I’ve been doing anti-racism work for a very long time. My journey to becoming committed to anti-racism work began in 1968 with the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.
I was a senior in high school, feature co-editor of our school paper, thinking there were two Black students in the entire school, when banging on the office door revealed several Black students wanting to gain entry, claiming they were also students at our school but tracked not only to a different academic designation but to a different part of the huge school – a part we were told was dangerous where broken furniture and obsolete items were kept.
I went to college during the time when you could self-design your own major and so I did. I had a deep personal interest and commitment to figuring out what the hell racism is and how it manifests itself in all aspects of u.s.ofa. life. I needed to arm my daughter with the skills she’d need to survive and excel as a bi-racial Black female. So I studied racism and have a degree in Institutional Racism – which the university changed to Race and Ethnic Relations. Hmmmm
But white people, it’s so beyond time to realize the truth of our origins, history, and current intentional design of our society embroiled in racism, sexism, heterosexism to mention a few of the more prominent isms.
If white people were willing to simply admit if we breathe the air, swallow the water, consume the food, we are being force fed racism and all of patriarchy’s isms that keep white xian male individuals and groups in power. Simply put, we are racist – unless and until we admit this we will continue being burdened with the sacrifice of our humanity.
I don’t think there are many people in our country today who do not see what is blatantly happening around our country. It is white supremacy and white supremacy only that is driving the hatred toward immigrants and all Black and brown people.
Once white people can admit we are racist, then we can begin the work of dismantling racism inside and outside of us. We can begin the journey of reclaiming our humanity.
We got this – we HAVE to
