This week we return to our “I Can Fix It” series, a series that looks at concrete things that white people and people of color can do to “fix” racism so to speak. We pick up where we left off in Episode 99, on step 4 of the 5 steps white people can do to become better at understanding racism, and I want to put these steps into an antiracism context a moment, so you can step back and see the larger picture here.
Biblical Antiracism involves three distinct but inter-related aspects: Acquiring Knowledge, Unlearning Internalized Racism, and Changing Oppressive Systems. The tools to accomplish these three aims are Education (learning history of racial oppression and knowing the areas where racial disparities and oppression remain), Conversation (about Internalized Racism), and Advocacy (to address systems that perpetuate racial disparities). Steps 1-3 have more or less been dealing with the first aspect of Biblical Antiracism, which is acquiring knowledge through education and listening to people of color. Today’s discussion of Step 4 (Broaden Your Experience) examines how to begin equitable relationships with people of color, some of which may eventually evolve into mutually-enjoyable friendships. Step 5, which we will be getting to in a couple episodes, will then explore how a white person could begin to engage in advocating for systemic changes that hopefully promote racial equity.
So, as usual, our multiethnic team once again gathered around the microphones for our weekly conversation filled with laughter, storytelling and vulnerability as we talk about today’s topic.
CREDITS:
The Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, Glory Edim (Author). NOMINATED FOR AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD • An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.