"And don't call me a racist!" A treasury of quotes on the past, present, and future of the color line in America / Selected and arranged by Ella Mazel

Conferences

• A state department of education: "We would like to include your book in the packets for our upcoming statewide conference. Participants will be Title I and Migrant educators, ESOL contacts, Equity staff, and program contacts for safe and drug-free schools."

• A Pennsylvania Grace Temple church: "We would like to use your book at our forthcoming General Convocation, to prompt discussion of race issues in the U.S., as well as distribute copies to certain educators, lawyers, and others who will be in attendance."

• A California NAACP: "We are experiencing a rise in hate activities, particularly in youth hate groups. Your book will be a perfect match for the audience at our Anti-Hate Conference, when our workshop will explore the ramifications of the situation and how we and other organizations can support victims of hate crimes."

• A Massachusetts office of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ): "For our Martin Luther King, Jr., Youth Leadership Breakfast, a group of young people will be pulling out a variety of quotes from your book and using them as a central presentation (prior to group discussions) about civil rights issues."

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Staff development

• A Maryland municipal mental health department: "I presented the book to our President recently because our management team began a dialogue about race in response to incidents in the office."

• A Vermont Immigration and Naturalization office: "Besides providing books for each of our supervisors, we will start leaving copies in the cafeteria. I hope that the books get stolen, necessitating a further request to you in the near future!"

• A Massachusetts homeless shelter: "We have used your book extensively in our Diversity Education Committee, as a source of learning, respect, and inspiration. It has stimulated a greater appreciation of our common values and common heritage -- reminding us why we are working here."

• A Missouri day school: "I have given your book to everyone with whom I have conversations regarding race. School board members, teachers, cleaning and kitchen staff -- as well as students and parents -- are all recipients of your work."

• A Michigan high school: "Over the years our students have complained that teachers here are racist, and teachers deny the allegation. During Black History Month, our Human Relations Club would like to provide your book as a gift to all staff to assist them in analyzing their actions and how students view them."

• A Massachusetts community college: "Our professional development conference for teacher aides will focus, in response to a recent incident, on managing violence in the public schools. We would like to provide a copy of your book to each participant, with special suggestions as to how it may serve them as a classroom guide."

• A Minnesota YWCA social justice program: "For our employees who participate in a cross cultural dialogue, we will open each meeting with a quote from your book. We will also send all employees a weekly e-mail message containing quotes we have chosen that inspire us all to live our mission."

• An Oklahoma CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) county office: "As the training coordinator for volunteers to speak up for the 'best interests' of abused and neglected children, I would be thrilled to receive enough copies of your book to present one to everyone coming through our program."

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Diversity programs

• An Arizona Air National Guard: "We are establishing a solid diversity program in this State, and would like to provide copies of your book not only to participants in our Diversity Council and newly-trained Diversity Facilitator Trainers, but to the commanders and chiefs as well."

• A Minnesota Hispanic Lutheran Church: "I am going to be giving a presentation to high school students on cultural diversity, and thought it would be appropriate for them to receive copies of this excellent book."

• A Maryland Americorps chapter: "We plan to give the books to our new class of AmeriCorps members, who will serve as Volunteer Coordinators at different non-profit organizations and government agencies throughout the state. We will use the book as a resource for our diversity training, which is an important part of preparing members for their year of service."

• A North Carolina Urban League affiliate: "We offer diversity training to companies in our area, and your book is great to give to human relations personnel."

• A New Jersey Catholic school S.E.E.D. (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) program: "Our group consists of teachers, staff and administrators who meet every month to discuss issues of diversity. We select relevant readings through which we can share our ideas and feelings."

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Multicultural activities

• A Tennessee independent school: "We have several different targets for distribution of your book -- faculty and staff; the parents of black/African-American students (who have been meeting regularly in a support group); and members of two high school affinity groups with whom I am working on issues of race and culture."

• A Massachusetts high school: "We find your book useful as a resource for our 'Kidz United' group, which plans activities and does peer education on multiculturalism aimed at creating a positive school climate."

