Anti-Racist Tools
“Being an ally is a verb, not a noun.”
-Kesiena Boom
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen more and more people who were looking for resources on how to educate themselves to become better allies for Black communities, unlearn the implicit and explicit biases they were raised with, and understand more about the systems of oppression we live in.
I’ve helped to compile resources for those people looking to grow. In being effective allies for Black communities in America, non-Black people have a responsibility to become more well-versed in topics of race by educating ourselves. For too long have many white people like myself been—at best—complacent and inactive when it comes to Black solidarity, so this living document has been created to give people the tools they need to become better allies.
The resources below are largely for non-Black people who will be joining me in untangling and unpacking the complex, intricate, and nuanced racial issues in America. It’s important to note that these tools are merely a starting point; everyone is encouraged to do their own further research, educate others in their lives, and implement the lessons you learn from here into your daily life.
To navigate this document, I’d recommend using the Outline tool on the left panel to go to different resource sections. After the resources—many of which were compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein, I’ve included some introductory topics and discussion that were drafted and written by members of the San Francisco Ballet Company, namely Myles Thatcher. Some of the links to donate money, buy from Black owners, and sign petitions were compiled by Jessica Walsh. Zarin Rahman also helped compile Minneapolis-specific links, among some other links.
Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to this document. It is by no means exhaustive, and it will be added to. You can share this document with whomever. I hope it gets used widely and thoroughly, and please reach out to me, Wyatt Robertson (@wyattandthewhale on Instagram if you don’t know me personally) with any questions.
Resources
***Means they may be good starter books
An African American and LatinX History of the United States by Paul Ortiz
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Rozanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Blindspot by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga
***This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudine Rankine
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob
Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
***How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
***Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out by Ruth King
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs
Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
***So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele
***White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
“White Americans don’t feel comfortable being raced because we are taught that race is something other people have.”
Organizations
Support BAIL FUNDS - If you’re looking to help individuals who may have been arrested during these protests, consider donating to a bail fund. The National Bail Fund Network has a great database, but I also wanted to link to this living google sheet that has been compiled specifically for the recent protests. And I’ll list a few more options below.
Recognize and remember individuals killed as a product of racism in America. This in no way is a complete list, but I wanted to start linking to support pages for the families of (and causes sparked by) Black persons murdered in America specifically because of racism and police brutality.
Call your local government
Here is a line directed to connect you to the government pertaining to the arrest of George Floyd’s killers. 612-324-4499
Alternatively, sign up for updates on flipping the Senate in 2020
And as always, don’t forget to register to vote!
Sign Petitions
Attend Protests
White People: Create a Physical Barrier
Shop Black
Shop Black Artists/Designers (non-exhaustive)
So you have privilege
What do we even do with that?
By Myles Thatcher and Members of the San Francisco Ballet Company
We can’t talk about Black allyship without talking about white/white-passing privilege. You see, oppression cannot not exist without privilege. In fact it needs privilege to function. They work in tandem. They are symbiotic. So if we are here to recognize and dismantle oppression, we also have to recognize and dismantle privilege.
And here’s the thing about racial privilege - if you experience it, it’s nearly invisible. You can walk through life without even knowing you have it. So knowledge of this privilege can be a shock to some people when they first discover it - they may take it as a personal affront, an accusation of wrongdoing. But remember, this isn’t really about you, or how good or bad of a person you are. This is about the color of your skin and how that defines your experience of our society’s structure. Just as one can be born into a position of oppression, another can also be born into a position of privilege. Neither person has a choice of the skin they are born into. But one DOES have a choice of what to do with that privilege when discovered.
Which brings me to the question -
What do we do with our white/white-passing privilege* and how can we be better allies?
*I also just want to point out there are many ways one can be privileged in today’s society, but for this conversation we are talking about racial privilege as it pertains to the Black experience. America is a mosaic of different ethnicities, but still a white dominant country. So when I discuss privilege, I want to focus on white and white-passing privilege, although I understand that this is a binary way of thinking and that many of us have very valid and complicated experiences with racial privileges and oppression in myriad ways. But I don’t want to get off the topic at hand, so work with me here and let’s go along for the ride!
Acknowledge that white privilege exists, even if it feels uncomfortable to you.
If you’re white, it’s important to understand that no experience in your life has been untouched by your whiteness. To deny this fact would state that whiteness is the default, which is exactly what we are fighting against, after all. Understand the privileges you come across everyday and start recognizing these structural mechanisms that lift you up, but in turn, keep black folx oppressed.
Identify racism in its many forms. Understand that racism isn’t only defined by racial slurs or hate groups. Learn to recognize racism at its many different levels. It can be systemic, structural, individualistic, covert, and implicit - and the list doesn’t stop there. In order to combat them, we need to understand them. Just because you can’t see racism doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. And keep in mind, our society has ways of coding implicit racism deep within us - don't be afraid to face these head on.
