It’s definitely important that we do things behind the scenes and put the hard work in. But, it’s also important that I speak out so that people know where I stand and feel represented. I have had/have black clients and if I expect them to feel comfortable with giving their business to me, I need to be very clear on where I stand; I stand with them.
People are watching. If you are afraid of losing followers or clients because you post things like BLM or that you fight for injustice, black people are going to take notice. If I’m going to give my money to a company then I want to know that company is someone who would stand up for me and with me.
Just like you’re seeing a lot these days, it’s not enough to be non-racist, we need to be anti-racist. For white people, this is going to take a lot of hard work. You’re going to get really uncomfortable. That’s a good thing. That means you’re learning.
I’ve been feeling heartbroken, lost, sick, and with the heaviness of “what can I do to change this?” Well, that isn’t enough. Bellow you will find ways you can get to work. It starts at home. It starts with us. It starts with you. It starts with me.
I won’t be able to say it better than the Associate Editor at Upworthy Annie Reneau:
“To my fellow white Americans,
I'm seeing a shift in our collective consciousness this week, one that's been a long time coming in this country. Hallelujah. Many of us have been content to simply be "not racist" but I see people finally recognizing that that's not nearly enough. I see white folks wanting to take a more active role in working toward racial justice. I see you asking what you can do. I see you starting to dive in. That's awesome.
BUT before you go charging ahead into the world of anti-racism, I encourage you to take a breath and take a beat. While you are new to this space, this space is not new. I know you have good intentions. I know your desire to fix things is sincere. But I also know that you likely aren't fully prepared for what lies ahead. That's not a warning, but a reality.
Having been where you are some years ago, I want to share some things you need to know as you enter this space. These are some things I wish I had better understood from the start of my own anti-racism journey, which you might also find helpful as you begin:
1. PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE IN CHARGE HERE. This is vital to internalize. The absolute most important first step in anti-racism work is to learn to truly listen to the people impacted by racism—and that's not you or me or anyone who looks like us. The voices to listen to on this topic are people of color (POC), especially black and indigenous people of color (BIPOC). They are the experts, literally. Start by following as many black and brown thought leaders as you can. Don't comment on their posts. Don't judge what they are saying. Just listen, then listen some more.
2. YOU ARE GOING TO START SEEING THINGS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE—things that have actually been in front of your face this whole time— and once you see them you won't be able to unsee them. This is a very, very good thing, but it's going to rock your world as you start to recognize how deeply entrenched we are in racism, socially, historically, institutionally, and personally. So many levels. So many ways. It's everywhere and it's insidious and it's going to blow your mind.
3. YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL BIG FEELINGS. As the veils start lifting, you're going to feel horrified, sad, angry, helpless, embarrassed, and shocked. BUT please do not place any of those feelings on the shoulders of your black and brown friends. You might think they would appreciate your expressions of sorrow over how horrible you now realize racism really is, but what it actually does is 1) Remind them that it takes us white folks an abysmally long time to "get it," which is not comforting, and put them in the position of having to comfort YOU over the racism THEY have always experienced. See how that's problematic? Channel those feelings into action and donate to a racial justice cause any time you feel helpless or sad. (If you truly need to process those feelings with someone, find a white friend in the anti-racism space.)
4. WHEN YOU FEEL THE URGE TO SPEAK, ELEVATE THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. Speak up when you witness injustice. Speak out in defense of people experiencing racism. BUT before you share your thoughts on racism in general, see if a POC has already said what you want to say and share their voice instead of your own. You will soon learn how much whiteness loves to speak over people of color, and you'll probably have to resist this tendency in yourself. (I'm even a bit uncomfortable with this post, but I also know it can help to hear certain things from a shared perspective, especially when you're just getting started.)
5. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND THE IDEA OF "WHITENESS" AS AN ENTITY OF ITS OWN. Whiteness isn't about you specifically, but it is, very often, you. That will makes sense eventually, I promise. We are white people steeped in a society that uplifts and upholds the racial power of whiteness without actually saying it. It happens so effortlessly, it seems almost natural. You'll see. Just try from the get-go not to take statements about whiteness as a personal attack. In fact, try not to take anything in anti-racism discussions as a personal attack.
6. YOU WILL PROBABLY FEEL PERSONALLY ATTACKED. I know what I said. But you are probably, definitely going to have something you do or say called out as racist. And when you do, it will feel personal. Take it as the lesson (and gift) it is, then keep moving forward. Racism is in you, just as it's in me, and a LOT of this work is rooting it out in ourselves. People are in this space to help you do that, and unfortunately, there is no room—or time—for coddling in anti-racism work. Despite how long it takes most of us white folks to actually hop on the train, this stuff is urgent. There's also a reason there's also an entire (fabulous, must-read) book called "White Fragility." You will find this journey goes much smoother with a healthy balance of humility and fortitude.
