Anti-Racism in Development Practice

Welcome to the Anti-Racism in Development Practice Resource Guide

"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." Lilla Watson

Why this Guide: 

Injustice on the basis of race is one of the legacies of colonialism as development consists of interventions that ‘create and/or reproduce structures of domination based on racial significations and identities’ (Pailey, 2019; Omi and Winant, 2015). Development practitioners are directly connected to systems that perpetuate oppression, exploitation, exclusion, and violence. Harmful ideologies, including patriarchy and global systems of racial domination, are deeply embedded within international development structures, and practitioners have a responsibility to formulate a critical consciousness around all areas of injustice. In that way, a transformative approach to international development needs both systemic change and to be deeply personal. This guide is by no means an exhaustive list, but includes resources on addressing racism in development and decolonizing development practice for global health, development, and humanitarian professionals.

Please Note: 

Emory MDP faculty, staff and students are committed to providing our community members with resources that address anti-racism work in development. This list is not and cannot be exhaustive. In addition, MDP faculty, staff and students do not necessarily endorse all of the views and opinions contained in the resources on this list. We aim to provide entry points into work and conversations that explicitly address issues of race, racism, and anti-racism within development arenas. We expect this guide to continue to grow and encourage current MDP students and alumni to share other resources of interest. If you would like to contribute resources, please add them here or email them to librarian Melissa Hackman. 

Many of the resources on this Resource Guide were compiled and generously shared by MDP alum Alyssa Bovell.