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How to be anti-racist: Speak out in your own circles
In light of the ongoing protests after the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, some people say they want to become anti-racist.
Being anti-racist means more than ridding yourself of racist attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. It means you're also actively fighting that reprehensible trinity as it manifests in your life on a daily basis.
Donating to activist organizations and protesting injustices are definitely good starts to becoming an ally. But that's not enough. Actively rebutting prejudices in your own circles is key to lasting change, as those ideas and beliefs — unless challenged — are what our children absorb and are woven into the fabric of our culture.
"In order to interrupt systemic racism, we have to be working all the time," said Beverly Tatum, a psychologist, former Spelman College president and author of the classic books "Can We Talk About Race?" and "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"
What that means for you depends on who you are, where you live and who you're interacting with.
Everyone has particular spheres of influence, in which we help shape the mindsets, and thus the behaviors, of others. Ask yourself what messages you're sending to your family, friends, workplace, places of worship and outside activities. What leadership are you providing or are you silent in the face of racism?
...
"The most important thing a white ally can do [is] fight our battles when there are no people of color around," Horn said. "The problem is that too many people claim to fight against the system, but do not speak out against prejudice and racism when there are no people of color around."
This advice can be applied to efforts to understand any other group suffering from a history of oppression, such as Latinx people, Spanish or Hispanic people or indigenous peoples.
To be a better ally, educating yourself is of utmost importance, Tatum said.
"And build your stamina, because this is not [just] one conversation [and] then it's fixed," she added. "This is a long-term effort. It's like running a marathon, you have to train for it. Educate yourself and then make a commitment to being in it for the long haul."
Much more here -> https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/health/how-to-be-an-anti-racist-wellness/index.html
Being anti-racist means more than ridding yourself of racist attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. It means you're also actively fighting that reprehensible trinity as it manifests in your life on a daily basis.
Donating to activist organizations and protesting injustices are definitely good starts to becoming an ally. But that's not enough. Actively rebutting prejudices in your own circles is key to lasting change, as those ideas and beliefs — unless challenged — are what our children absorb and are woven into the fabric of our culture.
"In order to interrupt systemic racism, we have to be working all the time," said Beverly Tatum, a psychologist, former Spelman College president and author of the classic books "Can We Talk About Race?" and "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"
What that means for you depends on who you are, where you live and who you're interacting with.
Everyone has particular spheres of influence, in which we help shape the mindsets, and thus the behaviors, of others. Ask yourself what messages you're sending to your family, friends, workplace, places of worship and outside activities. What leadership are you providing or are you silent in the face of racism?
...
"The most important thing a white ally can do [is] fight our battles when there are no people of color around," Horn said. "The problem is that too many people claim to fight against the system, but do not speak out against prejudice and racism when there are no people of color around."
This advice can be applied to efforts to understand any other group suffering from a history of oppression, such as Latinx people, Spanish or Hispanic people or indigenous peoples.
To be a better ally, educating yourself is of utmost importance, Tatum said.
"And build your stamina, because this is not [just] one conversation [and] then it's fixed," she added. "This is a long-term effort. It's like running a marathon, you have to train for it. Educate yourself and then make a commitment to being in it for the long haul."
Much more here -> https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/health/how-to-be-an-anti-racist-wellness/index.html
