Understanding and Fighting Racism
Book Cover - How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Understanding and Fighting Racism
Author Ibram X. Kendi tells us that there is no such thing as being “not racist” in American society. According to Kendi, in his book How to be an Antiracist, the opposite of “racist” is “antiracist.” There is no middle ground. His explanation of this position includes the story of his own evolution from being a subpar student who unexpectedly won a Martin Luther King, Jr. speech contest. Based on the understanding he had as a teen-ager, he gave a talk filled with stereotypes of Blacks who failed on account of not taking academics seriously, early pregnancies, and too much emphasis on sports. At the time, he did not realize he was perpetuating the myth that unsuccessful Blacks fail because of misplaced goals and insufficient effort. He did not then comprehend the barriers created by institutions and racist attitudes. Kendi admits that his high school speech is now an embarrassment, but it took several years for his understanding of racism to evolve. If it can take years for a gifted author and college instructor to understand racism, it’s understandable that those of us who have been spared victimization from racist practices might take a little longer to understand how the effects of racism influence our lives today.
If a person claims to not be racist, because they claim to not see color and to treat everyone the same, they have, in fact, admitted to racist behavior, according to Kendi. In order to be an antiracist, one must first be able to recognize the racist policies that affect people in different ways. A person needs to also recognize what Kendi calls “colorism” which he defines as: “A powerful collection of racist policies that lead to inequities between Light people and Dark people, supported by racist ideas about Light and Dark people.” If a person never sees color, they will never be able to recognize racial injustice or take effective steps to counteract it. Kendi discusses two unfortunate approaches to racial differences: assimilation and segregation. To many people, “assimilation” may seem to be a worthwhile goal, but it assumes the person with the minority race or culture will become more like the majority racial/cultural group, essentially erasing the minority culture. This may be acceptable if the groups have a lot in common in the first place, but it conveys the idea that the majority race or culture is superior, and that the minority race deserves to be blended out of existence. Segregationists take the position that certain races should never mix, with the implication that the White race is superior to all the others. According to Kendi, assimilationist ideas and segregationist ideas are two types of racist ideas.
Ibram explains the difference between being “not a racist” and being “antiracist.” If a person says “I’m not a racist,” they are implying that there are other people who are racist, but not them, perpetuating the idea that races are stratified, with some being better than others. An “antiracist” recognizes that people of all races are equal and that racial problems stem from inequities in power, policies and institutions, which the “antiracist” works to dismantle. In Ibram’s words: “One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist.”
For many Whites, it’s hard to accept Ibram’s argument that to say one is “color blind” or that one doesn’t even notice a person’s race, is the same as saying “I’m not racist.” To Ibram, being “color-blind” regarding race is the same as denying that racism exists. Ibram admits that he used to be racist most of the time, and that being antiracist is an ongoing challenge. Being antiracist requires making an effort to understand and recognize racism and then to fight it at its intersection with other bigotries, not an easy task.
Ibram provides the following definitions:
Racist: One who is supporting a racist policy through their actions or inaction or expressing a racist idea.
Antiracist: One who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing an antiracist idea.
Having read How to be an Antiracist, as well as many other books on similar topics, I’ve struggled to figure out what steps I can take to support the cause of dismantling racism in our country. Looking at this challenge from the standpoint of a retired suburbanite living in a majority White community who is a member of numerous organizations which have little ethnic or racial diversity in their membership, what can I do to dismantle racism?
For most of us, becoming an “antiracist” takes some effort. Inspired by Ibram X. Kendi, here are two lists I have created of steps you and I can take to first become knowledgeable about the challenges of our history and then to use that knowledge to work for change.
A. Get Educated About Racism
1. Early history of slavery. Learn the history of racism in our country, beginning with the first ships delivering enslaved people to the shores of this country.
2. Racist laws. Learn how the U.S. legal system endorsed slavery, protected slaveholders, sabotaged the voting rights of the formerly enslaved, segregated communities, and denied Blacks benefits received by others, such as full Social Security benefits, Veteran’s benefits, mortgage financing, and land grants.
3. Militias. Learn the history of militias which hunted down formerly enslaved people, participated in lynchings, and committed other acts of terror.
4. Retaliation and Intimidation. Educate yourself about Black Wall Street and what’s become known as the Tulsa Massacre.
5. Local history. Research what effect past racist policies have had on neighborhoods near where you live, such as red-lining, restrictive covenants and sundown policies.
6. Police injustices. Learn about the lives of today’s Black residents who are stopped by the police and security officers on a regular basis with little or no justification, at a frequency far in excess of the stops experienced by Whites.
