“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”
- Angela Davis, feminist activist and academic
As Angela Davis explains, we should all work towards being anti-racist rather than simply claiming that we’re “not racist”. While many well-meaning people believe that they’re ‘not racist’, this isn’t enough, as being a bystander and not doing anything about racism simply allows for its continued existence.
As we discussed in our article defining racism, racism is a complex, systemic, and multi-faceted problem. It isn’t something that can be dismantled quickly but will require sustained individual and collective action over generations to come.
Thanks to the hard work of anti-racist activists, communities, and groups over time, change is happening. But it’s important for all of us to continue putting in the work to make the big social, political, and cultural changes necessary to truly end racism. And this work begins with learning how to become anti-racist.
Being an anti-racist means confronting racism and actively fighting it in your day-to-day life. Especially if you’re a white person, it means taking a long hard look at the privilege that you benefit from and thinking about ways to distribute that privilege more equally.
Anti-racist activist, historian, and professor Ibram X Kendi argues that there is no such thing as being ‘neutral’ or ‘not racist’, as that is merely a mask for being racist. For Kendi, everyone is either racist or anti-racist:
“One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist. There is no in-between safe space of ‘not racist.’ The claim of ‘not racist’ neutrality is a mask for racism.”
- Ibram X Kendi, in How to be an Anti-Racist
This might be a little confusing, so let’s take a look at an example:
Imagine a scenario where a person is constantly being bullied at school because of their cultural background, and the bully’s friend always just stands there and says nothing. Later, the bully’s friend claims that they are ‘not racist’, because they never said anything racist out loud. But if they are continually witnessing racial discrimination and never intervene, they are allowing it to keep happening. This means the bully isn’t putting in the work to be anti-racist, so is also engaging in racist behaviour.
What steps can we take to be anti-racist?
- Reflection
Think about your positionality, privilege, and any past behaviours and actions that may have been influenced by racist thoughts and systems. Taking the time to reflect can help us move forward and work towards being actively anti-racist.
- Education
Read up on books, listen to podcasts, watch movies and documentaries… there is so much to learn when it comes to anti-racist education! Check out our resource list below for some recommendations.
- Unlearning
Perhaps equally important to learning is unlearning. Unfortunately, we live in a world where racist ideas and systems are deeply ingrained from a young age. To become anti-racist, we must also unlearn the racist ideas we’ve been brought up with.
- Speaking up
If you witness racism, speak up and intervene if it’s safe to do so. Don’t be a bystander, and remember that letting racist behaviour go unchecked is just as bad as being the perpetrator of that behaviour. Being anti-racist means consistently speaking up and challenging racism.
- Support
There are many ways to offer your support, and in doing so take anti-racist action. You can support people who experience racism by lending them a helping hand and listening to their needs. You can support anti-racist organisations by donating or volunteering. You can also support businesses, organisations, and initiatives led by First Nations people and People of Colour.
- Solidarity
Build networks of solidarity by getting involved with people and organisations working towards racial justice. Attend protests about racial justice like the Invasion Day rallies, as well as workshops, conferences, and other events. Solidarity looks like showing up and stand alongside those working hard to end racism.
Striving towards allyship
Being an anti-racist ally to First Nations folk and People of Colour is an ongoing journey. Simply saying you’re an anti-racist without putting in the work means nothing. It might actually hurt some people if you call yourself an anti-racist and then go on to engage in behaviours that they consider to be racist. This is why rather than just calling ourselves ‘anti-racists’, the best thing we can do is strive towards anti-racist allyship.
Remember that our actions speak louder than our words, and being a true anti-racist is all about continued self-reflection, education, and action. Anti-racist action is all about the choices we make in everyday life. This is super important because if we fail to make anti-racist choices we unconsciously uphold aspects of white supremacy, white-dominant culture, and unequal power relations.
Further resources
Want to learn more? Here are some further anti-racism resources to get you started:
Read
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
What White People Can Do Next by Emma Dabiri
Talkin’ Up to the White Woman by Aileen Moreton-Brown
How to Lose Friends and Influence White People by Antoinette Lattouf
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
Listen
Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
Tiddas 4 Tiddas hosted by Marlee Silva
Watch
