LibGuides: Juneteenth Reading Guide: Resources on race in America

Films on Race in America

The documentaries below are available for free online. Click on the links to access the films.

13th
Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.
LA 92
National Geographic Documentary Films presents "LA 92," a riveting look back at the controversial Rodney King trial and subsequent protests, violence and looting of the city. Viewed from a multitude of vantage points through visceral and rarely seen archival footage, the film brings a fresh perspective to a pivotal moment that reverberates to this day.

The following documentaries are available on Hoopla, a streaming service available for free through the Kern County Library. Click on the links below to check out the films. You need to have a Kern County Library card to access these movies. If you do not already have one, sign up for an ecard at this link: https://www.kerncountylibrary.org/contact/

I Am Not Your Negro
Filmmaker Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished, Remember This House. It is a journey into black history that connects the Civil Rights movement to #BlackLivesMatter. It questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond and examines the lives and assassinations of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Whose Streets?
Told by activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising and a powerful battle cry from a generation fighting, not for their civil rights, but for the right to live.
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the acclaimed novelist. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to '70s-era book tours with Muhammad Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing room, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature.

Podcasts on Race in America

Stream or download the following podcasts for free via any podcast streaming app (Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Apple Podcasts, etc.). These podcasts focus on racial equity and justice in America.

The 1619 Project
“1619,” a New York Times audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, examines the long shadow slavery in America.
Code Switch
Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race head-on. We explore how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and everything in between.
About Race
Featuring key voices from the last few decades of anti-racist activism, About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge looks at the recent history that lead to the politics of today.
The Diversity Gap
This project, The Diversity Gap, will empower people to create the cultures they say they want—cultures where all people are seen, celebrated and given the space to thrive.
Intersectionality Matters!
Hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw, this is the podcast that brings intersectionality to life.
Pod For the Cause
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights launched “Pod for the Cause” podcast to expand the conversation on critical civil and human rights challenges of our day
Pod Save the People
On Pod Save the People, organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with fellow activists Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Sam Sinyangwe, and writer Dr. Clint Smith. They offer a unique take on the news, with a special focus on overlooked stories and topics that often impact people of color.