Hi MOGAI community. Let's talk about racism.
I'm racist. You're racist. Everyone is racist. Don't panic. We can work through this. Take a moment to sit with that. How does that feel, to be told that you are racist? Think about it for a moment. Try to look back and remember something you have said or done that was racist, intentionally or unintentionally, knowingly or unknowingly.
Can't think of anything? You've never done anything racist and you never will do anything racist? There, that's your racist action, that you claimed that you have never and will never do anything racist. I'm not calling you evil. I'm not calling you a bad person. Don't start apologizing, don't start panicking. Take a moment and sit with that.
We are all products of deeply racist societies. No matter where you live, no matter your own race and ethnicity, no matter your own personal experiences, you have been, continue to be, and always will be shaped by constant and inescapeable racism around you. Racism has been taught to you while you were growing up, racism was reinforced to you in your classes, racism surrounds you in your workplace. Racism is at home in your home.
Recognizing this and accepting this is one of the most important steps that you can take towards anti-racism.
The word 'racist' does not describe a type of person. The word 'racist' describes an action or idea. If we begin to think of racists as some other kind of person, then we separate them from ourselves. When we separate them from ourselves, we deny our own capacity and willingness to be racist. When we deny our own capacity and willingness to be racist, we ignore it when people point out our own racism to us. We become more focused on the idea of, "I can't be racist, I've helped with all of these racial justice initiatives!", than on the idea of addressing racism in and around us. We become more focused on maintaining our own self-image as someone who isn't racist than on working towards anti-racist action.
A person who cannot consider that they may have done or may be doing something racist is not someone that people of colour are safe discussing racism around. A community where accusations of racism are considered more offensive than racism itself is a community that prioritizes the white status quo over the safety and wellbeing of people of colour.
I have done racist things. I will do racist things again. You have done racist things. You will do racist things again. Sit with this. Accept it. Only once you no longer panic at the idea of being racist can you take meaningful anti-racist action. Only once you no longer prioritize your own guilt and shame about performing racism can you begin to prioritize anti-racism.
If you want to know more about the subject, then I can highly recommend White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. I still have yet to read through the entire book, but I have here a link to the introduction and first chapter of it. It's short, only 14 pages, but wonderfully written and it explains a lot, and while I'm not an expert on the subject of anti-racism I would consider it essential reading for anyone who wishes to dip their toes into the topic for the first time. https://mega.nz/file/uCYSHagT#fVcJ7U_9qX_gtKZiY_-YHMfUzxt0OwOGaKPXeCZrYtI
edit: while we have not read it ourselfves, we've been recommended White Rage by Carol Anderson as another good resource on the topic
Some tags for reach. @io-archival @rwuffles @daybreakthing @rabidbatboy @whimes
