In this course you will take on systemic racism...

  • See it

    Seeing the root of systemic racism requires a deep understanding of the history of how Black/African Americans have been treated since the first ship carrying slaves arrived on America’s shores in 1619. You're going to dig into hidden American history that's rarely taught in schools in order to see systemic racism immediately.

  • Say it

    Saying the truth that systemic racism exists and pointing it out in every institution in America is critical to fixing the problem. Systemic racism permeates every aspect of this nation—-education, housing, health care, law, social welfare, politics, religion—-so, acknowledging this as truth, ultimately leads to the power to dismantle it. You'll examine resources, books, articles, and videos by leading social justice figures to expose systemic racism in America's institutions.

  • Confront it

    Confronting systemic racism requires tools; you can’t go it alone. The course is loaded with useful resources, articles, and videos to help you frame the argument against systemic racism and tackle it within your personal sphere of influence. With knowledge, you’ll confront systemic racism head so you can begin taking sustainable action that creates sustainable change---Knowledge + Action = Power.

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Who Needs This Course?

America didn’t develop this serious racial divide by accident. By reading and learning you’ll understand why things are the way they are. You’ll then be prepared to put this country on a course toward racial reconciliation and anti-racism. Knowledge is power and powerful. It starts with YOU.

  • Everyone willing to read truthful and sometimes painful accounts of this country’s history

  • Everyone willing to discuss volatile topics in a civil, non-threatening manner

  • Everyone responsible for educating others—-HR professionals, corporate trainers, teachers, librarians, social justice leaders

  • Everyone willing to learn unvarnished history of the United States to grasp why some Black/African Americans have fared poorly in America

  • Everyone desiring to activate the equation: knowledge + action = power to dismantle systemic racism in America

What will you learn in this course?

Module 1 - Systemic Racism: What is it?

Bigotry, bias, prejudice, racism, systemic racism—-what’s the difference? These are all emotionally charged terms often used and misused to describe what fuels the racial turmoil in American society. In this module, you’ll learn the differences and similarities among the terms, then apply them appropriately to real life situations.

Module 2 - Systemic Racism in Education and Health Care

Educating and keeping a populace healthy are the cornerstones of a civilized society. For over 400 years, however, Black/African Americans have endured poor, inadequate, and substandard education and health care systems. In this module, you’ll get to the root of how, when, and why these systems were purposely designed to subjugate Black/African Americans and how that design continues to impede upward mobility in the Black/African American community.

 Module 3 - Systemic Racism in Housing and Real Estate

Being able to live in safe, secure housing and buy property to create generational wealth encapsulates the “American Dream”. Historically, for many Black/African Americans that dream has been a nightmare. Module 3 focuses on how de jure segregation promulgated in federal, state, and local laws unconstitutionally barred Black/African Americans from owning homes and land. You will see that the outcome of segregation resulted in land theft, deteriorating neighborhoods, and the current day wealth chasm between whites and Black/African Americans.

 Module 4 - Systemic Racism in Labor/Business and Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice

Most Americans expect to enjoy a decent paying job and a judicial system that protects them and the things they have earned. Module 4 examines how systemic racism impedes Black/African Americans from consistently realizing these expectations. You will delve into how businesses and corporations, some of which still exist today, benefitted from forced and convict labor with the blessing of the American judicial system. You’ll also learn how the shadow of that horrific past is still cast today in the form of low-wage jobs, mass incarceration, police brutality, and unjustifiable murders of Black/African American men, women, and children.


What Are They Saying

I'm Acknowledging Uncomfortable Facts

John Starkel, Ph.D., Retired Professional Development Trainer

“Privilege is having history rewritten so that you don’t have to acknowledge uncomfortable facts. Racism is perpetuated by people who refuse to learn or acknowledge this reality. This quote represents what I have gained from taking Systemic Racism: See it, Say it, Confront it designed and facilitated by Carol François. I learned to acknowledge the uncomfortable facts. Now, I must learn to live with that knowledge and to take action to make a difference. I am grateful for the opportunity!”

I Can Now Confront Systemic Racism

Rachel Allen, Trauma Sensitive Wellness Services; Co-Chair, Unity Coalition of the Southern Alleghenies

“There is enormous value in the group learning experience, especially when facilitated by an expert teacher. We can read many books on issues surrounding race, but having opportunities to explore, discuss and navigate with a group offers a deeper integrated way of learning. This learning experience about systemic racism has opened my eyes to an awareness to how we got to where we are currently in America. This is a difficult subject to tackle, and Carol François creates a brave space to engage in this exploration. I have growing confidence and hope in my own ability to see and name systemic racism in my community and nation. I renew my commitment to building an anti racist society, starting with my own heart and home and extending outward.”

Didn't Know What I Didn't Know

Jackie Christian Gunby, RN, BSN

“I didn’t realize how little I knew about my own African-American history until I took this course. I knew that slavery with its free labor structure was an economic determinant in building wealth in early America. What I didn’t recognize was how that practice remains to this day. This is one of many things I’ve learned through Carol’s judicious guidance of African-American history. This is history you will not find in your primary or secondary education system.”

Course Fills in Gaps

Christine Nicolette-Gonzalez, Laureate Tutoring and Career Counseling; Author of My Mother’s Curse: A Journey Beyond Childhood Trauma

“I took this course because I knew that there was so much history about systemic racism that, despite my many years in school, I never had been taught. I quickly filled that gap, not only by reading eye-opening books, but also with a wealth of provocative videos and articles that I have used in my virtual Zoom classroom. This curriculum has invariably made me a better educator as it has helped my students be more empathetic toward the people around them and aware of the world in which they live.”