7. Quality of life. Pay attention to statistics regarding life expectancies of Blacks, the outcome of medical procedures, and the disparate effects of climate change and pollution on predominantly Black communities.
8. Wealth & Poverty. Look at current statistics regarding family wealth and debt by racial categories.
9. Resources. Review Ibram X. Kendi’s Antiracist Syllabus, found on the internet as part of his Book Club Kit, and create a reading list for yourself from the many books he recommends.
Assuming a White person becomes aware of the history of racism and present injustices that exist as a result of that history, there is at least one more step before a person can claim to be antiracist: demonstrating support for an antiracist policy. In other words, it does not move this country along the path toward equity and justice to just believe racism is wrong, individuals need to take action, on a regular basis, to do something to help our country overcome past and present racist practices. The action might be putting up a “Black Lives Matter” sign, signing a petition, showing up for a vigil, or befriending a Black person. However, changes in society will come very slowly if those are the only steps taken.
B. Take Action
1. Share knowledge. Participate in educational programs to help others learn the history of racism within this country.
2. Speak out. Become a teacher of friends and neighbors by letting them know when you disagree with statements they have made or actions they have taken that perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Engage in meaningful and respectful dialogue about your views and experiences.
3. Pick your neighbors. Before moving to a new residence, research the ethnic and racial diversity of a building or neighborhood where you might choose to live to ensure that you will have opportunities to interact with people of backgrounds different than your own.
4. Identify local history and challenges. Support your local school, community group, city, or church in examining their own history of racism and encourage them to create programs or partnerships that will be antiracist.
5. Monitor politicians. Research what steps your elected leaders have taken to overcome racist practices in the community and country and support their efforts to make improvements.
6. Help a victim. If you witness a person being treated unfairly in a public space, and you can safely take action to support them, speak up to help the victim and let them know you recognize they are being treated unfairly.
7. Support Black-led organizations. Research non-profit organizations that are led by people of color and that serve a substantial number of disadvantaged people of color. Offer your support for their efforts by joining as a member, a volunteer or donor.
8. Support Black leaders. Pay attention to the accomplishments of people of color, offering encouragement and support, such as by buying their books, attending movies in which they appear, patronizing their restaurants and other businesses, and encouraging their participation in politics.
9. Your ideas. Look for other ways you can take action to transform our country to one more closely meeting the ideal of equal justice, equity and opportunity for all.
Kendi’s Book Club Kit contains many helpful resources. There are 13 discussion questions for How to Be an Antiracist. His recommended book list contains over 30 books. I’ve only read a few of them, but the ones I have read I would recommend highly. In reading books on racism, don’t be surprised to find different definitions for important concepts and different strategies recommended for fighting racism. There is not just one expert on these issues. We are all struggling to better understand our racial history and how to implement strategies to dismantle racism.
Here are some books I have read that Ibram X. Kendi also recommends:
--How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. The author’s frank discussion of his personal struggle to understand racism provides a story that frames his discussion of the complexity of racism. Chapter by chapter he addresses multiple intersectionalities, such as ethnic racism, cultural racism, and gender racism. While the book is not long, it can take a lot of concentration to follow his ideas, many of which were new to me.
--White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. This book helped me understand the push back I received when I spoke up in support of actions to be taken at work to reduce the effects of racism. My experiences almost exactly illustrated the points made by the author.
--The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. This book was a huge eye-opener for me. Despite a career in the legal system and a law degree, I knew very little about the history of racist laws in this country.
--The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. This author is a wonderful storyteller, and she uses her skills to explain the migration of Blacks out of the American South after the end of slavery. This history is often overlooked but is essential background for understanding today’s racial conflicts. Her more recent book is Caste, which is also excellent. Caste places American racial conflicts in an international context, giving most of us a totally new perspective on racial issues.
--Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. You can read the book or watch the movie to learn about injustices in the legal system that result in undeserved death sentences. While this is a tough topic, the book is well-written and engaging.
--Evicted by Matthew Desmond. Starting over after being forced out of one’s home has long-term consequences. The book shares the stories of several families and the effect that eviction had on their lives.
Please join me in continuing to learn about the role of racism in the history of our country and how we can take action to dismantle it. I have several other blog posts on related topics which might also be of interest:
Remove Indian Names (stereotypes and cultural appropriation)
Evolving Metaphors (thinking of diversity as a melting pot or salad no longer works)
Parents as Role Models (appreciating parents who accept persons of diverse backgrounds)
Responding to Anger (gender discrimination at work)
Bias Fuels Rage (workplace discrimination and white privilege)