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8 Online Courses on Racial Justice and Anti-Racism

Learn about racial justice, anti-racism, equity, and inclusion in courses from notable universities around the world.

While it takes different forms, racism and discrimination persist around the world. In 2020, protests against police brutality and racial inequality in the United States spread globally. No organization is immune as even human rights nonprofits like Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International struggle with systemic racism. This is why learning about racial justice and anti-racism is so important. In this article, we’ll describe eight courses focused on what anti-racism is, why it matters, and how to integrate anti-racist culture and practices in an organization.

#1. Anti-Racism Specialization (The University of Colorado Boulder)
#2. Facing Racism and Emotional Tax in the Workplace (CatalystX)
#3. Asian American History and Identity: An Anti-Racism Toolkit (University of Colorado Boulder)
#4. Driving Change and Anti-Racism (LinkedIn Learning)
#5. Beyond Diversity: Anti-Racism and Equity in the Workplace (BerkeleyX)
#6. Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the US (The University of Michigan)
#7. Love as a Force for Social Justice (Stanford University)
#8. Leading Racial Equity and Inclusion in Organizations (Northwestern University)

#1. Anti-Racism Specialization (The University of Colorado Boulder)

Length: 3 months Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 6 hours / week Level: Introductory

The Anti-Racism specialization is divided into three courses: Anti-Racism I, Anti-Racism II, and Anti-Racism III. During the courses, you’ll learn about race and racism (specifically in the United States) and how to be an anti-racist advocate. You’ll explore topics like the historical and linguistic constructions of race and racism, the theory of intersectionality, and cultural contexts outside the United States. The specialization includes a community outreach project where you apply what you’ve learned and practice anti-racist advocacy skills.

Shawn O’Neal and Jennifer Ho teach. O’Neal is a DJ, musician, producer, and race scholar in the ethnic studies department. Ho is the director of the Center for Humanities & the Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as a professor of ethnic studies and president of the Association for Asian American Studies. The first course in the specialization takes about 15 hours, the second takes 19 hours, and the third takes 24 hours. When you commit to 6 hours of work per week, you can complete the whole specialization in about three months. There are no prerequisites. You can audit the course for free, but certificates require a fee.

#2. Facing Racism and Emotional Tax in the Workplace (CatalystX)

Length: 1 week Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 1-2 hours Level: Introductory

This short course is part of CatalystX’s series on Race, Gender, and Workplace Equity. Designed for beginners, it explains the impact of racism, what “emotional tax” is, key concepts like intersectionality, anti-racist skills, and strategies for addressing racism. You’ll learn how to self-reflect and develop action plans that help make workplaces (and other environments) inclusive and fair.

There are several instructors for this course, including Dr. Terrence Howard (VP of Learning Products and Programs at Catalyst), Andrea Tatum (Sr. Director of Corporate Engagement, Western Region), and Julie Friedberg (Senior Director, Learning Design & Delivery). “Facing Racism and Emotional Tax in the Workplace” takes just 1-2 hours to complete. The course is free, but a certificate upon completion costs about $50. There are no prerequisites.

#3. Asian American History and Identity: An Anti-Racism Toolkit (The University of Colorado Boulder)

Length: 3 weeks Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 19 hours Level: Introductory

Interested in Asian American history and addressing the rise in anti-Asian discrimination? This course offers a thorough introduction to Asian American history, identities, and discrimination in the US. In week 1, you’ll learn about the diversity of Asian American identity, as well as anti-racism terminology. Week 2 gets into the major themes of Asian American history, such as what brought Asian and Pacific Islanders to the United States over the centuries. Week 3 covers the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in violence against Asian Americans, and history of negative stereotypes that drives the violence. The course will also help you develop anti-racist skills that can be used to combat anti-Asian racism, hate, and violence.

Instructors Maxwell Cassity and Kariann Yokota teach the course. Cassity has a Ph.D. in English and specializes in American Ethnic Literatures and Media Studies. Yokota previously worked as an Assistant Professor of History and American Studies before teaching at the University of Colorado Denver. “Asian American History and Identity” is divided into three weekly modules and a short 1-hour course conclusion/evaluation. In total, the course takes about 19 hours to complete. There are no prerequisites.