The Course Pushed Me

Julie Bleicher, Community Volunteer and Retired Business Leader

“Carol’s Systemic Racism: See it, Say it, Confront it course has pushed me more than I knew I needed to be pushed. I am learning what I should have learned, or been taught, decades ago. The reading, the discussions, and the posts from other group members open up other learning paths that are ballooning my book queue – and that’s good. This is material, accompanied by thoughtful, though difficult, discussion, that we all need to understand.”

I Have A Platform Now

Lisa Forney, Wife, Mother, and Career Educator

“The course has given me a platform to break my silence related to my experiences growing up in my skin. For the first time, I am learning formally about the history of systematic racism and the overarching negative impact on people of color. This new found knowledge has been liberating and given me necessary tools to continue to make an impactful difference in my community. I salute Dr. François in creating such a platform for growth.”

Course Is a Must

Richard King, CEO R.I. King Productions; Author of Rachel’s Point

“I am fortunate to have taken the exciting, informative course conceived and taught by Dr. Carol François, an intellectual academic. As a man, a Black man I have learned about our history as a nation. As a descendant of slaves and successful businessman, this course helped me to analyze why I’m so angry. Regardless of race, creed, or color, this course is a must.”

I'm Acknowledging Uncomfortable Facts

John Starkel, Ph.D., Retired Professional Development Trainer

“Privilege is having history rewritten so that you don’t have to acknowledge uncomfortable facts. Racism is perpetuated by people who refuse to learn or acknowledge this reality. This quote represents what I have gained from taking Systemic Racism: See it, Say it, Confront it designed and facilitated by Carol François. I learned to acknowledge the uncomfortable facts. Now, I must learn to live with that knowledge and to take action to make a difference. I am grateful for the opportunity!”

I Can Now Confront Systemic Racism

Rachel Allen, Trauma Sensitive Wellness Services; Co-Chair, Unity Coalition of the Southern Alleghenies

“There is enormous value in the group learning experience, especially when facilitated by an expert teacher. We can read many books on issues surrounding race, but having opportunities to explore, discuss and navigate with a group offers a deeper integrated way of learning. This learning experience about systemic racism has opened my eyes to an awareness to how we got to where we are currently in America. This is a difficult subject to tackle, and Carol François creates a brave space to engage in this exploration. I have growing confidence and hope in my own ability to see and name systemic racism in my community and nation. I renew my commitment to building an anti racist society, starting with my own heart and home and extending outward.”

Didn't Know What I Didn't Know

Jackie Christian Gunby, RN, BSN

“I didn’t realize how little I knew about my own African-American history until I took this course. I knew that slavery with its free labor structure was an economic determinant in building wealth in early America. What I didn’t recognize was how that practice remains to this day. This is one of many things I’ve learned through Carol’s judicious guidance of African-American history. This is history you will not find in your primary or secondary education system.”

Course Fills in Gaps

Christine Nicolette-Gonzalez, Laureate Tutoring and Career Counseling; Author of My Mother’s Curse: A Journey Beyond Childhood Trauma

“I took this course because I knew that there was so much history about systemic racism that, despite my many years in school, I never had been taught. I quickly filled that gap, not only by reading eye-opening books, but also with a wealth of provocative videos and articles that I have used in my virtual Zoom classroom. This curriculum has invariably made me a better educator as it has helped my students be more empathetic toward the people around them and aware of the world in which they live.”

The Course Pushed Me

Julie Bleicher, Community Volunteer and Retired Business Leader

“Carol’s Systemic Racism: See it, Say it, Confront it course has pushed me more than I knew I needed to be pushed. I am learning what I should have learned, or been taught, decades ago. The reading, the discussions, and the posts from other group members open up other learning paths that are ballooning my book queue – and that’s good. This is material, accompanied by thoughtful, though difficult, discussion, that we all need to understand.”

I Have A Platform Now

Lisa Forney, Wife, Mother, and Career Educator

“The course has given me a platform to break my silence related to my experiences growing up in my skin. For the first time, I am learning formally about the history of systematic racism and the overarching negative impact on people of color. This new found knowledge has been liberating and given me necessary tools to continue to make an impactful difference in my community. I salute Dr. François in creating such a platform for growth.”

Course Is a Must

Richard King, CEO R.I. King Productions; Author of Rachel’s Point

“I am fortunate to have taken the exciting, informative course conceived and taught by Dr. Carol François, an intellectual academic. As a man, a Black man I have learned about our history as a nation. As a descendant of slaves and successful businessman, this course helped me to analyze why I’m so angry. Regardless of race, creed, or color, this course is a must.”

I'm Acknowledging Uncomfortable Facts

John Starkel, Ph.D., Retired Professional Development Trainer

“Privilege is having history rewritten so that you don’t have to acknowledge uncomfortable facts. Racism is perpetuated by people who refuse to learn or acknowledge this reality. This quote represents what I have gained from taking Systemic Racism: See it, Say it, Confront it designed and facilitated by Carol François. I learned to acknowledge the uncomfortable facts. Now, I must learn to live with that knowledge and to take action to make a difference. I am grateful for the opportunity!”

Your Learning Ambassador

Learning Ambassador Carol François

Hi, I’m Dr. Carol François, your Learning Ambassador. I’m a lifetime educator who uses learning as a catalyst for positive change. I began my 30+ years in education at age three teaching my dolls on the doorstep outside our home. Since that career starter, I’ve served in a variety of roles including Associate Commissioner of Education for the state of Texas; Chief of Staff for the Dallas Independent School District in Dallas, Texas; Assistant Superintendent in Wake County Public Schools, North Carolina; director of learning for a 10,000 member international education association; department director at a regional education service center; as well as grade-level principal and dean of instruction in two large urban school districts. Education and learning are in my DNA, and my goal is to use my skills to help people see, say, and confront systemic racism.