDE

In department/team meetings, staff calls, at the water cooler … the most “human” start to this conversation is always: “How are you?” “How is this impacting you?”
- Lead with empathy.
- Listen and acknowledge responses and feelings.
- Don’t attempt to walk in their shoes or “relate” to the issue but allow people to share.
- Always defer to commonalities of the shared human experience (emotions, family, safety), rather than try to understand or define racial nuances. For example: “I can’t possibly understand what you are feeling, but the loss of a father, brother, spouse, son, would be traumatic for anyone.”
- Understand there may be varying perspectives, bias and opinions and everyone may not be comfortable sharing.
- Reinforce the company’s policy on discrimination and harassment.
Guidelines for having conversations about race:
- Have the conversation rather than avoiding it.
- Listen actively; hear fully before responding.
- Solicit input; ask what they think, “What did you think about that?”
- Honor “frames of reference” -- different perspectives and viewpoints.
- Seek to understand what others are thinking; before sharing your thoughts. People are more willing to hear from you when you hear them, first.
- Share your views as just that your views that may not be shared by others. Honor that.
- Respond with care, acceptance and compassion. You don’t have to agree; however, you do need to acknowledge and appreciate the person; no matter what.
- Nobody’s perfect -- you will not be perfect in what you say; and they will not be perfect in what they share. There is no right. Do the best you can.
- Everything does not need to be said -- it’s enough to create space for the conversation.
- Avoid teaching, preaching and the temptation to ‘correct’ others -- no one has the answers.
- Let go of agendas and expectations.
- Appreciate others’ viewpoints; say “thank you."
- Do your personal work. Get support to unpack your feelings and concerns at another time, so that you can better hear and support others.

Suggested Reading:
Inclusive Books Guide - Anti-racist book recommendations for all ages which include discussion guides
How to Talk to Kids About Race - Research-based best practices to promote positive racial identity development in children, support conversations about race and racism, and move from conversation to action
Racial Literacy: Key Terms and Definitions
How to be an Ally: 41 ways to show up in this work and take meaningful action towards racial justice now
Guide for Selecting Anti-bias Children Books
Tips:
1. Correct with care. Listen first, and gently correct facts; not thoughts or feelings. Provide developmentally appropriate information and offer other ways to look at things. For example:
Question. Why do people protest and get violent?
Response. Sometimes people express their feelings in negative ways. We all get angry at times, but we can choose to express our feelings in ways that help us understand each other better. And maybe solve some problems.
2. Use language children can identify with. Most children have heard about and understand the concept of bullying. They understand what it is, and maybe what it feels like to be mistreated. When discussing these concepts, focus on the behavior, its negative impact, and the desired behavior.
An example might be:
Behavior and Negative Impact: What if a friend was making fun of someone else? How do you think that person would feel?
You might choose to do one of three things:
- Join in and make fun of them too. Sound like a good idea? No.
- Do nothing; or say nothing -- even though you’re feeling uncomfortable. What do you think? Not the best answer.
- (Desired Behavior) Say something in a way that respects your friend while letting them know you don’t agree with their behavior and that they should stop. We can talk with each other in a way that helps everyone.
3. Honor their ‘fill line.’ Adults can get caught up explaining and taking advantage of a teachable moment. Suddenly the child gets distracted; stares off; changes the subject or gets up and walks away. Like adults kids have a “fill line” -- a place they reach when they can’t take in any more information. Honor when they have heard enough. When they thirst for more, they will ask.
4. Be a role model by listening and responding positively to diversity and differences in a supportive and empathetic way. This can teach children positive attitudes and effective strategies.
5. Expand their perspectives of diversity and differences, all year round. Have conversations that help them view multicultural topics with an open mind–you might say, “This is a holiday that (___ ) families celebrate; that our family does not celebrate. I think it’s really fun to learn about other traditions!”
6. Celebrate similarities and differences. Ask them to think about friends and others they know, who are similar and different. Point out how our differences make each of us unique and special.
7. Talk about how important it is that all people feel good about themselves. Emphasize how scary it can be to feel like you are different from other people, and how brave it is to share things that are unique about yourself or your family.
8. Teach kids words they can say to make each other feel valued as they learn about and embrace differences: “That’s cool! I never knew that before!” “I like the way you do that.” “Can you tell me more about that?”
9. Have open conversations about stereotypes and biases. For example, as you say how great it is that there are many similarities and differences in our society -- point out that sometimes people treat other people badly or differently because of their looks, the color of their skin, their cultural beliefs, or their gender. Share that this is unfair and is not how people should treat one another.
Additional Resources: These additional resources are being offered, not endorsed. Just as you monitor what children watch, what they listen to, and their use of the internet and social media activity; it’s critical to examine and choose resources you feel comfortable with. Choose the ones that are right for you and your family.
Books:
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance
Podcasts:
Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’
Fare of the Free Child podcast
Integrated Schools podcast episode “Raising White Kids with Jennifer Harvey”
Articles:
PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good
75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice - points Nos. 4-6 for educators also list resources that can be used by caregivers
How I Explain Racism to My White Friends (So They Can Explain It to Their Kids)
Talking to kids about discrimination
6 Resources for Talking with Kids About Race
13 Books to Help You Explain Racism to Kids
These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids
Help Your Kids Find Books with Diverse Characters
Anti-Racism for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide to Fighting Hate
MLB EFFORTS

