We celebrate diversity and strive to provide resources, programs, and services that reflect and honor the richness of our community and the world.
Unless otherwise noted, the following resources were not created by Memorial Hall Library staff nor are they hosted on MHL's website, but they are sources that we consider to be of good quality. This list is by no means exhaustive. We attempt to prioritize local resources as well as resources created by Black and brown voices.
We invite you to join us on this journey and to send your book and resource recommendations to rdesk@mhl.org. We'll update these lists over time.
Memorial Hall Library staff members have formed an Inclusivity Committee. Read more about it here.
Indigenous Peoples - An Evolving List of Resources
- 21-Day Racial Equity Indigenous Challenge Curated by Eddie Moore, Jr., Debby Irving, Marguerite Penick-Parks and Claudia A. Fox Tree (Arawak)
- 6 Thanksgiving Myths and the Wampanoag Side of the Story
- This tribe helped the Pilgrims survive for their first Thanksgiving. They still regret it 400 years later.
- Ben Franklin's World Podcast Episodes 290 & 291- The World of the Wampanoag
- 100 Ways to Support - Not Appropriate From - Native People by Simon Moya-Smith
- Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness
- Boston Public Library Native Lives, Native Stories 2021 Booklist
- Greater Lowell Indian Culture Association
- Wabanaki REACH
- Bomazeen Land Trust
- This Land Podcast
- Dawnland - Documentary (2018)
- Bounty - Documentary (2021)
- We Still Live Here - Documentary (2011)
- Memoirs for Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Be Antiracist Ibram Kendi Podcast - Repairing the Past: Returning Native Land
- If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell, (Children's book ages 7-10)
- Return the National Parks to the Tribes, The Atlantic, May 2021
Book Lists Curated by MHL
- Racism Against Asians and Asian Americans Book Lists & Resources
- Poetry by Black Writers
- Historical Fiction Centered on Black Experiences in American History
- Black History Month 2021
- Latinx Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- 2020 Pura Belpré Awards
- Remembering John Lewis, 1940-2020
- A Racial Justice Reading List
- Racial Justice Books for Tweens & Teens
- Picture Books of Black Joy
- Juneteenth
Other Book Lists
- Diverse BookFinder
- The Brown Bookshelf
- Baratunde Thurston List
- Ibram X. Kendi Antiracist Reading List
Merrimack Valley Organizations & Initiatives
- The African Community Center of Lowell
- Andover Area Solidarity Group
- Elevated Thought
- Greater Lawrence Education Justice Alliance
- Lowell RISE Coalition
- Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices
- Merrimack Valley Project
- Merrimack Valley Shows Up For Social and Racial Justice
- Merrimack Valley Social Justice
- Solidarity Lowell
- Statement from the Andover Select Board
- The Dream Network
- We Are Lawrence/Somos Lawrence
Watch Lists
- Antiracism Defined - Ibram X. Kendi TED YouTube Interview
- TED Talks to help you understand racism in America
Podcasts
Articles & Reports
- Equal Justice Initiative - Race and the Jury: Illegal Discrimination in Jury Selection
- Equal Justice Initiative - Reconstruction in America Report
- The Case for Reparations - The Atlantic
Resource Guides & Research
- Boston University Center for Antiracist Research
- Learning for Justice
- National Museum of African American History & Culture - Talking About Race
- Anti-racism Resource Guide compiled by Tasha K. Ryals
- Antiracism Resources for White People compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020
- 2021 Anti-racist Roadmap created by Kate Slater, a White anti-racist scholar and educator
- 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge
- Debby Irving - Resources for Educators, Librarians, and Parents
- Merrimack College McQuade Library Antiracism Resources
Courageous Conversations Program Collaborations
Courageous Conversations Merrimack Valley was organized in 2016 and works to advance and amplify conversations about interpersonal and systemic racism, racial identity and privilege, and antiracism through community reads, films, facilitated conversations, speaker events, and panel discussions. Visit the Courageous Conversations page for information on past and upcoming programs.