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Learn & Unlearn: Anti-racism Resource Guide

Lesson 2: Race, Racism, Antiracism, Antiracist Ideas, Antiracist, Racial Justice

Original post on @saic.maffairs posted 8/7/2020.

Foundation: Racism and Anti-racism

What is Anti-racism? 

Race: A social construct that supports dividing/separating groups of people and identifying racial groups as superior or inferior; Created to justify the creation of a racial hierarchy.1

Racism: Ideology-based system that advantages one racial group, and oppresses Black, Brown, Indigenous and other POC; System where racial groups have power to re/enforce systematic discrimination through institutional policy, and shaping cultural values and beliefs.2

Anti-Racism: Actively working to oppose racism, racist policies, and racial inequities in political, economic, and social life.1

Anti-Racist Ideas: Idea that racial groups are equal in all apparent difference, there is nothing wrong with any racial group. The idea that racial injustice is caused by racist policies.3

Anti-Racist: One who actively supports antiracist policy, and policies that reduce racial inequity. One who expresses antiracist ideas.3

Racial Justice: Systematic fair treatment & proactive reinforcement of policies, practices, attitudes, and actions that produce equitable power, access, opportunities, treatment, impacts, and outcomes for al racial groups; Not just absence of discrimination and inequities, Also presence of deliberate systems to proactively & preventatively achieve and sustain racial equity.4

Quote

“One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist. There is no in-between safe space of “not racist.” The claim of “not racist” neutrality is a mask for racism,” - Ibram X. Kendi 3

To Read

Flaxman Library Materials - May take up to 3 days from request to pickup. Instructions are available here.
I-Share Books - May take up to 10 days from request to pickup. Instructions are available here.

To Research

To Listen

To Watch

To Follow

@antiracismctr - Center for Antiracist Research Instagram Account

To Reflect

When did you first become aware of your race? 
What messages do you remember receiving growing up about race? 
What is the difference between ethnicity and race?

To Act

Donate or give to any of these Black-led Racial Justice organizations & find your local chapter: https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/black-led-organizations.html

Sources

Works Cited

  1. Race Forward, Raceforward.org.
  2. "Racism Defined," Dismantling Racism Works (dRworks). Last modified June 2020.
  3. Ibram X Kendi, How to be an Antiracist, (New York: One World, 2019).
  4. Racial Equity Tools, RacialEquityTools.org.

Other Sources