Showing posts with label Race. Show all posts

Loan forgiveness is having a moment, and while I think the most recent move is a positive step it does not address the root of the problem and is the equivalent of putting a bandaid on a severed limb. Debt, primarily student debt, is a leading cause of the racial wealth gap and if we want to see real change we have to address the root - reattach the limb if we want to stick with my metaphor.

In order to understand the solution, we have to really understand how we got here. Today we're going to talk about how college got so freaking expensive in America? Some facts:

How we compare

Americans spend 2x the amount on college tuition compared other developed countries. BUT a third of these countries cover the cost of college for students (aka keep it free for students), while one third keep the cost at or below $2,400 for students. Meaning, it doesn't have to be this bad!!

How colleges are funded

America has three types of colleges that are funded in different ways:

1. Public (i.e. state universities): 3/4 of students attend public universities. They are funded by a mix of state and local funding, tuition dollars paid by students, and federal aid. 

2. Private non-profit: Rely on endowment funds and student paid tuition for funding (not state/local funding). 

3. For-profit colleges: We don't have time for this but these are the Strayers and DeVrys of the world.


How did college tuition go up so fast?

Tuition costs have increased three-fold in the last 30 years - aka it wasn't always this bad. Over the past 30 years, faced with rising healthcare costs and requirements to balance budgets, states and local governments have been redirecting funds from education to other areas- aka defunding education (yes, when lawmakers were out here acting brand new to the idea of defunding the police they'd been doing for literal decades with education). 

As their main funding source dropped, public universities did two things:

  1. Shifted costs to the students (i.e. increased tuition)
  2. Targeted out-of-state and international students who paid full tuition. 

In order to attract the wealthiest out-of-state and international students the colleges needed either 1) high rankings or 2) to pull some stunts. Both are extremely costly, let's break it down:

Rankings are helped by some costly factors:

  1. Low student:faculty ratios (very little research supports benefits of small college class sizes and this requirement is unique to American colleges) which means to be competitive colleges need more faculty members. 
  2. High amount of faculty-published research which means faculty need to focus more time on research so even more faculty are required to support the above requirement. And colleges pay a higher dollar for the all-star researchers.
  3. "Campus life" like extracurriculars and support for students which creates a whole other set of non-academic costs like directors, program managers, deans, and service providers.
Pulling stunts are costly too - these are things like national ranking sports teams (think all-star coaching staff, player facilities to attract the best athletes) and campus amenities (state of the art dining halls, fancy dorms). 

Each year as more colleges get more competitive, the ante gets upped and it gets a little costlier to keep up, adding expenses that are not covered by a system that continues defunding the colleges, and so the cost is transferred to the students.

Defunding education is uniquely American, as is entrepreneurializing (I made that word up) education, and hence we have the most expensive secondary education in the world.

The impact of rising tuition costs on the racial wealth gap

1. Lack of generational wealth and/or lack of liquid resources = Black households take out more student loans = Black households carry more student debt = Black households have lower credit = a whole host of issues contributing to the wealth gap (ex: challenges/inability to purchase a home - Black college grads are less likely to own a home than white high school dropouts). 

2. 60% of Black college students do not graduate, and while there are a host of factors that contribute to this, when researchers correct for students receiving financial support the Black graduation rate matches the white graduation rate. But again, lack of generational wealth and lack of liquidity and other systemic issues make it so Black families are less likely to be able to provide financial support at the same level as white families.

3. The majority of high achieving, low income students (in the top 4% of students) opt not to apply to highly selective colleges due to costs. This unfortunately often puts them into more debt than if they had gone to financial-aid heavy selective colleges, but this guidance is rarely available to low income students.

4. A $1,000 increase in undergrad tuition is associated with a 6% drop in campus diversity.

5. The cost of college deters many low income students from even applying to college.


College Tuition Part 1: why college is so freaking expensive

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

ICYMI the residents of Mississippi's capital city are currently without safe drinking water or the water pressure to take a shower or flush a toilet or fight a fire. Can we just take a minute to reflect on the severity of this situation? When is the last time you were somewhere without water for plumbing? Without access to water, aka the most basic human need? 

Jackson's schools have had to shut down and returned to virtual (reminder: this course of action is modern day school segregation and excludes poor students), restaurants and workplaces have had to shut down (loss of hourly wages = devastating impact on hourly workers who are disproportionately Black and Brown), only people who have resources to find and travel are able to obtain bottled water (poor people are less likely to have internet to search for locations, less likely to have access to reliable transportation, and due to hourly wages or health issues less likely to be able to wait in long lines to obtain water). 