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Study groups / Discussion groups / Workshops

• A Minnesota human rights commission: "This is a small, predominantly white, college town where many are not even aware of the racism that permeates our community. Our newly formed committee is planning a week of programs at the campus and the churches, followed by a public forum devoted to discussing racism -- at which we would like to provide copies of your book."

• A North Carolina county: "As Director of the Office of Minority Affairs, I am always seeking new and innovative ways to initiate discussions on white privilege, racism, and other verboten topics. Your book serves as a tool to assist me in facilitating non-threatening and non-blaming discussions on race. My workshops are filling up quickly, and I present each graduate with a copy of the book."

• A Florida domestic violence shelter: "We are a very diverse group in race, age, culture, and economic status, and your book was able to catch everyone's attention. We took turns reading quotes out loud and commenting on how the quote supported or challenged our beliefs. It opened up avenues for us to talk about our backgrounds and discuss race issues."

• A Minnesota inner-city Catholic church: "For the past four years, we have been taking up the issues of systemic and institutional racism. In addition to an introductory weekend training, we have also developed parish-wide book groups and other study opportunities to consider the work of becoming an anti-racist institution. Your book will be of great help."

• An Oklahoma Unitarian Congregation: "Our four churches sponsor two four-session series of supper-and-discussion meetings each church year. I am confident that your book will be a great boost to these discussions."

• An Oregon Methodist church: "In our workshop called The Myth of Race, the Reality of Racism, we will be using your book to help look at the way white privilege often blinds us to our own racism, and particularly how it impacts education, immigration, and the work of the church."

• A Florida civic association: "One of our activities is an after-school assistance program. Your book is something we can read together and discuss, and also use it to teach a life and history lesson."

• A Minnesota middle school: "I would like to use the books as the basis for discussion groups among staff, and also for discussion at a local coffee shop."

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Educational programs / Individual courses

• Teacher education at a California graduate-level university: "It's such a vital and timely topic that it really fits into all of my classes. The students are bringing in their own quotes to add to yours, and we're weaving them into the concepts of counseling and working with children."

• Social work education at a Louisiana university: "I would like to include your book as mandatory reading in my summer Multicultural Counseling Course for graduate students. I plan to continue using it for as many courses and workshops as I can."

• Journalism education at a California university: "The book helped to underscore our mission that media professionals have a responsibility to educate people about ethnicity and culture, and to do so with honesty, candor, appreciation, and diligence."

• Labor education at a Washington community college: "I am building a Labor Studies Summer Institute series entitled Isms and the Labor Movement, in which we engage the issue of the racial divide in our country and society. Your book would be a great resource for our students, most of whom are on welfare, dislocated workers, or low-wage workers."

• A California university: "I plan to use your book as required reading for my course on Multicultural Issues in Education of the Deaf."

• A Colorado school system: "The books will be used for our new Principals, Administrators, and Supervisors, as well as teachers who are working towards becoming equity and diversity support leaders."

• An Iowa university: "The Performance and Social Change class I teach in the department of communication studies uses a combination of performance and critical pedagogy to explore various social issues. I plan to address racism in the next session and will be using your book in that context."

• A California church-related university: "Your book will be mind-opening for the students in my class on the religious ethics of Martin King and Malcolm X."

• A Pennsylvania university: "I have been using the books as a supplementary text in my class on Valuing Diversity in Business. We study the effects of and possible solutions for racism and other 'isms' in this country. Many students report that this is the first time they have discussed these topics in an open non-judgmental atmosphere."

• An Illinois high school: "I have been using the book in classes both for a Frederick Douglass unit and for short journal writing exercises to help focus student thought and attention on social problems connected with racism and other prejudices."

• An Illinois Upward Bound program: "Your book contains much of the information I am using this summer to teach the high school sophomores in my English class, and freshmen in my cultural arts class. I refer to their age because they are young enough to use these books for the rest of their high school and college careers."

