Where do you start when it’s time to talk about race?
As a black person in America, there are simply too many things for me to say. I’ve experienced the impact of racism first-hand and am all too familiar with the work it takes to fight it everyday.
At the same time, I know many of my non-black friends have struggled to find the words. The overwhelm is real. So much un-learning to do. So much music to face.
This message is for them.
Becoming an anti-racist is an inside-out job. Just like you’ve worked to reconcile with and grow from your own personal history, we all must come to terms with the collective history that impacts our lives today. The history of white supremacy is ugly and has a legacy that touches everyone. If you’ve had the option of ignoring it or minimizing it until now, that’s a privilege.
The best long-term action you can take is changing your mind. Regardless of how anti-racist you’ve viewed yourself to be in the past, now is a prime time to look for blind spots. Marching, donating to BLM, buying from black-owned businesses, and having tough conversations with your family will be effective. But none of these immediate actions is a replacement for the critical consciousness you must develop now to keep fighting anti-blackness for years and years to come. Question everything.
Be willing to be wrong. Inevitably, you have said or done something that isn’t aligned with your anti-racist intentions. And you will continue to make mistakes. It sucks, but you’ll be okay. We don’t always know the impact of our words and actions (or the absence thereof) until we are called on it. Don’t make matters worse by playing defense. Simply take the time to listen, settle your ego, and commit to do better.
Embrace the uncomfortable. If paradigm shifts were easy, we’d be a lot further along by now. Understand that awkwardness, anger, guilt, shame, and sadness are all a part of the growth process. Invite these feelings into your daily practice through meditation and journaling. When you really get to know the dark sides of your implicit bias, you’ll be much better equipped to dig yourself out.
Recognize the power and the resources you already have to help dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy. If you’ve got books, read them. If you’ve got films, watch them. Got influence? Leverage it. Don’t worry about being the ideal ally or advocate. That’s a myth. Choose a lane of social impact that suits you. Use your re-education, follow your intuition, and start where you are.
Prepare for the long-haul. We must be committed to chipping away at injustice in our day-to-day lives if we wish to make a dent in the future. The power structures we are challenging now took centuries to build, and it will generations to tear them down. Pace yourself accordingly.