1. See Race
Make sure that you see race. Racism is baked into the soil of our nation. If you don’t see race, you fail to see the completeness of my experience as a human
2. Be an ally
I’m not a mom but I can support my mom friends while also recognizing that I’ll never know what it’s like to experience their unique challenges.
3. Empathize without co-opting
Don’t rush to liken your experience to ours. Yes, we’ve all had struggles but don’t take over the conversation in an attempt to empathize or relate.
4. Consume content that wasn’t made specifically for you
I’ve been doing this for decades. You’ll be fine. It does’t even have to all be deep. Just seeing black people being families or in love or struggling or succeeding will shift your perspective.
5. Be intentional about creating a system of checks and balances
Human nature is to tackle a problem and move on, but racism is systemic. You’ll need to put data in place to support your desire to create a new system. For example, commit to pending 30% of your dollars with black owned businesses and track your progress.
6. Be fearless with the people in your life
You’re going to lose some friends and relatives. Sorry.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Note from the Campowerment Crew: If only the world could take cues from Bunk 14 of Campowerment Nov 2020…
Join this community in anti-racist programming to catalyze your growth as a citizen and an ally.
And for Anti-Racist Resources for Self-Education & Action, spend time in (and contribute to) this collaborative document.