Contextualizing Discussions of Contemporary Racism and Inequality
Reflections on the Present from those who Study the Past
As U.S. focused historians committed to research and teaching that complicates and enriches current
conversations about slavery, racism and racial identity, civil rights activism, policing, and public
commemoration, we recommend these books, articles, films, documentaries, exhibits, projects, and primary
materials. This list of sources is neither exhaustive nor conclusive, but a sample of meaningful works in the
field. As a department, we plan to continue to use the strengths of our discipline to engage with difficult
questions of inequality and racism in our classrooms and beyond.
CSUF Historians Suggest Sources to Contextualize Discussions of Contemporary Racism and Inequality