How to Celebrate World Day of Social Justice
February 20th is observed as World Day of Social Justice by the United Nations, and we’re taking the time to explore different tools to educate ourselves on all things social justice. Below you will find lists of books, movies, shows, and podcasts related to social justice issues. A great way to celebrate with us is by delving into any one of these amazing resources, and to learn more about a new topic, such as racial injustice, climate justice, voting rights, LGBTQ+ history, and more.
Books:
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn: Historian Howard Zinn looks at the history of the United States through the eyes and tales of “the street, the home, and the workplace,” highlighting the structural struggles of poor and vulnerable communities from the day Christopher Columbus arrived and beyond.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond: Wealth inequality is one of those things that we all hear about but aren’t quite sure how to react to, but Matthew Desmond does a superb job in highlighting the breadth of the poverty issues constraining our citizens in America.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis: Activist Angela Davis delves into topics of state-regulated violence and oppression, but this time from a worldwide perspective, putting as much highlight on race relations in Ferguson, Missouri as the turmoil between Palestine and Israel. Its main mission is to illustrate that freedom is a fight that will continue for years to come but we should always strive for the liberation of all humans.
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich: Barbara Ehrenreich goes undercover as an unskilled worker in the U.S. making minimum wage to explore the dire and dark situation many of our citizens face in this country. After working a vast array of jobs, from waitressing to Walmart, Ehrenreich soon discovered that many of these minimum wage jobs are much more skilled and demanding than they seem on the sideline, along with the dire struggles some of the working class has to live with.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: If you’ve ever wondered what life is like for our Native Americans on reservation land, Sherman Alexie brings you as close as you can get without actually being there. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian dives into the life of artist and cartoonist, Junior, during his upbringing on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
Movies:
13th (2016) directed by Ava DuVernay: Ava DuVernay enlists the expertise of scholars, activists, ex-convicts, and politicians to connect the dots straight to today’s mass incarceration system, which disproportionately criminalizes African Americans. Available on Netflix.
He Named Me Malala (2015) directed by Davis Guggenheim: After the Taliban tries to kill her for speaking out on behalf of girls' education, Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai emerges as a leading advocate for children's rights and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Available for rent.
Dear White People (2014) directed by Justin Simien: Dear White People explores escalating racial tensions at a fictional Ivy League college from the perspective of several black students. It's worth watching if only to understand the ways in which the college experience can be different for marginalized people. It might be even more surprising to see the internal and interracial conflicts that arise, as every student chooses to navigate the setting differently. Available on Hulu.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) directed by Jean-Marc Valee: The stars of this film, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto, portray an electrician newly diagnosed with AIDS and an HIV-positive trans woman, who work together to smuggle unapproved drugs into the U.S. Set in the mid-'80s, Dallas Buyers Club confronts the homophobia, stigma, and rampant miseducation associated with HIV at that time, as well as the healthcare system that keeps treatment out of reach for many people. Available for rent.
Parasite (2019) directed by Bong Joon-ho: Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the ultra-wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim family. Parasite beautiful shows viewers a look into South Korea’s socio-economic disparities, which can bring to light similar disparities faced in the U.S. Available on Hulu.
Shows:
When They See Us created by Ava DuVernay: In 1989 a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York's Central Park, and five young people were subsequently charged with the crime. The quintet, labeled the Central Park Five, maintained its innocence and spent years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. This limited series spans a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in the spring of 1989, going through their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014. Available on Netflix.
Pose created by Ryan Murphy: Set in the 1980s, “Pose” explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene. Pose shares the story of the often overlooked black and brown LGBT+ community in ‘80s and ‘90s New York sharing insights on culture, dance, family, and activism. Available on Netflix.
Dopesick created by Danny Strong: This series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Purdue Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, t the hallways of the DEA. Available on Hulu.
Squid Game created by Hwang Dong-hyuk: Please note, this show contains many depictions of violence. Viewer discretion is advised. Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children's games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly. Squid Game shows viewers the desperation faced by those of low socio-economic status, and what people will go through for the chance of obtaining a better life. Available on Netflix.
Visible: Out of Television created by Ryan White: “Visible” is a documentary miniseries about the representation of LGBTQ+ people in television, both on-screen and behind the camera. Available on AppleTV+.
Podcasts:
Pod Save the People hosted by DeRay Mckesson: DeRay McKesson first entered the national consciousness in 2014 as a formidable organizer for Black Lives Matter after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. Now, as the host of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the People, he’s emerged as one of the most important voices in social justice today. Premiered in 2017, the hour-long show features weekly analysis from Kaya Henderson and De’Ara Balenger and covers stories affecting those in and out of the headlines.
Pod Save the World hosted by Tommy Vietor and Ben Rhodes: Pod Save the World is a weekly podcast that breaks down international news and foreign policy developments, in a way that doesn’t feel like homework. Each week, Tommy Vietor and former deputy national security advisor and co-host Ben Rhodes walk you through the latest developments with a variety of experts and take you behind the scenes of big decisions with the people who were there.
Ear Hustle hosted by Earlonne Woods, Antwan Williams and Nigel Poor: Launched in 2017, Ear Hustle was the first podcast created and produced in prison, featuring stories of the daily realities of life inside California’s San Quentin State Prison, shared by those living it. Co-founded by Bay Area artist Nigel Poor alongside Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams — who were incarcerated at the time — the podcast now tells stories from both inside prison and from the outside, post-incarceration.
Making Gay History hosted by Eric Marcus: Making Gay History is a podcast that brings the largely hidden history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement to life through the voices of the people who lived it.
Intersectionality Matters hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw: Lawyer, civil rights advocate and leading scholar of critical race theory Kimberlé Crenshaw brings her expertise and insight to Intersectionality Matters. The podcast explores a range of topics from grassroots activism abroad to #SayHerName through the lens of intersectionality. All while interviewing world-class artists, activists, and scholars.