Patterns in American Racism

The Paradox of Progress

This award-winning collection of six video-based online modules and a Facilitator Resource teaches the history of anti-Black racism in the United States and helps participants understand how history impacts our current reality. Rich pedagogical support—including real-life case studies, reflection exercises, and practical tools—encourage engagement and promote action.

Explore the Table of Contents

  • Explains the context, motives, and objectives of the collection.

  • Examines the social, economic, and political dynamics that produced both slavery and the racial categories that defined the institution in the United States. 

  • Investigates the persistence of systemic discrimination and inequality in the decades following the Civil War. 

  • Examines the way Jim Crow laws and customs combined with lynching to support White supremacy in the South.

  • Explains the role housing policy and the actions of financial institutions have played in creating and maintaining racial disparities in home ownership, wealth, health, and education.   

  • Explores the unprecedented surge in the U.S. prison population that began in the early 1970s, its deep historical roots, and its ongoing impact on communities of color across America.   

  • The Online Facilitator Resource includes: 

    • all the videos, compiled for easy reference 

    • an overview of what your participants will experience in each module

    • module-specific guides and resources

    *One Facilitator Resource is provided free of charge with the purchase of 15 Patterns in American Racism collections. 

Introduction to Patterns in American Racism

$15 per module or $75 per collection

Volume discounts and bundle pricing available.
Are you an instructor? Contact us for special student pricing.

Learn More

    • Engage in authentic conversations about the American historical experience. 

    • Develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and collaborate across differences. 

    • Build critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the careful analysis of multiple complex and nuanced viewpoints. 

    • Improve decision-making by learning how actions might impact communities or stakeholders.  

    • Create an environment where everyone feels safe sharing a perspective on any topic. 

  • This collection is perfect for anyone interested in learning the role of historical understanding in shedding light on our present reality, including: 

    • C-Suite & HR Leaders. Strengthen your organization and engage thoughtfully while navigating societal changes, leading to the creation of more relevant products and services. 

    • Managers & ERG Teams. Drive meaningful conversations and foster belonging.  

    • Educators & Advocates. Bring racial equity and historical awareness into your classrooms and communities.  

    • Individuals. Build understanding and empathy for people with different backgrounds and perspectives. 

    Whether your team members learn independently or work within a group, the Patterns in American Racism collection adapts to your goals. 

    • Encourage Independent, Self-paced Learning: Participants can work through the modules at their own pace to build awareness, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the history of racism. 

    • Support Collaborative Learning: Incorporate the content into your organization’s existing professional development and training programs to cultivate meaningful, thought-provoking conversations around racism and equity and drive social change. 

    • Research-Based Content: Rigorous scholarship backs every module.

    • Impact-First Focus: The collections are designed to make your existing inclusion and belonging programs more impactful. 

    • Accessible Content: Each module is designed to be inclusive and accessible for everyone. For example, every video is accompanied by closed captioning, a transcript, and an annotated transcript that includes visual descriptions of on-screen imagery. 

    • Versatile Module Packages: Modules can be accessed through a hosted link or through integration with your existing learning management system (LMS). For LMS use, individual module packages are provided in standard SCORM 1.2 format.

  • How much do you know about the history of anti-Black racism?

  • How optimistic are you about the future of race relations in the United States?

  • How has the struggle for voting rights during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras influenced contemporary debates surrounding voter suppression, gerrymandering, and the accessibility of the electoral process?

  • What can be done in the current racial climate to bring about further change?

  • What is redlining?

  • How does privilege intersect with criminal justice outcomes, including arrests, convictions, and sentencing?

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Salter Smith, Scrap quilt, 1870-1900. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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