Diversity Resources
Starting meaningful conversations about racism and inequality can be challenging, especially if you have not experienced prejudice yourself.
Experiences of racism and inequality can also take their toll on your mental health and wellbeing, and a culture of silence around these important issues only increases the damaging impact.
Here are some resources to help you broaden your understanding about racism and inequality, and some useful mental health resources, including specialist support for people from a BAME background.
Looking for something specific?
You can use the links below to jump to the relevant section.
Guides & Glossary
Reading List
Here are our Diversity Team's top picks for books to help you develop your understanding of the issues of racism and inequality in society and feel confident in having challenging conversations about tackling prejudice and inequality:
- Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch
- The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla
- Black and British by David Olusaga
- Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
- Superior by Angela Saunu
- How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi
- White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
- How to Argue With a Racist by Adam Rutherford
- So you want to talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- Don't Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
- I will not be erased by gal-dem
- Staying Power: A History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer
- Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
- Americanah: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Films and TV programmes
- Black and British: A Forgotten History
- Black and Scottish
- Noughts + Crosses
- 13th
- The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson
- When They See Us
- Fruitvale Station
- American Son
- Becoming
- Dear White People
Why is it so important to do your own research?
When tragedies occur, White people who want to help and mean well often go straight to the affected people in their life and ask for guidance. While this might seem sensible to ask those with first-hand knowledge how to help, it's actually asking them for free labour. There are plenty of resources you can use to educate yourself. Do the work, and then come to the fight for racial equality armed with the knowledge to make a difference.
Mental health resources
Experiencing racism and inequality can take a significant toll on your mental health and wellbeing, and the scale of the challenges around racism and inequality can seem overwhelming. People from a BAME background also experience structural barriers to accessing support for their mental health and suffer from the lack of specialist support available. Here are some resources providing specialist support around mental health for people from a BAME background:
1. Black Minds Matter UK - www.blackmindsmatteruk.com
2. The Black, African & Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) - www.baatn.org.uk
3. MIND - www.mind.org.uk
We believe in good Health and Mental Well-being, this is why all Liberal Democrats have access to the Health Assured Support Helpline at 0800 028 0199, for more information please visit 'Support for Members' section of our website.
Looking for other resources?
You can find our guidance on creating a diverse and inclusive local party here.
You can find our latest briefings on upcoming diversity days, our accessible events checklist and diverse and inclusive graphics here.
If there are other resources that you would find useful, you can let us know by emailing the Diversity Team at diversity@libdems.org.uk.
