Anti-Racist

To be anti-racist first requires us to recognize that racism is real and embedded so deeply in our society that it impacts almost everything we do and experience in both obvious and unseen ways.

It is our job to be aware of how we may benefit from a system that favors white people at the expense of Black, Indigenous and people of color. Anti-racism means choosing to use that power and privilege to challenge racist behavior and actively disrupting the racist policies and systems that surround us. Being anti-racist also means learning about and from history, owning our mistakes, and rethinking past assumptions to address our own internalized racism.

LET’S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES

Many people believe that because they don’t engage in explicit or overt racist actions, they themselves are not racist. Or they feel that “not being racist” is enough to put an end to racial discrimination. This attitude overlooks the fact that most of us unknowingly hold some form of implicit bias and racist beliefs. Even people who are not racist still can benefit from a system that is built on white supremacy and biased against Black, Indigenous and people of color.

Even people who are not racist still can benefit from a system that is built on white supremacy and biased against Black, Indigenous and people of color.

Anti-racism requires us to critically examine our own actions and beliefs. This can mean confronting the racist ideas we have internalized, educating ourselves and families about systemic racism, and listening to people with different life experiences than our own. The next step is to take action against racism.

Being antiracist means that we become actively aware of racism and choose to take actions to end racial inequities in our society.

According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “being anti-racist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life. Being racist or anti-racist is not about who you are; it is about what you do.”

Being racist or anti-racist is not about who you are; it is about what you do.