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Government

• A Louisiana National Guard: "Our affirmative action objective is to ensure fair treatment for all soldiers based solely on merit, fitness, and capability that supports readiness. Racism, sexism, and extremism destroy unit cohesion and impair mission accomplishment. The content in your book will significantly enhance our efforts to eliminate these negative effects."

• A Missouri Army National Guard: "Our state has a program to educate all our soldiers on diversity and equal opportunity awareness. Your book was used in an EO course we took, and we would like to further use it by distributing copies to all our EO representatives statewide."

• A California police department: "Your book has been an excellent training tool in my classes for recruits at the police academy. After I pull up volunteers for a role-playing scenario, I reward them with the book. They feel good about participating and browse through their books at break time."

• A Michigan state representative: "I would like to share your book with colleagues that I have been working with on a dialogue of racial reconciliation."

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Correctional institutions

• A Florida chaplain: "Our system has a large number of African-American men doing time behind prison walls. Our Chapel is in dire need of quality, African-American reading material. With the help of your book, we can reach these men with information about their heritage."

• A Colorado Youth Corrections Center: "As principal, I would like to share your enlightening book with both my staff and our young clients."

• A Massachusetts prison book project: "We would like to send copies of your book out to prisoners. They would be greatly appreciated both by the volunteers at the project and by the prisoners we work with."

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Special programs

• A South Carolina health department: "We have been considering the impacts of racism on health and the means by which racism, especially in its institutional manifestations, can be recognized and dealt with. In this context, we are sending a copy of your book to each participant in our project to assist communities of color in evaluating their progress towards eliminating health disparities."

• A Massachusetts Upward Bound: "We are a federally funded educational opportunity program for first generation and low-income students from the neediest communities. We include education on racism throughout our curriculum, cultural and social activities, and your book will be an excellent resource for staff and students."

• A California high school: "We plan to use these books with students who have just returned from a trip to the South where they studied the Civil Rights Movement."

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Community outreach

• A New York Office of Black Catholic Ministries: "As a board member of the Interreligious Council of our region, I plan to use these books for my ministry and community work."

• A Connecticut public library: "I am requesting copies of your book for distribution to the student and adult members of our community's Alliance for Youth, an organization that promotes tolerance and understanding and combats bullying and prejudice among youth in the two towns we serve. We will also deposit copies in each school and public library."

• A U.S. Army center for health promotion: "As the Black Employee Program Coordinator, I am requesting copies of your book not only for distribution within the Center, but to share with local community organizations, churches, and my grandchildren's school."

• A Virginia family health center: "I serve six counties, and would like to distribute your book to the communities, teachers, parents, and students with whom I work."

• A New York Universalist fellowship: "We are organizing an Interfaith Council Against Racism for our school district, which comprises three area communities. I am also a member of the Metro District UU Anti-Racist Task Force. Your book is so relevant, it will be invaluable to both programs."

• A New York State university extension: "Your books will be used in our Leadership and Multicultural Alliance Project that works with high-school-aged teenagers on becoming peer educators and dealing with issues of bias and all the isms. They will also be given to community center staff in programming with their youth and families."

• A Massachusetts consultant: "I look forward to employing your book in my work with a town human rights initiative, my interfaith social action group, our high school diversity committee, the diversity training and consultation I do in schools, government agencies and companies, and my everyday interaction with others."

• An Indiana Girl Scout Council: "We will be giving books to our volunteers, directors, chairs, and adults who go through our training and workshops; to our local United Way board members; and to members of the Diversity Dynamics Task Group composed of persons interested in encouraging cultural awareness and sensitivity in light of the recent influx of Hispanic residents, mostly immigrants from Mexican rural areas."

• A Missouri diversity initiative: "We help companies and firms hire, promote, and retain African-American and other ethnic minorities and also do business with minority companies. Your book will be of value to our efforts in breaking down barriers and becoming a more inclusive and welcoming city for people of color."

