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Definition of Antiracism

noun

  1. the policy or practice of opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance.

“'Racist' is not [...] a pejorative. It is not the worst word in the English language; it is not the equivalent of a slur. It is descriptive, and the only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it - and then dismantle it. The attempt to turn this usefully descriptive term into an almost unusable slur is, of course, designed to do the opposite: to freeze us into inaction.”

“The opposite of racist isn't 'not racist.' It is 'anti-racist.' What's the difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of 'not racist'.”

“What’s the problem with being 'not racist'? It is a claim that signifies neutrality: 'I am not a racist, but neither am I aggressively against racism.' But there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of 'racist' isn’t 'not racist.' It is 'antiracist'.”

“The good news is that racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be a racist one minute and an antiracist the next. What we say about race, what we do about race, in each moment, determines what - not who - we are.”

“Like fighting an addiction, being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination.”

// Ibram X. Kendi


The Intersection of Antiracism and Ayurveda

COMING SOON


Definition of Allyship

"Participate in movements for social change for liberation, identify needs and ensure action is taken with marginalized group."

// Joseph Oteng, adapted from Washington, Evans and Love (2000) - Readings for Diversity & Social Justice

Ally Qualities

Sourced from the Fostering Allyship infographic created by Joseph Oteng, and adapted from Gregory M. Weight (2000) "Qualities of an Ally":

  1. Recognizes privilege and uses it to dismantle said system

  2. Understands & chooses to align with target group and their needs

  3. Allyship is in their self-interest

  4. Committed to personal growth (including discomfort and pain) for social change

  5. Understands allyship is relational not permanent

  6. Shows up continually, not performatively

  7. Expects and cultivates support from other allies

  8. Communicates (without guilt/apology) how oppressive patterns work

  9. Makes mistakes but does not use as excuse for inaction

  10. Takes action for justice regardless of if target group does

  11. Assumes target group is communicating in their best way (not tone policing)

  12. Does not expect target group to educate them about their humanity

  13. Knows target group is full os resistors and learns their history

  14. Shows up through action and words (not posturing)

  15. Does not expect gratitude or recognition for allyship

  16. Fosters inclusive environments (not cultural imperialism or appropriation)

  17. Confronts oppressive jokes, slurs and actions consistently

  18. Knows silence is condoning oppression


Social Justice 101 Resources

Created and/or compiled by Joseph Oteng. Click here for:

  • Social Justice Materials

  • Self-Care Materials

  • Infographics

  • Black History Syllabus

  • Copy of Common Racist Attitudes

  • Social Identity Checklist

  • Intersectionality Worksheet

  • Privilege & Allyship Pamphlet

  • Policing Alternative Resources

  • Media Literacy Handout


Reading, Listening and Watching List

This list is just a beginning.

BOOKS

PODCASTS

COMING SOON

TV/MOVIES

COMING SOON

BUY BLACK

  • Support Black-owned Bookstores - and be patient and understanding if titles are backordered.

  • Explore libro.fm, an audiobook seller, and an option for immediately obtaining anti-racist books which may be sold out and backordered.

From their website:
"By choosing Libro.fm over other audiobook services, you support a local bookstore of your choice - and invest in your local community... Proceeds from audiobooks purchased through Libro.fm are shared with your local bookstore. Your community sees 25% more money when you shop locally rather than at a national chain. More of your tax dollars are also reinvested into your community... Local businesses, bookstores included, are better at creating higher paying jobs within the community... Buying local means less packaging and less transportation. Plus, digital audiobooks have an even smaller carbon footprint... Local bookstores curate their selection based on what they know their community members are interested in. When you buy from local booksellers, you are participating in the conversation that shapes your local culture."


Discussion Questions

Sourced from the Book Club Kit for How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi:

  1. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi shares his own experience with racist thinking. How does his honesty help give us space to acknowledge and name our own racist behaviors and attitudes?

  2. Kendi writes, “The only way to undo racism is to constantly identify it and describe it—and then dismantle it.” Why does he believe we need to call out racism when we see it, even if it can be uncomfortable to identify?

  3. The book’s central message is that the opposite of “racist” isn’t “not racist.” The true opposite of “racist” is antiracist. “The good news,” Kendi writes, “is that racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be racist one minute and an antiracist the next.” What does it mean to have to constantly reaffirm your identity as an antiracist? Is there any benefit to the fact that you can’t just decide you are “not racist” or an antiracist and be done with it?

  4. What is the first step you, personally, will take in striving to be an antiracist? How will you check yourself and hold yourself accountable if you notice you, or someone else, is being racist?

  5. Kendi thinks that we should assess candidates as being racist or antiracist based on what ideas they are expressing and what policies they are supporting—and not what they say is in their bones or their heart. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

  6. Anyone who values immigrants from European countries and devalues immigrants from Latin America is guilty of racism. Have you ever been guilty of this type of racism? Discuss the unique resilience and resourcefulness people possess if they leave everything in their native country behind and immigrate to another, as Kendi examines in the chapter on Ethnicity.

  7. There’s a stronger and clearer correlation between levels of violent crime and unemployment levels than between violent crime and race, but that’s not the story policymakers have chosen to tell. Discuss why you think this is. How might our society and culture change if policymakers characterized dangerous Black neighborhoods as dangerous unemployed neighborhoods?

  8. Why do you think it is so hard for people to not assess other cultures from their own cultural standards? How does doing this trap people in racist ideas?

  9. Inequities between Light and Dark African Americans can be as wide as inequities between Black and White Americans. How have you seen colorism play out in real life and/or in the media?

  10. Kendi writes, “White supremacist is code for anti-human, a nuclear ideology that poses an existential threat to human existence.” How are white supremacists and their ideology actually harmful to all of humanity—including white people?

  11. Kendi makes the case that to be antiracist, one must stand against all forms of bigotry. Why is standing against other bigotries so essential to standing against racism?

  12. Kendi closes the book comparing racism and cancer. What do you think of this comparison?

  13. Kendi believes we can defy the odds, heal society of racism, and create an antiracist society. Do you? Why is hope so central to the antiracist movement?