“The only way to undo racism is to consistently identify it and describe it–and then dismantle it.” –Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist
How do we define antiracism?
- “The work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life” – Race Forward
- The “active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably.” – from the National Action Committee on the Status of Women International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity
- “The term ‘antiracist’ refers to people who are actively seeking not only to raise their consciousness about race and racism, but also to take action when they see racial power inequities in everyday life.” – Anneliese A. Singh
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, explains that our job isn’t to be “not racist” but rather, the work of antiracism requires constant evaluation and challenging of systems and practices around us that perpetuate inequities.
Please watch the following interview with Ibram Kendi who explains the difference between being “not racist” and antiracist (video begins at 1:58 mark, please watch through 3:55) :
Kendi’s Glossary of Terms
In this course, we are drawing upon Kendi’s expertise regarding antiracism. Please review the glossary of terms he prepared as we further our understanding of antiracism:
Defining Other Key Terms
As we learned, antiracism requires us to actively oppose, eliminate, and challenge racism. Consider how the below terms are similarly related to antiracism, and how they differ:
Race
Race is a social and historical category produced through power relations and necessary for the construction of difference – difference that is frequently explained in dominant discourses as “innate inferiority/superiority” (Ng, 1993; Omi & Winant, 1998).
Racism
Racism is a system of dominance, where the group in power determines the social positioning of other groups as inferior through processes of exclusion, vilification, and violence. (Bonilla-Silva, 2014)
Unconscious Bias
- Prejudice or judgements that occur automatically as the brain rapidly makes assessments based on past experiences and information we have gathered. Unconscious bias is the opposite of deliberate prejudice (explicit bias) and often displayed “toward minority groups based on factors such as class, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs, age, disability and more” (Vanderbilt University)
Equity
- “Equity is grounded in the principle of fairness. In higher education, equity refers to ensuring that each student receives what they need to be successful through the intentional design of the college experience.” –Achieving the Dream, Equity Statement
- “Equity refers to achieving parity in student educational outcomes, regardless of race and ethnicity.” –Center for Urban Education, Equity and Student Success
Privilege
Unearned advantages that result from group memberships with a dominate social group. (Derman-Sparks, Edwards, & Goins, 2020)
White Supremacy
The conscious and unconscious belief in the superiority of white people, culture, and eurocentric norms that have been embedded into society. (Bonilla-Silva, 2014)
