2022 Equity Challenge Day 21: Building a Culture of Anti-Racism: Centering Race in the Fight for Equity and Justice
It is important to understand that the system of advantage is perpetuated when we do not acknowledge its existence
Psychologist, educator, author, thought-leader in higher educationOver the past 21 days we have engaged together in learning, dialogue and reflection to expose systematic inequities in our community and build upon our various foundations to confront and deconstruct those inequities together.
Today, as we wrap up the 2022 Equity Challenge, we need to bring the focus back to race. As discussed in Day 2’s materials on Social Identity and Day 4’s lessons on Consequences of Bias, the United States operates from a racist foundation that systematically oppresses people who are not part of the dominant group (historically white, male, straight, land- owning, etc.). All work to maintain and protect the system of white supremacy.
As today’s quote from Dr. Beverly Tatum points out, we will continue to perpetuate the system of advantage when we do not acknowledge or name its presence. To work toward equity and justice across all forms of oppression (racism, sexism, ableism, religious persecution, heterosexism, ageism, anti-Semitism and more) we must center race because the system of white supremacy benefits from and expects our silence. The Racial Equity Alliance points out that race often keeps marginalized communities and co-conspirators from affectively joining together to work toward our collective freedom. By not centering race, by not naming white supremacy, we don’t get to the root of many of the inequities that we face.
Where do we go from here?
The work begins within us all; the work is all of us. In today’s challenge, we encourage you to dig deeper into the frameworks of anti-racism and equity-mindedness. It’s important to note that anti-racism and equity-mindedness will look different for white people, Black people, and people of color. This is an ongoing practice and process for all people, because we all suffer under white supremacy. Anti-racism and equity-mindedness holds us accountable by requiring us to have an active and consistent practice of using the areas where we have power, influence and privilege to engage in actionable steps to undo behaviors, thoughts and actions that maintain white supremacy.
Today’s challenge invites us all to learn more about the work of antiracism and equity-mindedness so we can join together for equity and justice.
TODAY’S CHALLENGE
Read
- Explore this resource on Being Antiracist featuring many reading, videos, and discussion questions (5 – 30 minutes).
- Review our Equity Challenge Definitions sheet for the United Way definition of Equity-Mindedness (5 minutes).
- Unpack the term ally and why that term is often not enough (8 minutes)
- Check out Anti-Racism resources for Non-Black People of Color (10 minutes).
Watch
- Watch Centering Race Equity in the Workplace, featuring examples of white supremacy culture (57 minutes).
- How to be anti-racist: it’s more than books quotes (6 minutes).
Engage
- Detroit Experience Factory offers a range of resources and historical knowledge on anti-racism in Detroit and beyond (10 minutes).
Act
- Check out Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ) Metro Detroit or find a chapter near you to join a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial and economic justice.
- SURJ Metro Detroit invites Equity Challenge participants to join its next meeting, set for 7-8:30 p.m. on June 21 on Zoom. Click here to register. The group encourages you to review an updated list of white supremacy culture characteristics before the meeting. If you would like to learn more about Metro Detroit SURJ you can complete this form to request a meeting with a member.
- Check out The BIPOC Project—an organization that aims to build authentic and lasting solidarity among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), to undo Native invisibility, anti-Blackness, dismantle white supremacy and advance racial justice.
Reflect And Share
- What have you learned from your experience with the Equity Challenge?
- What are three ways you can practice equity mindedness and anti-racism in your day-to-day life? What about at work? With your family? In your community?
- Consider: Did your workplace, school, church or other association make a statement in support of Black Lives Matter or racial equity in 2020? If not, why? If so, have practices and norms changed since then? Is anti-racism an ongoing priority? What would that look like?
TALK TO YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE.
Start the conversation. Send the tweet. Share your story. Make the Facebook post. Sharing what you learn and experience with your family, friends, and co-workers is the first step toward allyship.