Speak up about the power structure we were raised in. Now that you’ve done the work to recognize and understand white privilege, start taking action to put your privilege to work! Be actively anti-racist. Call out racism and microaggressions that you see in white-centered spaces. Challenge your workplace to make more inclusive spaces for Black coworkers. Challenge other non-Black people to think critically about all sorts of racism - This can be uncomfortable but remember to be uncompromising. Sometimes it just takes a spark to get people to think more openly.
Combat the concept of “white fragility.”
Learn that the heart of this conversation shouldn’t be centered around whiteness. There will be moments of learning for us allies, for we often have lots of things to both learn and unlearn. Don’t let moments of your discomfort surrounding the conversation of race dictate the ways people can communicate with you. Often black folx feel they have to tone down their experiences with racism to make white people feel comfortable. Put your feelings aside to allow space for Black people to honestly express their unedited experiences.
Do your homework! Don’t rely on Black communities or individuals to educate you. Take the initiative to teach yourself about the racism they face daily. After educating ourselves as much as possible, ask questions and truly listen to black experiences in order to try our best to understand and empathize with their viewpoint. I think a lot of us may be afraid we will say something wrong or make mistakes, and know that that is okay. Don’t let fear get in the way of being vocal.
Listen to and amplify Black voices - don’t speak for them. Take it upon yourself to amplify and advocate for Black voices and then pass the mic. Remember that these conversations can bring up a lot of feelings in us - including grappling with our own privileges and feelings of guilt - but ultimately we should honor that these conversations are about the feelings and experiences of the people we are speaking to. And a friendly remember - this usually isn’t the time to play “devil’s advocate.” When in doubt, listen.
Acknowledge the specificity of the Black experience in America. Lots of us are part of minority groups and have dealt with oppression. But it’s important to keep in mind the nuances and differences of racism towards Black communities and its history in the U.S. Try to avoid comparing other oppressions unless it is directly relevant to the topic at hand, as it’s important to admit that non-Black folx can not truly know the lived black experience. Keep in mind that this conversation shouldn’t be a competition in order to determine who is the worst off or the most oppressed. This is about the Black experience and we need to honor that.
Understand intersectionality. Different social causes often intersect in meaningful ways, and it is important to note that no progressive movement exists in a vacuum. For example, the first brick thrown at the Stonewall Riots (riots that sparked the gay liberation movement) was thrown by a black trans woman! But sometimes, advocates forget about minorities within their own cause See: white feminism. Take note of exclusionary initiatives like this. After all, not all women can be equal without Black women also being equal. It’s necessary for social justice causes to work together to uplift each other.
Know that your silence is very much a statement. Claiming to not “know enough about race” to talk about it is simply an effect of being white in a white-focused society. This positioning might seem to be innocent and benign, but in reality white silence protects white dominance. Lack of action against white supremacy also facilitates white supremacy. Your Black friends notice when you don’t step up for them, and your silence is deafening. To learn more about this, check out this beautiful article by Robin DiAngelo who perfectly sums up this point listed earlier in this document. Take a look! Nothing to Add: A Challenge to White Silence in Racial Discussion.
Call to Action!
Reposting is great, but how else can we help?
In times like these, I always see a brief wave of people sharing and resharing posts built to dismantle racism in America. Inevitably, after a few days, people go back to their normal business of exclusive selfies and brunch content. Although it’s important to show support in moments of publicized tension, it’s even more important to be vocal when the media forgets about the lives lost. Be aggressive and uncompromising in those moments - and keep the conversation going after the” trend” subsides.
Before I get started with the many ways you can support the cause, I did want to mention a few things to keep in mind while posting/reposting content on social media platforms. Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself before pressing that “send” button:
Is this post just about “virtue signaling?” Am I posting this for the greater good, or just to look good?
Does posting this make me feel like I’m off the hook for further meaningful action? Try and think of ways you can work in tandem with the things you post to further your self awareness, engage other non-Black people, and dismantle racist structures. Read down below for more ideas!
Is this post sensationalising imagery of violence towards the Black community? Seeing repeated videos of people within their own community being murdered can continue the pain and suffering of the Black community. Consider if there are alternative ways to post that celebrate the lives of Black people, rather than their deaths.
Whose voice am I centering? Try to amplify the voices of Black leaders and the Black community, instead of your own.
How new am I to this conversation? Make sure you have a proper understanding of the content you post as well as its background and validity. Try to avoid posting reactively without doing your homework on the topic at hand.
Am I just doing this because it’s trendy? Try and hold yourself accountable to continue the conversation, even when the momentum dies in the media. Don’t allow your support to feel like a novelty. Try following accounts on social media you trust that will keep you active and engaged!