This is not a moment, this is a movement. Major League Baseball is working on sustainable change. While there is specificity to the Black community across many of the strategies outlined below, there is, in many cases, alignment to already existing programs and initiatives that apply to those inclusive of and beyond the Black community. We will continue to update this section to provide real-time action steps being taken across our sport.
Supporting Economic Development
Fostering Community Connection
- Amplifying Voices
- League-Wide Pro Bono Program (to support Diverse Business Partners)
- Long-Term Charitable Investments
Enhancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Diversity Pipeline Program
- Talent Development
- Inclusive and Anti-Racism HR policies

Throughout each year, Major League Baseball operates a wide range of Baseball & Softball Development initiatives to improve access to the game among diverse & under-served communities and foster advanced development within the youth and amateur levels of the sport.
Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities
CLUB SITES
MLB does not own the rights to this content.
AAPI RESOURCES
Organizations
- Asian American Federation: Established in 1989, AAF is the largest umbrella leadership organization in New York serving the AAPI community.
- Act To Change: National public awareness campaign launched in 2015.
- StopAAPIHate: National coalition that shares resources and tracks and responds to incidents of discrimination, violence, and hate crimes against AAPI in the US.
- NYC Human Rights: Task Force under the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
- Community Partners Network: National network of organizations serving AAPI.
Resources
- Asian American Bar Association of New York’s report on a rising tide of hate and violence against Asian Americans in New York during COVID-19.
- Group Setting: Asian Solidarity Workshop, a safe space to workshop & heal from anti-Asian racism during Covid 19 (sign up by 3/19): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCR5dzzJAVmY4eU_IbGHux6TmUmDUkGimS0aFP30wNkPGwgw/viewform
- 1:1 Setting: Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American (APISAA) Therapist Directory https://www.asianmhc.org/apisaa
- Crisis Hotlines:
- The Crisisline: Call: 1-800-273-TALK, Asian Languages: 1-877-990-8585
- Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741
- The Trevor Project : Call: 1-866-488-7386 Online Chat: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/
- The Trans Lifeline: Call: 1-877-565-8860
With the increase in violence and hate crime attacks in the AAPI community, the Asian BRG and Home Base BRG wanted to provide resources for all adults who would like to speak to their children, younger siblings, extended family, and friends about anti-Asian racism:
- This Wednesday, 3/24 at 8:30pm ET A Conversation on How to Support Children
- Talking to Kids About Asian American Identity and Racism
- Op-Ed in NYT: I’m Helping My Korean-American Daughter Embrace Her Identity to Counter Racism
- Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race - Resource Roundup
- Resources For Talking About Race, Racism, and Racialized Violence With Kids
- Rebekah Gienapp’s Guide On Talking to Children on Anti-Asian Racism And Children’s Book Recommendations
- How to Talk About Violence to the Asian Community with your Child
- A Lesson On The Rise in Attacks on Asian Americans
- The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health