There are a lot of important factors at play here that are important to understand. First, some details about Jackson, MS:
  • Population: 150,000
  • Black population: 83% of Jackson's residents are Black, making it the Blackest state in America only behind Washington, D.C. who can't get statehood because America loves to disenfranchise Black folks

The Timeline

This covers topics we have discussed in the past: school integration, state elections, and the dirty word "defunding" that we all like to lose our sh*t about when people associate with the police.

1969: We all know about Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, but lesser known is the 1969 decision Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education in which the Supreme Court told Mississippi their timeline for integrating schools was unconstitutional and they needed to integrate yesterday. This decision kicked off a decades long white flight from Jackson to whiter towns/suburbs. 

1969 - 2000: Jackson's overall population continued to decline, experiencing its sharpest drops from 1990 - on. The city was 56% Black in 1990, but by 2020, more than 80% of the city's residents were Black. I will let you draw your own conclusion about how the 70% white Republican controlled state congress thinks about resourcing their capital city when it is to their advantage to claim Black and Democratic mismanagement.  If the last few years have illuminated anything for us, it's to follow the money (aka political donations), so as wealthy white constituents left Jackson, politicians diverted funding from its own capital city to whiter, wealthier locations and causes.

The population drop also led to this equation for Jackson:
Population loss = tax revenue decrease = continued infrastructure decline = people who can afford to leave move out for places with better infrastructure = low income residents are the only ones left = the cost falls mostly on low income residents 

2020: Jackson's water infrastructure failed EPA inspections, and state legislature granted only a small fraction (6%) of the funding requested by Jackson's mayor to fix the problem. Please note, while infrastructure was being defunded, the state found plenty of funding to dedicate to abortion bans and critical race theory (🥴).

2022 (30 days ago): Jackson issues a boil advisory due to concerns about parasites, viruses, and bacteria in the drinking water. State legislators do...nothing.

Monday: A flood takes out Jackson's water infrastructure, leaving schools and businesses closed and residents without drinking water or running water. 

Common Themes

There are a lot of themes we have learned about that we see in racist situations.

  1. Importance of local elections: We need to pay attention to both our city and state wide elections. People voted in these state legislators who diverted funding for their own water infrastructure. 
  2. Systematic Disenfranchisement: As we see from the timeline, the state government has put in place systems to withhold funding from communities of color to keep them down. Also let's look at how the government has systematically kept education from Jackson students for years at this point.
  3. It's not just the south: Before you get too comfortable because Mississippi is like THE Deep South, please note that things like this are happening in every state, your city could be next.
  4. Environmental racism: City planning and infrastructure like this is a key example/

#WakeUpWednesday: The Jackson, Mississippi water crisis is rooted in racism

Tuesday, September 6, 2022


I get a lot of questions about podcasts on race so wanted to share this list of some that are in my regular rotation that have taught me something - whether it's lessons on history, culture society, or generally how race affects our day to day. I put on podcasts when I'm walking the dogs, cooking, cleaning, in transit- I love a good podcast. 

*Friendly reminder that white allies need to continue our learning journey even though it's no longer a trending hashtag.*

Code Switch: Each week the hosts discuss a race topic that impacts society. I love how they bring in different viewpoints and do an amazing job breaking down complex topics. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Who's Black Enough for Reparations? 

Still Processing: This New York Times culture podcast dives into all things culture. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Lil Nas X Isn't Sorry or 'Before I Let Go'

Throughline: This podcast explores the history behind major news headlines. Not always about race but often is. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: The Land of the Free or The Invention of Race

Natal: This docuseries style podcast investigates the high mortality rate among Black mothers through stories of parents, frontline workers, researchers, and advocates. Listen in order.
Gateway episode: One - Myeshia's Story

Floodlines: This 10 episode series tells the story of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most misunderstood events of our time, that *surprise* disproportionately impacted poor Black folks. Listen in order.
Gateway episode: Antediluvian 

Come Through with Rebecca Carroll: Author and podcaster Rebecca Carroll takes us through 15 essential cultural conversations via interviews with authors, artists, politicians, activists, and critics. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Gabrielle Union is Raising Black Daughters and Learning as She Goes (I cried 3 times in this episode)

United States of Anxiety: A look at how society's choices today tie to our history. Lots of interesting topics to get into with this one. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Why Cops Don't Change

Reveal: This Peabody award winning podcast takes deep dives into current events. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Monumental Lies

