The Un-politically Correct Guide to Being an Anti-Racist: 6 Things You Can Do to be Better
George Floyd’s babygirl was right when she stretched her arms to the sky, collecting the love of a global people, and proclaimed “Daddy Changed the World”
But sadly, it took far too many lives, far too long and far too much for those who had been unfazed by the condition of Black people in this country to see what Black people had been saying for years — “Shit is BAD out here!” In the coming days, those who saw either themselves or their loved ones in George Floyd were tasked with stomaching the constant replay of a gruesome murder, unconcerned co-workers, static corporate communications, performative activism and the theatrical allyship that would sustain for-what seemed to be-ever.
For months on end, step-by-step guides would spring up all over the internet, teaching newly woke whites about that perils of being Black in America and how they could actively help to combat the tools racism and oppression that had been on the necks of millions of people. Over a year ago, the world watched a man be murdered in the streets, for no reason except because he was Black and had the audacity to breathe. To be in the presence of a murderer who wouldn’t have his authority challenged. Especially by a Black man, in front of a gaggle of rookies. And just under a year ago, we began to taper off the protests, redirecting our already short-attention spans and tucking away the trauma and the promises we’d made to be better for one another. Like that one email that slipped into the abyss, so did the collection of anti-racists guides. But we call in promises over here! So here’s a reminder. Another list of action you can take to make good on that promise you made to be better.
- Check the History
American society likes to remember and teach Black history in a way that sanitizes its role in slavery. Textbooks focus almost exclusively on the positive satires about people like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, but wash away the stories John Casor. But for the sake of this guide, let’s lay the foundation for the whole truth. Between 1525 and 1866, 12.5 million black people were kidnapped from Africa and sent to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade. In July of 1860, a one Matilda McCrear, the last known survivor of the transatlantic slave trade, arrived in Mobile, Alabama. Now this may not read awkward at all, given the nature of this article, but do note that her kidnapping, transport and arrival happened almost 50 years after Congressed had outlawed the import of enslaved labor (The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves in 1807).
On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but there was no Instagram or Twitter, so that decree took a whole-ass two-and-a-half years for the news to reach the depths of Texas. With the news of freedom, ex-slaves launched the Great Migration in 1916, fleeing the South for what they thought would be a friendly northern and western United States — only to run into the police, but that’s another article for another day. By the 1970s, 47% of African Americans had fled the south for other pastures and it became apparent to many that much of the same hostility that fed the Southern culture towards Black people remained. Low-paying jobs, redlining, restrictive housing covenants, limited opportunities and blatant discrimination would lead to the spark of the Civil Rights Movement.
I could go on, but we don’t have all day. So let’s do some quick math. Go on and take all you’ve read, add in a bunch of systemic inequality, plenty of anti-black violence, and a gang of police-brutality, divide by 400 years and you’ll find that something just doesn’t add up.
2. Check your privilege and then tell the truth — equality scares you because it means a fair-er shot for the underprivileged
Ask yourself: Do you have a positive relationship with the police? Do you have the favor of most authorities? Did you learn about all the wonderful things historic figures of your race did in school? Do you have to fervently search for dolls and books that represent your race? Do you think about your race all day long?
If you were able to answer yes to the majority of questions above, congratulations, you are privileged! It may be foreign to think that there are entire groups of people who cannot answer “yes” to any of those questions, but that’s why we’re here — to awaken you from the great white slumber. For the un-woke, your ignorance isn’t all your fault. Many white people are unaware and refute the notion of white privilege because they see the world differently — through a white-washed lens. Think about it — if you’ve been conditioned to believe that your race represents all that is innovative, intellectual, hard-working and heroic, it’s fairly easy to presume that your dominate status has been earned rather than bestowed, and that all others should simply “pull themselves up by their bootstraps”. In your case, your privilege is natural and invisible, showing up subconsciously in thoughts, words and deeds.
And then there are the others *sigh* The masses that would have us believe that white privilege doesn’t exist (publicly) but who know good and well that they benefit from said privilege (privately). Anyone who has ever been gaslit (a method of psychological manipulation employed to make a victim question their own sanity, particularly in scenarios where they are mistreated) by a narcissist will tell you that these ducks have the same quack. These are those who are introspective enough to know that to admit privilege would mean that they might just have to do something about the equality it sustains, and so goes the glory.
3. Check the Definition of Racism and then drop that Reverse-Racism Thing
Can Black people be prejudice? Yes? Can they be racist? Nah. The 2014 movie “Dear White People” argued that “Racism describes a system of disadvantage based on race. Black people can’t be racists since we don’t stand to benefit from such a system.” A couple quick definitions — To be prejudice is to hold onto preconceived opinions that are not based on reason or actual experience. To be racist is when the power elite of one group has the power to carry out systematic discrimination through the institutional policies and practices of the society while shaping the cultural beliefs and values that support those racist policies and practices.
So you see, reverse-racism, it’s impossible, given that all true systematic power is held in the hands of one group with the power and the tendency to oppress another. Racism requires prejudice plus power. Sadly, one of those things has lacked in its entirity for over 400 years from the Black well.
4. Get Away from you Racist Friends & Family for a While… Go Travel
Prejudice is learned. And it makes sense that it would be given the very definition of prejudice tells us that the opinions are not based in reason or actual experience. It had to have come from somewhere, and we can bet that it was picked up along the way. At the dinner table, the church,
Any creative who needs to receive the gift of original thought does it by tapping into the senses without having to carry the burden of entertaining outside energy, and in this case, opinions. We are all products of our environment, that we cannot help. What we can help is staying products of toxic environments that had not the sense to know they were toxic.
If you know you have been shaped and formed in the image of racist family members and friends, check out for a while. Spend time with those who have different experiences, and therefore see through a difference lens. Travel to and spend time in places where your American privilege is stripped away and you have to find yourself in their world — the odd man out. It’s a guarantee that you will come back different. With a new understanding of how America has shielded you from the truth that this country was created with you at the center of its mind eye, always seeking to protect your well-being, even at the expense of Black and brown bodies. Everyone isn’t as lucky.
5. Read, Watch & Listen
Put on another set of lenses. There’s a quick trick that was taught by an entertainment executive that was not only easy to pull off, but brilliant in its simplicity. Every morning, while he went about the task of working out, readying himself for work and commuting, he would listen to conservative radio. On the way home and for the remainder of the evening, he would tune into liberal news stations.
A liberal on paper, his goal here was to seek understanding, undertaking this powerful intellectual challenge of arguing with his own opinions. His goal was balance. He knew what he believed, but he wanted to understand and the challenge the why. In your journey to be an anti-racist ally, read, watch and listen to people and opinions that differ from your own. If you watch Fox News or OAN, steal away for an hour and head over to CNN or MSNBC.
6. Hang Out with some Black People
It’s hard to hate Black people when you’ve gotten to know some Black people. And Black people are some of the coolest, most rhythm having, most hospitable, most will pray for you and fix you a to-go plate folks on Earth! It’s all about getting out of your comfort zone and opening up to something you’ve never had the opportunity to know personally. But I’ll just leave this here, because I’m not sure I could’ve said it better myself.
Remember, you promised! Now go be better.
Find me on Instagram and Twitter @BlkGyrlFly
You can also follow my work online at www.marlissacollier.com
