Anti-Racism is a Both/And Situation
When I first started learning about anti-racism, before I ever started First Name Basis, I remember thinking, “I wish I could just turn it off sometimes and enjoy things.”
That line of thinking reveals just how early I was in the process and shows that I still had a lot of maturing to do when it came to anti-racism.
What I’ve come to learn since then is it can’t be done one way or the other — anti-racism or enjoyment. It has to be a both/and situation.
We must commit ourselves to anti-racism and to finding the enjoyment we deserve in life. We must remember and give ourselves space to enjoy things and try to change them at the same time.
In this episode we will talk about:
- Why it’s pretty much impossible to avoid seeing things that are racist. (Spoiler alert: It’s because it’s systemic.)
- Thoughts on setting boundaries for you and your family.
- Encouragement to either start or continue on your anti-racism journey.
- How working for change looks different based on what privileges you hold.
As a reminder, this is the final episode in Season 4. Can you believe that?! I hope you enjoy the end of the year with your family. Season 5 launches January 4, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you.
Ally Elementary
Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so we’re launching “Ally Elementary: Anti-Racist Education For Families and Schools.”
During this five-week program parents and teachers will work together with their children in their lives to create a culture of anti-racism, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families and schools in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.
Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode
First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 9: “Racism 101”
First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 14: “What is Privilege and What Do I Do With It?”
First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 8: “Can We Talk About White Privilege?”
First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 7: “Service Not Saviorism”
Toni Morrison’s interview with British journalist Jana Wendt
The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda by Ishmael Reed
Song credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN
