Introduction to terminology on this guide
Brave Space: A learning environment that allows learners to engage with one another and have conversations about social issues with honesty, sensitivity, respect, and generosity.
Cultural Competence: "Cultural competence is having an awareness of one's own cultural identity and views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on the varying cultural and community norms of students and their families. It is the ability to understand the within-group differences that make each student unique, while celebrating the between-group variations that make our country a tapestry." National Education Association
Diversity: the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization. Merriam-Webster
Equity: justice according to natural law or right; specifically : freedom from bias or favoritism. Merriam-Webster
Gender Bias: unfair difference in the way women and men are treated. Cambridge Dictionary
Hate Crime: any of various crimes (such as assault or defacement of property) when motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group (such as one based on color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation). Merriam-Webster
Implicit Bias: a term of art referring to relatively unconscious and relatively automatic features of prejudiced judgment and social behavior. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Inclusion: Inclusion is involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized. An inclusive university promotes and sustains a sense of belonging; it values and practices respect for the talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of living of its members. Ferris State University
Intersectionality: the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups [Kimberlé] Crenshaw introduced the theory of intersectionality, the idea that when it comes to thinking about how inequalities persist, categories like gender, race, and class are best understood as overlapping and mutually constitutive rather than isolated and distinct. — Adia Harvey Wingfield Merriam-Webster
Microaggressions: a comment or action that is subtly and often unintentionally hostile or demeaning to a member of a minority or marginalized group. Merriam-Webster
Oppression: unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power. Merriam-Webster
Privilege: a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor. prerogative; especially : such a right or immunity attached specifically to a position or an office. Merriam-Webster
Racism: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Merriam-Webster
Resilience: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. Merriam-Webster
Safe Space: a place (as on a college campus) intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations. Merriam-Webster
Social Justice: a state or doctrine of egalitarianism. Merriam-Webster
National organizations
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American Association for Affirmative ActionThe American Association for Affirmative Action is the association of professionals managing affirmative action, equal opportunity, diversity and other human resource programs.
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American Society on Aging: DiversityAmerican Society on Aging: DiversityASA provides education and training that addresses cultural awareness, sensitivity, relevance, and appropriateness in serving and providing products for older adults, particularly as aging populations become more diverse in terms of color, culture, identity, disability, and socio-economic standing.
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Association of MultiEthnic Americans (AMEA)The Association of MultiEthnic Americans (AMEA), a non-profit organization, is an international association of organizations dedicated to advocacy, education and collaboration on behalf of the multiethnic, multiracial and transracial adoption community.
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Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)AHEAD is the premiere professional association committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education. AHEAD addresses current and emerging issues with respect to disability, education, and accessibility to achieve universal access, through providing professional development programs and opportunities for professional collaboration.
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Foundation for Ethnic UnderstandingDedicated to promoting racial harmony and strengthening inter-group relations. The Foundation is committed to the belief that direct, face-to-face dialogue between ethnic communities is the most effective path towards the reduction of bigotry and the promotion of reconciliation and understanding.
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Human Rights Campaign (HRC)As the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC represents a grassroots force of over 725,000 members and supporters nationwide through research, educational efforts and outreach. See their Issues page for information on a range of topics affecting the LGBT community.
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National Coalition Building InstituteNational Coalition Building InstituteThe National Coalition Building Institute is an international non-profit leadership development network dedicated to the elimination of racism and other forms of oppression. Rooted in an understanding of individual, community, and systemic change, NCBI leaders work with public and private organizations to further: cultural competence, collaboration and partnerships, effective relationships within and across group identities.
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Southern Poverty Law CenterThe SPLC is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.
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American-Arab Anti-Discrimination CommitteeThe Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee promotes the rights of Arab-Americans and preserves their cultural heritage. Their website includes a bibliography of the Arab-American experience and reports produced by the organization.
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Anti-Defamation LeagueThe Anti-Defamation League "fights against anti-Semitism and other types of bigotry; helps victims of discrimination or bias motivated violence achieve redress of grievances through mediation, administration, or judicial means; and trains law enforcement agencies on responding to victims of bias crimes." Their website includes state-by-state information about hate crime laws, responses to hate crime, as well as other helpful resources.
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National Institute of JusticeThe National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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American Civil Liberties UnionThe ACLU's Racial Justice Program brings lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the United States, focusing on cases that have "significant and wide-reaching effect on communities of color."
This list is not comprehensive, but a constant work in progress. Do you have a resource, organization, or suggestion for how we can improve it?
Please email us and let us know!
This guide is adapted and inspired by MIT Libraries' and the University of Arizona Libraries' diversity guides.