As an anti-racist organization and in movement towards creating more equitable opportunities and visible change, NISA clubs came together to show unity in purpose.

They held an open discussion of current league DEI initiatives with equity committee leadership ...and paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr's words in pursuit of that dream. 
 

The National Independent Soccer Association is an unapologetically anti-racist organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all of our athletes, clubs, staff and fans.

Racism can be unconscious or unintentional, and that identifying racism as an issue does not automatically mean those involved in the act are racist or intended the negative impact. But it is real, and it is never acceptable in NISA.
We are driven to ensure NISA reflects a diverse and inclusive culture across dimensions of diversity including but not limited to age, race, sex, class, national origin, creed, educational background, religion, gender identity, disability, gender expression, geographical location, income, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation and work experiences.

We acknowledge and regret that players face anxiety and challenges due to racism and inequity every day that aren't often seen or felt by all of us. NISA will create and cultivate a safe and inclusive environment and activity for everyone, from player to fan.

As an anti-racism organization, we vow to purposefully identify, discuss and challenge issues of race and color and the impact(s) they have on our organization, its systems, and its people.

Resource Guide

Books

Reading While Black
by Esau McCaulley

How To Be an Anti-Racist
by Ibram X Kendi

Fatal Invention - How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-first Century
by Dorothy Roberts

White Fragility - Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
by Robin J. DiAngelo

The Fire Next Time
by James Baldwin

The Fire This Time
by Randall Kenan

Between the World and Me
by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Half Has Never Been Told - Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism
by Edward E. Baptist

The New Jim Crow - Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
by Michelle Alexander

The Color of Law - A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
by Richard Rothstein

The Warmth of Other Suns - The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
by Isabel Wilkerson

Hood Feminism
by Mikki Kendall

The Good Immigrant
by Nikesh Shukla & Chimene Suleyman

Me and White Supremacy
by Layla F. Saad

Do Better
by Rachel Ricketts

Podcasts

Throughline (feature episode: “Who is NPR (For)?

The Weeds (feature episode: “What is critical race theory, anyway?”

Code Switch (feature episode: “Where are you really from?”

Can I Kick It? (feature episode: “Black Women’s Supporters Roundtable”

Protagonist – Feb 4 2021

Diaspora United (feature episode: “Racismo returns with pace and power” 

 Shea Butter FC (feature episode: “SBFC Vocab” 

 2 Cents FC (feature episode: “Black soccer culture w/Aaron Delores”

FTCUTD - The For The Culture Soccer Show: Ep. 121

Videos

Ibram X. Kendi -- The Heartbeat of Anti-racism | Google Equity Talks

Bruins Speak: Anti-Asian Racism, Athletics, and Social Justice

Is the Hispanic community being forgotten in racial justice fight? | Race In America | NBC Sports BA

Sports journalists stereotype athletes by race -- and we do too | Pat Ferrucci | TEDxMileHigh

Race & Sports in America: Steph Curry, Charles Barkley, Ozzie Smith & Jimmy Rollins Roundtable | NBC