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We Can’t Just Go Back to “Normal”

Research-based Resources to Help You Teach, Talk, and Learn About Structural Racism

By Olivia Butze, SAGE Publishing

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, protests across the globe are amplifying deep-seated issues on structural racism and calling for society to finally engage in critical conversations about racial inequality. While many might find these conversations uncomfortable or not know how to start, research from the social and behavioral sciences can help. We’ve compiled a list of freely accessible, research-based resources on the importance of these discussions, best practices for carrying them out, as well as tools you can use to initiate discussing racism and police brutality with your students. 

In higher education specifically, there are significant inequalities that prevent scholars of color from obtaining the same education as their white classmates. According to a National Science Foundation report on U.S. doctorate recipients, only 2,963 PhD recipients in 2017 were Black or African American, compared to 28,394 that were white (National Science Foundation, 2018). A 2019 report from Leading Routes found wide discrimination in funding strongly limited the number of Black PhD students and academics in the UK (Leading Routes, 2019). We must take the time to learn and actively engage ourselves and our students in the conversation, no matter how difficult, to make a change.  

At SAGE, we are committed to growing and learning along with you. Please email us at info@sagepub.com if you have any feedback or suggestions on how to support you through these critical conversations.   

Why are these conversations necessary in the classroom?  

What are best practices when teaching or engaging?  

What are the resources I can use?  

Resources specific to policing 

How can educators dismantle biased teaching? Visit this collection of resources for K-12 and higher ed educators .