• A Virginia grassroots organization: "We will be giving the book to the attendees at our interfaith, multicultural community dinner -- mainly folks of genuine goodwill who are positive role models on their jobs, in civic, social and religious organizations, in their families, and elsewhere in our diverse community."

• A New Jersey United Jewish Federation (UJF) council: "We are distributing your book to the members of our Teachers' Think Tank and Teachers' Colloquium. Every teacher we reach, reaches thousands of students."

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Commemorations / Special events

• A Michigan middle school: "At the city's Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday program, I had four of my sixth-graders each read a quote from your book and asked the audience to turn to the given page in their copies and follow along. Then, each student told how he/she believes the children of today can carry on the legacy of Dr. King. It was truly phenomenal."

• A California Masonic lodge: "Annually we provide a pre-Kwanzaa celebration for families in South Central Los Angeles, which includes food, gifts, and entertainment. In the past, we have given books as gifts to the children, but have not had any for the adults. This year, however, we will have your book for the parents, and I am certain they will be extremely pleased with the gift of love you have created."

• A Pennsylvania Methodist church neighborhood center: "We have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the first official Juneteenth Celebration in our city. We will be distributing copies of your book to attendees on all three days of the event."

• A Massachusetts National Guard: "We will be celebrating Black History Month with a presentation given by the Federal Women's Program, and would like to incorporate your book in our welcome packages."

• A Virginia Baptist church: "I would like to use this book as a resource for our Music Department and History and Civic Affairs Committee in preparation for our Founder's Day Observances."

• An Indiana university: "We are preparing a county-wide Diversity Fair: Connecting Across the Cultures and would appreciate having books to hand out there."

• A Massachusetts City Councillor: "Our annual Book Fair attracts more than 1,000 youth and their parents, who are able to select donated books free of charge. The purpose is to give youngsters, who might otherwise not have the chance, an opportunity to own their own books and start a home library. We would like to provide copies of your book for the older youth."

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Awards

• An Illinois CME church: "I am going into the public schools and speaking with the young people on all kinds of issues and current events. This book would be a good gift or reward for the first 200 or so students who will do an essay on racism and its effects on them and society."

• An Oregon middle school: "I am a black male in a predominantly White staff, while our diverse student body is 35% Black, 30% Hispanic, 20% White, and about 15% Asian, Pacific Islander, African, and Russian. Most of the staff interact well and have good relationships with the students, and we plan to give copies to teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week."

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Miscellaneous

• A Massachusetts charitable fund: "We are very interested in making your book available to our grantees as well as our donors."

• A multicultural staffer at a Connecticut hospital: "I'm going to place one copy in the family time capsule we're putting together for our kids to open in 2025!"

• A Georgia ministry: "At a bi-monthly breakfast, the 30ish people read the King passage on page 61 [Being a Negro]. Then we reversed racial roles and had a wonderful heart-wrenching discussion."

• A Pennsylvania retirement community: "We have circulated copies among local groups who have mounted an effort to help the community become more diverse. Since the book is very much in demand, we have also placed copies in the library and waiting rooms."

• A Nebraska ELCA synod: "We train many pastors and government employees who do public speaking. In our recent three-day session, a young man from the Bahamas wove quotes from the book with music and scripture. Those devotions were the highlight of the training."

• A North Carolina writers' group: "We must have your book for our library. It will be an excellent resource for all of our writers -- poets, essayists, and novelists."

• A Michigan anti-racism group: "The books have been a wonderful calling card for beginning talks about using the libraries for promoting multiculturalism and as vehicles for lifetime learning about issues surrounding racism."

• A Rhode Island college student: "Our school has an annual International Festival, a day-long event where tables are set up by students to represent different cultural backgrounds. Most of them were selling food or crafts, but ours was the only one that was giving anything away free, let alone books! The idea was to encourage people to utilize the resource of literature as a source of history and culture, rather than rely on the media. Your book was a beautiful centerpiece, and its free distribution invited people to examine the other literature from different authors of color."

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