Last year, I had the honor of chairing the Best Novel committee for the Edgar Awards. I read many books and did many things I can’t talk about, but one of the great pleasures was getting to know the people who run MWA. They are an unflappable and generous crew.
Yesterday the MWA released a statement that I found powerful. Here it is:
A Statement from Mystery Writers of America
BY MWA · JUNE 3, 2020
How to Help
Mystery Writers of America does not support or tolerate discrimination of any kind. We stand proudly with our Black members, and implore our entire membership to start listening, speaking out, and amplifying the voices that have been silenced for far too long. Listening leads to understanding, and action leads to change. We cannot move forward as a society or culture without recognizing the disparities that permeate both.
As Chester Himes said, “Democracy is not tolerance. Democracy is a prescribed way of life erected on the premise that all men are created equal.’”
If you’re looking for a way to get involved, to educate yourself, or to expand your perspective, here are some places to start:
Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com
Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org
Fair Fight: https://fairfight.com
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org
NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org
Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org
ACLU: https://www.aclu.org
Crime Writers of Color Book List: https://www.crimewritersofcolor.com/books
Frankie’s List (hosted by Sisters in Crime): https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/FrankiesList
An Antiracist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html
We Need Diverse Books Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion: https://diversebooks.org/resources-for-race-equity-and-inclusion/
Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (from ALA’s Public Programming Office’s Great Stories Club): https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/resources
List of Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners (books for children and young adults): https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/coretta-scott-king-book-award-winners
Seeing this a bit late, Susan, but thank you for posting these valuable resources. I respect MWA and SinC as well as other professional organizations who are taking positive steps toward making “one nation” a reality.