6 Groups Fighting Discrimination And Striving For Equality
While civil rights have come a long way in the past few decades, discrimination is still a major problem that affects many people, from people of color to women to LGBTQ folks. That's why organizations like the ones listed here work to educate the public, empower communities, and champion social justice. If you're interested in these causes, consider lending them your support. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Organizations Fighting Against Inequality
| Name | Mission |
|---|---|
| RISE | Educate and empower the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice, and improve race relations |
| Reclaim Philadelphia | Endorse and support progressive candidates and policies that fight for a vision of putting working people before the profits of corporations and the super rich |
| Migrant Justice | Build the voice, capacity, and power of the farmworker community and engage community partners to organize for economic justice and human rights |
| BRIDGE | Advance equity and justice by promoting cultural competence, positive psychology, and mutual understanding and acceptance |
| Arab Resource & Organizing Center | Empower and organize the community towards justice and self-determination for all |
| Alice Paul Institute | Increase public awareness of the life and work of Alice Paul, woman suffrage leader and author of the Equal Rights Amendment and promote gender equality through educational programs and the development and empowerment of young women leaders |
Getting to the Root of Racial Injustice
Percentage Of Women In The Workforce
The percentage of men & women in the civilian labor force over time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 29.6% | 70.4% |
| 1960 | 33.4% | 66.6% |
| 1970 | 38.1% | 61.9% |
| 1980 | 42.5% | 57.5% |
| 1990 | 45.2% | 54.8% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | 53.5% |
| 2010 | 46.7% | 53.3% |
5 Great Movies Tackling Race in America
- I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
- If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
- Imitation of Life (1959)
- Tongues Untied (1989)
- Do the Right Thing (1989)
Facts About Islam In America
- As of 2015, there were roughly 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, about 24% of the total population
- By 2050, the number of Muslims worldwide is expected to equal the number of Christians
- There are between 3 and 4 million Muslims in the U.S., less than 2% of the population
- 41% of U.S. adults said they believe Islam encourages violence more than other faiths
- 92% of U.S. Muslims say they are proud to be American
- 55% say Americans are generally friendly to Muslims
- 53% of Jewish people said they had a favorable opinion of Muslims, compared to 39% of Catholics and 20% of white Evangelicals
- Jewish-Americans are also the most likely group to personally know an American Muslim (76%), compared to 53% of the general public
- 12% of Muslims said their religion should be a source of American law, compared to 5% of Catholics, 8% of Jews, 17% of Protestants and Evangelicals, and 9% of the general population
What Is The Equal Rights Amendment?
In Depth
Much of America's history revolves around the struggle against bigotry and discrimination. Many of the country's most revered heroes are people who stood up for the principle that all human beings deserve safety, dignity, and equal protection under the law. Presented here, in no particular order, are six ongoing efforts to combat prejudice and work towards unity.
Leading off at #1 is the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a nonprofit organization working to combat racism, using the power of athletics to bring people together. Founded by Stephen M Ross, Managing General Partner of the Miami Dolphins, RISE works to educate players, coaches, and administrators in strategies for addressing issues of diversity and discrimination. Their multi-week leadership programs combine play and discussion to combat harmful stereotypes. Many of them, like the Building Bridges Through Basketball initiative, focus on improving relationships between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve.
To harness the unifying potential of sports, RISE seeks to empower the athletic community to effectively advocate for change. They host town halls and round tables, bringing together participants and leaders to discuss solutions for social justice challenges, and contribute their knowledge to efforts like the Sports Diversity and Inclusion Symposium. Their RISE to Vote campaign educates coaches, staff, and athletes on important issues facing their communities, and ways they can make a difference. And their Champions of Change program offers insights on racism from professional players. Readers looking to assist in this mission can make a donation in support.
And their Champions of Change program offers insights on racism from professional players.
Next up at #2 is Reclaim Philadelphia, founded in the wake of the 2016 elections by former staff and volunteers from the local Bernie Sanders campaign. The group works to unite and organize area communities, supporting progressive candidates and advocating for change; their platform includes an end to structural racism, demilitarization of immigration enforcement, and equal access to housing and healthcare. They register voters, recruit volunteers for canvassing, and participate in demonstrations in support of equality and justice.
