It should have become abundantly clear by now that being ‘non-racist’ is not enough. It has never been enough. What we need to do right now, and forever moving forward, is to be actively anti-racist.
The emotional labour placed upon Black people to educate white people is overwhelming. We have relied for far too long on our Black friends to educate us about racial issues. Whiteness is not the ‘norm’ and yet that is how white people treat it. For years we have shared stories and history and created the label ‘Black history’. Because by default, whether you mean it or not, the term ‘history’ alone generally refers to the history of white people. (It was written from the perspective of white colonisers.) The same is true for so many other things that we racialise.
Before you jump in and start saying that ‘all lives matter’ and that you are not racist (in the same sentence) research, watch, read. Statements like this just show that you have not yet come to terms with white privilege and that somehow you feel threatened because you are not the centre of attention. If you feel uneasy about terms like Black Lives Matter then I encourage to really think about why an anti racist statement sits so uncomfortably with you.
Below are some resources pulled together by a friend of mine, with some that I have added in. I ask that you read and be open minded to views other than your own, to listen and to learn.
Documentaries / TV shows / films
13th (Netflix)
When they see us (Netflix)
American Son (Netflix)
Fruitvale Station (Netflix)
Just Mercy (Amazon Prime)
The house I live in (Amazon Prime)
Books
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
White fragility: why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism by Robin Diangelo
We need to talk about race: understanding the black experience in white majority churches by Ben Lindsay
Think like a white man: conquering the world…….while black by Dr Boulé Whytelaw III and Nels Abbey
Black and British: a forgotten history by David Olusoga
The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla
The New Jim Crow: mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atfVUgyEIOI – Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire (also available as a podcast “Unfiltered with James O’Brien” look for the Akala episode)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzLT54QjclA&t=3s – Why “I’m not racist” is only half the story by Robin DiAngelo | Big Think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwIx3KQer54 – Deconstructing white privilege by Robin DiAngelo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuZbbMOH0Qo – Feelings on racism in Britain – Is Britain Racist?
Podcasts
1619 by the New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/podcasts/1619-podcast.html
Code Switch – https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/?t=1591194504357
The Echo Chamber – https://open.spotify.com/show/61NN9bklzhHZs5YvR0jyoT?si=2JQgrvKDQLW18tvaBe-DmQ
Black Gals Livin – https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/black-gals-livin/id1437752047
Say Your Mind – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/say-your-mind/id1324118843
About Race by Reni Eddo – Lodge – https://www.aboutracepodcast.com/
Reports and publications
https://www.runnymedetrust.org/projects-and-publications.html – the Runnymede trust is an independent race equality think tank who have several publications on racial inequality in the UK.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/594336/race-in-workplace-mcgregor-smith-review.pdf – an Independent review by Baroness McGregor-Smith considering the issues affecting black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in the workplace.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643001/lammy-review-final-report.pdf – an independent review commissioned by David Lammy MP into the treatment of, and outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system.
Articles
IS “WHITE PRIVILEGE” A USEFUL CONCEPT IN THE CURRENT UK CONTEXT? https://www.rota.org.uk/content/%E2%80%9Cwhite-privilege%E2%80%9D-useful-concept-current-uk-context
White privilege: a primer
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/politics/article/what-is-white-privilege
10 Habits of Someone Who Doesn’t Know They’re Anti-Black https://www.welcometostratagem.com/post/10-habits-of-someone-who-doesn-t-know-they-re-anti-black
Race for Justice
https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/race-justice
UK Charities
Runnymede – https://www.runnymedetrust.org/
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust – https://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/
Stand Against racism and inequality (SARI) – https://www.sariweb.org.uk/
UK Black Pride – https://www.ukblackpride.org.uk/mission-statements
Race Equality First – http://raceequalityfirst.org/
Black Minds Matter – http://blackmindsmatter.co.uk/
Stand up to Racism – https://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/
Take Action
Educate yourself – If you have access to the internet then you have access to an abundance of resources, ignorance is no excuse.
Write to your MP – Express your concern and ask them to take positive actions.
Write to your Police and Crime Commissioner – asking them what is being done about black deaths in custody, prison and how Black communities are being engaged with.
Speak up – Raise awareness and amplify the voices of Black people.
Listen – Listen to Black communities. Signpost The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network if you feel it may be useful.
Be aware – Do not encourage more Black emotional labour. They have been campaigning for years and they are tired. Do your own work.
Donate – Donate to the charities listed or research other charities that need support.
Be responsible for your actions – in-action is action.
If you have more resources to add please contact me.
Diary of a 'Mad' girl 