Bridging the Gap Resources for Change
Guides and Articles
1. “The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
This seminal article delves into the enduring impact of housing discrimination and redlining on Black Americans, making a compelling argument for reparations.
Read more
2. “Homeownership, Racial Segregation, and Policy Solutions to Racial Wealth Equity” by Brookings Institution
This comprehensive report examines the role of segregation, discrimination, and racism in the housing market, offering policy recommendations to reduce racial disparities.
Read more
3. “Dismantling White Privilege Starts with Undoing Racist Housing Policies” by Brookings Institution
This article discusses how historical and systemic racism in housing policies have contributed to the racial wealth gap and emphasizes the need for policy reforms.
Read more
4. “How Federal Housing Programs Failed Black America” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
Taylor critiques federal housing policies, highlighting how they have historically disadvantaged Black Americans and exacerbated economic disparities.
Read more
5. “Implicit Bias as a Cognitive Manifestation of Systemic Racism” by MIT Press
This scholarly article explores how implicit biases serve as cognitive manifestations of systemic racism, affecting various aspects of society, including housing.
Read more
6. “Systematic Inequality” by the Center for American Progress
This report examines how systemic racism and discriminatory policies have led to significant economic disparities between Black and white Americans.
Read more
7. “Racial Discrimination in Housing: How Landlords Use Algorithms” by SAGE Journals
This study investigates the prevalence of racial discrimination in housing, focusing on how landlords may use algorithms that disadvantage non-White populations.
Read more
8. “Calculating the ‘Bonus’ of Whiteness in America” by Tracie McMillan
McMillan attempts to quantify the economic advantages that come with white privilege, particularly in the context of housing and wealth accumulation.
Read more
9. “Race as Risk” by Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
This report discusses how implicit biases contribute to housing discrimination, affecting people of color in various communities.
Read more
10. “Systemic Racism: Individuals and Interactions, Institutions and Society” by Cognitive Research
Recommended Books
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
Richard Rothstein examines how federal, state, and local policies explicitly segregated metropolitan areas nationwide, leading to the racial disparities we see today. 
Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor explores the systemic racism embedded in the housing market, detailing how banks and the real estate industry exploited Black homeowners. 
The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap
Mehrsa Baradaran delves into the history of Black banking and its role in the persistent racial wealth gap in America.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Michelle Alexander argues that mass incarceration functions as a contemporary system of racial control, similar to the Jim Crow laws.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Bryan Stevenson shares his experiences as a lawyer defending those most desperate and in need, revealing the systemic biases in the U.S. justice system.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration
Isabel Wilkerson chronicles the mass migration of Black Americans from the South to the North and West, highlighting the challenges and systemic barriers they faced.
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates writes a profound letter to his son, discussing the realities of being Black in America and the systemic challenges that come with it.
The Fire Next Time
James Baldwin’s seminal work addresses the central role of race in American history and its continued relevance.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
Ibram X. Kendi provides a comprehensive history of racist ideas and their power over the course of American history.
The Case for Reparations
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ influential essay in The Atlantic delves into the history of housing discrimination and makes a compelling argument for reparations.
Training and Workshops
Implicit Bias Test
Recommended Films
Historical & Social Justice Films
1. 12 Years a Slave (2013) – The true story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery.
2. Selma (2014) – Chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights.
3. The Hate U Give (2018) – A powerful film about police brutality and racial identity.
4. Detroit (2017) – Focuses on the 1967 Detroit riots and systemic police brutality.
5. Fruitvale Station (2013) – The tragic true story of Oscar Grant, a young Black man killed by police in Oakland.
Legal & Criminal Justice Films
6. Marshall (2017) – A biographical film about Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice.
7. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) – Highlights racial and political injustice in the legal system.
8. American Son (2019) – A tense drama about racial profiling and police accountability.
9. When They See Us (2019, Netflix Miniseries) – A deep look into the wrongful conviction of the Central Park Five.
Inspirational & Biographical Films
10. Hidden Figures (2016) – Celebrates the Black women mathematicians who played a vital role in NASA’s early space missions.
11. Harriet (2019) – The incredible true story of Harriet Tubman and her fight for freedom.
12. Glory (1989) – A historical war drama about the first all-Black volunteer regiment in the Civil War.
13. 42 (2013) – Chronicles Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
14. Mississippi Burning (1988) – Based on the real-life investigation of the murder of civil rights activists.
Cultural & Social Commentary Films
15. Crash (2004) – A powerful look at racial and social tensions in Los Angeles.
16. Do the Right Thing (1989) – A Spike Lee classic that explores race relations in Brooklyn.
17. The Color Purple (1985) – A deeply moving story about racism, sexism, and resilience.
18. Loving (2016) – The true story of an interracial couple fighting for their right to be legally married.
19. Fences (2016) – Explores racial struggles, family dynamics, and social barriers in the 1950s.
20. Get Out (2017) – A psychological thriller that explores race, privilege, and systemic exploitation.