Reclaim Philadelphia furthers its mission with several Task forces dedicated to particular issues, including affordable housing, incarceration reform, and access to education. They work to promote protections for LGBTQ rights, as well as solidarity with marginalized people and with other progressive groups. Through the podcast Our Political Moment, the group discusses critical issues and shares stories from those impacted. Supporters of Reclaim Philadelphia can donate, volunteer, or join the organization as members to participate directly in their efforts.
Coming in at #3 is Migrant Justice. This nonprofit, based in Burlington, Vermont, organizes farm workers and builds alliances with community partners, advocating for the rights of agricultural laborers. They fight against discriminatory laws and policing practices, campaigning for an end to collaborations between local law enforcement and immigration officials, which impose arduous restrictions on foreign workers. The organization played a major role in passing and protecting the state's Fair and Impartial Policing policy, which bans Vermont agencies from passing information to ICE.
They fight against discriminatory laws and policing practices, campaigning for an end to collaborations between local law enforcement and immigration officials, which impose arduous restrictions on foreign workers.
A major focus of Migrant Justice's work is the dairy industry, one of Vermont's key economic sectors which employs numerous foreign workers. Their Milk with Dignity Program partners with businesses which sell dairy products, brokering commitments to ensure that those involved in the supply chain treat laborers fairly and respect human rights. They organize pressure campaigns urging major companies to adopt worker protections, and share testimonials from the employees who are impacted. Meanwhile, the Milk with Dignity Standards Council provides workplace monitoring for compliance. Those interested can support Migrant Justice through donations, internships, or direct action.
Entry #4 is Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Groups through Education, also known as Multicultural BRIDGE. This Massachusetts-based grassroots organization strives to foster respect between diverse groups, through outreach and cultural education. With efforts like the Great Barrington Trust Policy campaign, which pushed for a commitment to equitable treatment of residents by police, or the local Not in Our County movement to promote inclusive communities, they work to ensure that their region is a welcoming place for people of all races, genders, and sexual orientations.
BRIDGE offers services such as workplace training on preventing discrimination, youth programs promoting unity and self-esteem, and community workshops discussing how to navigate cultural differences respectfully. Their Women to Women program supports female achievement and well-being, through initiatives like mentoring for professional development, or bilingual gatherings for networking and community-building. And they celebrate the history of the ongoing struggle against racism with events like the annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Festival, or the interfaith celebration of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior. Supporters can assist with memberships or donations of any size.
And they celebrate the history of the ongoing struggle against racism with events like the annual W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Festival, or the interfaith celebration of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior.
Next up at #5 is the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, a group striving to achieve justice and equality for the Bay Area Arab-American community. They work to coordinate advocacy efforts on key issues like immigrant rights and anti-Islamophobia, forming networks to oppose police violence and militarization; the group is a key member of the Stop Urban Shield coalition, opposing an international law enforcement weapons expo held in the area. Through their youth organizing program, they help to prepare young people to take effective action against discrimination and violence.
AROC works to provide support for community members, through efforts like case management for navigating social services, and pro bono legal assistance. They also fight to expand citizens' ability to access government services in their native languages. Their political education program works to inform people about issues relevant to Arab-Americans, through workshops and public forums, and the group shares resources on legal rights and social programs. Anyone interested can make a donation, and those in the area can help as volunteers or as participants in action campaigns.
We'll conclude with #6, the Alice Paul Institute's work in support of the Equal Rights Amendment. First introduced in the nineteen-twenties by the National Woman's Party, the ERA would update the United States Constitution to mandate that legal rights cannot differ on the basis of sex. Arguing that the Amendment is needed as protection from attempts to roll back progress for women, the API works to build a movement to ratify this long-delayed proposal.
Arguing that the Amendment is needed as protection from attempts to roll back progress for women, the API works to build a movement to ratify this long-delayed proposal.
The API provides educational materials, placing the ERA in the larger context of women's historical struggle for equality under American law, by discussing landmark efforts like the fight for female suffrage. They also offer updates on the progress of the ongoing campaign to pass the Amendment, and resources for supporters such as shareable social media posts, or informational materials to help spread the word. Readers interested in assisting this effort can make a donation, purchase merchandise, or contact congressional representatives and urge them to take action.