#4. Driving Change and Anti-Racism (LinkedIn Learning)

Length: 16 minutes, 17 seconds Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 16 minutes, 17 seconds Level: Introductory

Looking for a quick introduction on how to achieve equity within an organization? This course explores how to start the hard conversations necessary for change. You’ll learn how to identify inequity, how to define the goal, how to negotiate the goal, and how to use tools like maintaining focus, staying consistent, and overcoming emotions. By the course’s end, you’ll have a strong understanding of equity and what it takes to change an organization.

Director of the American Negotiation Institute Kwame Christian teaches the course. He runs corporate training, serves as a business lawyer, and teaches as a professor of negotiation at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. He also hosts the podcast “Negotiate Anything.” The anti-racism course is less than 20 minutes long and is part of the “How to Engage Meaningfully in Allyship and Anti-Racism” learning path. There’s no free audit option; the course costs $30.

#5. Beyond Diversity: Anti-Racism and Equity in the Workplace (BerkeleyX)

Length: 6 months Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 5-8 hours / week Level: Intermediate

There are three courses in the “Beyond Diversity: Anti-Racism and Equity in the Workplace” professional certificate program: “Bias and the Workplace: History, Structure, and Individuals,” “Discrimination and Diversity in the Modern Workplace,” and “Improving Workplace Climate.” You’ll learn from the perspectives of minoritized employees; identify and respond to implicit and unconscious biases in the workplace; use equitable and hiring evaluation practices; and create a culture of equity and inclusion for everyone in the workplace.

Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton is an award-winning professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Richard and Ronda Goldman Distinguished Professor in the Division of Social Sciences. When you commit 5-8 hours of work per week, you can finish the program in about 6 months. It’s a great choice for executives, managers, and employees; there are no prerequisites. You can audit each of the courses for free, but for the full experience (and official certificate) you’ll need to pay around $600.

#6. Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the US (University of Michigan)

Length: 3 weeks Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 17 hours Level: Introductory

Why do racial health inequities exist? Some may think behavioral or even genetic differences are to blame, but research consistently points to racism. In this course, you’ll explore these differences, what the historical roots are, and what to do about them. You’ll also get opportunities to practice your advocacy skills through writing. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to describe structural racism’s impact, identify policies that created racial health inequities, and apply public writing strategies that combat racial health inequities.

Paul Fleming and William D. Lopez teach the course. Fleming is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education whose mixed-methods research centers on the root causes of health inequities. Lopez is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education who conducts public health research on how the fear of immigration enforcement impacts mixed-status communities. “Structural Racism” is broken into three weekly modules. With 5-6 hours of work per week, you can complete the course in about 17 hours. There are no prerequisites.

#7. Love as a Force for Social Justice (Stanford University)

Length: 6 weeks Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 27 hours Level: Introductory

What does love have to do with anti-racism and social justice? This course explores this question and much more. Through modules like “Words and the Meaning of Love” and “Love and Social Justice,” you’ll learn about different concepts of love and how agape love (compassion/kindness) serves as a force for social justice. You’ll also learn about non-violent communication, the biology of the brain and love, love as a basic concept of ethical and religious beliefs, and love in action. By the end of the course, you’ll have a firm grasp on the importance of love within community, connection, and functioning society.

Anne Firth Murray teaches the course. For decades, she’s worked as an activist, philanthropist, and educator. She is the Founding President of The Global Fund For Women and a Consulting Professor in Human Biology at Stanford University. “Love as a Force for Social Justice” is divided into six weeks with varying hourly commitments per week. In total, the course takes about 27 hours to finish. There are no prerequisites.

#8. Leading Racial Equity and Inclusion in Organizations (Northwestern University)

Length: 4 weeks Mode: Self-paced Commitment: 4-6 hours / week Level: Introductory

Systemic racism and exclusion have a huge impact on workplace culture, employees, and performance. In this course from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, you’ll learn how to address racial inequality and promote equity and inclusion. That includes learning the roots of systemic inequalities in the United States, how to engage with the Racial Equity Framework, and how to create a Racial Equity Action Plan. Whether you’re a mid-level term leader, specialist, recruiter, or other workplace professional, this course will help you build a strong, inclusive work culture.

Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy Alvin B. Tillery, Jr. teaches this course. His research includes American political development, racial and ethnic politics, social movements, American political thought, and critical race theory. “Leading Racial Equity and Inclusion in Organizations” is divided into four weeks, not counting the orientation module. With 4-6 hours of work per week, you can finish the course in about 4 weeks. There is unfortunately no free audit option for this course; it costs $1,900 to register. There are no prerequisites.

About the author

Emmaline Soken-Huberty

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

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