7. YOU ARE PROBABLY DEFINITELY GOING TO MESS UP. Rooting out our own unconscious racism is like a game of whack-a-mole. You will have people telling you when and where a mole has popped up in you—people who are much more familiar with what that mole looks like than you are. Arguing over whether or not it's really a mole or whether or not you intended the mole to pop up is a useless waste of energy. Realize that having the mole pointed out is a gift, not an insult. Accept it as part of the learning process. Listen, reflect, apologize, and keep on whacking.
8. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS. Google is your best friend. So is the attached document. Whatever you do, DO NOT ASK YOUR BLACK AND BROWN FRIENDS TO EDUCATE YOU. We've all made this mistake, and trust me when I tell you that someday you will be mortified for having done it. People of color are far more tired of talking about, thinking about, and educating people about racism—not to mention experiencing it—than any white person will ever be with anything having to do with race. Asking a person of color to teach you is asking them to do difficult labor for free—and when you realize it in those terms, it's pretty clear why that's not something white folks should do.
9. SUPPORT THE PEOPLE DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING TO EDUCATE US. The attached document is fantastic. The only thing it's missing is a list of pages to follow on social media, which I think is the best way to get used to listening. Here are a few that I recommend highly:
Ally Henny
Andre Henry
Ibram X. Kendii
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Awesomely Luvvie
The Root
Son of Baldwin
There are many, many more, but this is a decent start. We have SO many resources now, it's incredible. And many of the people creating these resources are doing this labor for free. If you find the education you receive valuable, put your money behind it. Buy their books. Donate to their causes. Give to their Patreon account.
10. STAY IN THE YARD, EVEN WHEN IT GETS HARD. Despite the urgent need, this is slow, deliberate work. Racism is deeply rooted in our society and in ourselves and uprooting it is hard, messy work. That's just the nature of it. You can't dig up an entire root system without getting your nails dirty. Toughen up, embrace the hard, and remember this: No difficulties we go through in our effort to eliminate racism comes anywhere close to the struggles and suffering caused by our not doing it.
Welcome to the anti-racism world, friends. It's hard, vital work, but truly the only place to be right now. Glad you're here.”
There have been some amazing humans who have spent a lot of their time compiling resources to help us on our journey to being anti-racist. These are actionable steps we can take. Let’s get to working!
Thanks to Maasai Godwin, this will automatically take you to a prewritten email template you can then send to Minnesota officials. Just plug in your name, city, and state. . CLICK HERE
The Anti Racism Starter Kit compiled by L. Glenise Pike and it’s all free.
WHAT’S INSIDE:
A Memo on Getting Started in Antiracism
Understanding What Is Expected Of You In Antiracism
An Overview Of The WCS Approach To Antiracism
The Four Stages of Becoming Antiracist
An Illustration of The Structure of White Supremacy
Self Study Worksheets
Lori Lakin Hutcherson took the time to write the blog post My White Friend Asked Me on Facebook to Explain White Privilege. I Decided to Be Honest
On Emily Henderson’s blog, you can find Anti-Racism Resources, Content To Diversify Your Feed, & More Ways To Support The Black Community Right Now where you’ll discover black artists, designers, chefs, tv shows, movies, etc. There is so much goodness to absorb in this post.
My friend Dexter Le compiled a list of places to donate:
Black Visions Collective (blackvisionsmn.org)
Reclaim the Block (reclaimtheblock.org)
Know Your Rights Camp (knowyourrightscamp.com)
Minnesota Freedom Fund (minnesotafreedomfund.org)
George Floyd Memorial Fund (gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd)
Campaign Zero (joincampaignzero.org)
Black Lives Matter (blacklivesmatter.com)
Communities United Against Police Brutality (Cuapb.org)
I Run With Maud (gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud)
NAACP Legal Defense Fund (naacpldf.org)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU.org)
Thanks to the editors at Goop for providing wellness resources serving black people. These would be wonderful places to donate to or sponsor someone requesting therapy. “Dive in Well, founded by holistic practitioner Maryam Ajayi, is an organization dedicated to diversity in the wellness industry. They’re offering digital wellness events, like classes on meditation on a donation basis. Holisticism is an online education platform that seeks to overcome barriers to access in wellness, including race, sex, class, and socioeconomic status. They’re providing free digital well-being workshops, from breathwork to body acceptance to navigating anxiety, as part of the Liminal Library, a catalog of classes that they have been releasing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While free access to the Liminal Library was set to expire May 31, Holisticism has extended access indefinitely. Inclusive Therapists is a database that connects anyone seeking culturally sensitive care to therapists with training for racial trauma. It also has a specific directory for those looking for reduced-fee teletherapy.”
There are so many great resources out there that I’m still discovering. I hope this helps in the meantime. This is not “their” fight, it’s OUR fight.
Image Source: Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (2005). Adapted: Ellen Tuzzolo (2016); Mary Julia Cooksey Cordero (@jewelspewels) (2019); The Conscious Kid (2020).