Privilege Layer Cake: Professional Development Activity
Developed in collaboration with Joanna Nelson Rendón (Director of Young Adult Services, Pikes Peak Library District), the Privilege Layer Cake (PLC) activity has shown itself to be an adaptable approach to discussing issues of privilege and equity in library and information organizations, as well as classroom settings. The activity can be structured for a variety of group sizes as well - from small, departmental discussions to larger, whole organization discussions. Organizations, groups, and even individuals interested in employing the PLC, can take advantage of the resources provided below. This Intersections blog post also provides details on administering the PLC.
PLC Resources
The following resources are provided as suggestions for those interested in either trying out the Privilege Layer Cake (PLC) activity; or simply learning more about the concepts of privilege, implicit bias, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The resources are divided into two sections: PLC Documents and Additional Resources. The additional resources are presented as a suggested starting point for those interested in delving more deeply into the topic, but are not “required readings.” They are designed to support increased understanding and promote further research and discussion. We also invite you to suggest additional resources that you feel would be useful to others.
PLC Documents
PLC Session Script
This script can be used as a guideline for anyone interested in running the PLC activity. Suggested breakdown for activity segments and suggested timing is included. (PDF) (Word)
Guiding Questions for Discussions
These guiding questions can be used verbatim or serve as a model for possible questions to ask during the PLC activity. (PDF) (Word)
Handout
This handout can be used to supplement the PLC workshop as a participant note taking source or follow-up/review source for after the workshop. PDF
Privilege & Power Bibliography
A bibliography of resources that may be of interest to those attending a PLC session or preparing to offer a PLC session. A few sources may also support those who would like additional guidance for having difficult conversations around the topics of privilege and power. PDF
This script can be used as a guideline for anyone interested in running the PLC activity. Suggested breakdown for activity segments and suggested timing is included. (PDF) (Word)
Guiding Questions for Discussions
These guiding questions can be used verbatim or serve as a model for possible questions to ask during the PLC activity. (PDF) (Word)
Handout
This handout can be used to supplement the PLC workshop as a participant note taking source or follow-up/review source for after the workshop. PDF
Privilege & Power Bibliography
A bibliography of resources that may be of interest to those attending a PLC session or preparing to offer a PLC session. A few sources may also support those who would like additional guidance for having difficult conversations around the topics of privilege and power. PDF
Follow Up "Action" Resources
These resources are offered as a suggestion for those looking for additional readings, podcasts or other resources to support their own learning and understanding of privilege.
Readings
Podcasts
Happiness Lab
Ologies with Ally Ward
Short Wave https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510351/short-wave
Check out these ones, in general:
Activities
Webinars
Resource Lists
Readings
- Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Dr. Vivek Murthy
- Just Work: Get Sh*t Done, Fast & Fair by Kim Scott
- Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
- Soliciting Performance, Hiding Bias: Whiteness and Librarianship – In the Library with the Lead Pipe. http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2015/soliciting-performance-hiding-bias-whiteness-and-librarianship/
Podcasts
Happiness Lab
- Episode 9: The War for Kindness. https://www.happinesslab.fm/season-2-episodes/episode-9-the-war-for-kindness
- Episode 10: How to Be a Better Ally. https://www.happinesslab.fm/season-2-episodes/episode-10-how-to-be-a-better-ally
Ologies with Ally Ward
- Very Special Episode: BlackAFinSTEM with various Ologists. https://www.alieward.com/ologies/blackafinstem
- Agnotology (Ignorance) with Dr. Robert Proctor. https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotology
- Political Sociology (Voter Turnout & Suppression) with Mindy Romero. https://www.alieward.com/ologies/politicalsociology
Short Wave https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510351/short-wave
- The U.S. Has A History Of Linking Disease With Race And Ethnicity https://www.npr.org/2021/03/18/978783879/the-u-s-has-a-history-of-linking-disease-with-race-and-ethnicity
- The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint? https://www.npr.org/2020/12/16/947232031/the-legacy-of-trauma-can-experiences-leave-a-biological-imprint
- James West On Invention And Inclusion In Science https://www.npr.org/2021/02/22/970159013/james-west-on-invention-and-inclusion-in-science
- Anti-Racist Science Education https://www.npr.org/2021/02/12/967378819/anti-racist-science-education
- Biden Promises To Grapple With Environmental Racism https://www.npr.org/2021/02/03/963667177/biden-promises-to-grapple-with-environmental-racism
Check out these ones, in general:
- It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510317/its-been-a-minute-with-sam-sanders
- Throughline https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline
- Race at Work with Porter Braswell https://hbr.org/2020/11/podcast-race-at-work
- Code Switch https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch
Activities
- Implicit Bias Test: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/education.html
- Project READY: Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth: https://ready.web.unc.edu/
- 21-Day Equity Challenge: https://www.unitedwaydm.org/equity-challenge
Webinars
- From the Colorado State Library:
- CSL in Session: Sorry….You Just Don’t Fit into our Culture: unconscious bias in hiring decisions (https://cslinsession.cvlsites.org/past/sorry-you-just-dont-fit-into-our-culture-unconscious-bias-in-hiring-decisions/). Presented by Beth Crist and Jean Heilig.
- CSL in Session: The Hidden Biases of Good People (https://cslinsession.cvlsites.org/past/the-hidden-biases-of-good-people/). Presented by Beth Crist and Jean Heilig.
- CSL in Session: Receptive to Race: Normalizing the Discussion of Race with Children in Libraries (https://cslinsession.cvlsites.org/past/receptive-to-race-normalizing-the-discussion-of-race-with-children-in-libraries/). Presented by Becki Loughlin.
- CSL in Session: Radical Cataloging: Using alternative subject headings to promote inclusiveness and diversity (https://cslinsession.cvlsites.org/past/radical-cataloging-using-alternative-subject-headings-locally-to-promote-inclusiveness-and-diversity/). Presented by Sol María López and Laura Wright.
- Understanding Power, Identity, and Oppression in the Public Library http://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars/ondemand/understanding
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3DoYiL7X_N1Ta1o4HE9Mlg/featured
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Practical Strategies for Community Leaders https://youtu.be/Z4eYb2YP9Eo
- Advancing Racial Equity in Your Library http://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars/ondemand/racialequity
- Cultivating Antiracist/Anti-biased Workplaces & Hiring Practices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtFg91-J4NI
- RIPL Data Boot Camp series (https://www.ripleffect.org/ripl-data-boot-camp/). We suggest taking the whole series, but two are about diversity, equity, and inclusivity including, Nothing for Us, Without Us: Getting Started with Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Inclusive Data and Community Engagement: New Roles for Libraries to Shape Knowledge Creation and Use.
Resource Lists