Truer Crime: This true crime podcast tells true crime stories but also digs into the surrounding context of society, the laws, the history, and how our beliefs shape our perceptions of the cases. 
Gateway episode: Relisha Rudd (this is the most compassionate and informational take on the case I have ever heard)

On Our Watch: After a new transparency law unsealed tons of police internal affairs files, NPR and KQED used these to take a deep look into police accountability and discipline. Not specifically about race but important in understanding policing in America (which disproportionately impacts Black and brown communities). Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Perceived Threat

Scene on Radio's "Seeing White" series: This series within the podcast looks into the history of whiteness, how white supremacy came to be, and the roles of sexism and patriarchy in our race structure. Listen in order.
Gateway episode: Seeing White Part 1

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: These 15-20 minute episodes are designed for kids but let's face it, when it comes to women in history we probably need to start at their level since many of these women were conveniently left out of our history classes. Inspiring women tell the stories of inspiring women in history. Listen in any order.
Gateway episode: Madam CJ Walker's Story read by Poorna Jagannathan


Podcasts on Race in America

Monday, July 19, 2021




As we passed Loving Day commemorating the Loving family's Supreme Court victory that nullified anti-miscegenation laws in the US, I wanted to get a deeper understanding of the history behind interracial marriage laws. Like every other US race-related historical event I have taken a deep dive into, this one seriously disappointed in terms of how much I didn't know and just how deeply f*cked up this all is. I think the easiest way to break this down is via a timeline which I outlined below. Buckle in. 


First let's talk about America's general attitude around interracial marriage and how we got to Loving.

1614: The first interracial marriage in the US takes place between John Rolfe and Pocahontas. Leaders encourage intermarrying between Native Americans and the English colonizers in an attempt to "become one", and go as far as to offer tax breaks and cash incentives to white/Native American unions. They are met with some resistance from European colonizers.

1619: The introduction of enslaved people from Africa causes colonizers to double down on views against interracial marriage due to:

  • The colonizers' strongly held belief that Africans are inferior to English
  • Fear that Native Americans and Black slaves would intermarry and create a force against whites.
1661: Virginia leads the way, enacting a law that prohibits interracial marriages, ministers from marrying interracial couples, and imposes severe fines and indentured servitude for any woman and child if a white woman has a mixed race child.
  • Yes this is extremely hypocritical considering that we know many enslaved women birthed mixed children as a result of rapes carried out by white slave owners. It's hard to find data on this since enslaved people were not allowed to read/write, but I did find a stat that said between 1850 - 1860 the "mulatto" slave population increased 67%, while the Black slave population increased by 20%.
  • Rules like this one spurred the "one drop rule" which is a post for another day.
1865 - on: The end of slavery, the Great Migration, and an influx of immigrants heightens racist discourse, orgs like the KKK come into power, Jim Crow starts, hate prevails. We also know from the #30DayEducationChallenge that this was an incredibly violent time where white people did everything possible to hold Black people back.

1883: Pace v. Alabama. U.S. Supreme Court rules that an Alabama anti-miscegenation law is constitutional because it punished Black people and white people equally. 

1888: Supreme Court rules that states have the authority to regulate marriage.

1924: Virginia tightens up their rules around interracial marriage passing the Act to Preserve Racial Integrity that prohibits whites from marrying anyone with "a single drop of Negro blood" and defining white as "someone with only caucasian blood". At this time, 38 other states have laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

1948: Perez v. Sharp. California Supreme Court rules that CA anti-miscegenation laws violate the 14th Amendment. This is the first time since Reconstruction that a state court declared such laws unconstitutional, and makes CA the first state since Ohio in 1887 to overturn its anti-miscegenation law. This leads to the repeal or overturn of similar laws in 14 states by 1967.

1950s: By this point 24 states still have miscenegation laws in place. Most states have extended legislation to prohibit unions between whites and Mongolians, Malayans, Mulattos, and Native Americans.

1954: Brown v. Board of Education integrates schools. 

1965: McLaughlin vs. Florida. The Supreme Court rules invalid Florida's criminal statute that requires more severe penalties for cohabitation and adultery by interracial couples than same race couples. Justice Potter Stewart states:
"It is simply not possible for a state law to be valid under our Constitution which makes the criminality of an act depend upon the race of the actor".


Loving vs. the Commonwealth of Virginia

1958: Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter, childhood sweethearts in Virginia, discover Mildred is pregnant. Mildred is Black and Native Indian, Perry is white, and interracial marriage is illegal in Virginia so the two travel to Washington, D.C. to get married. 

Five weeks later, police officers raid the Lovings' VA home at 2 a.m. in an attempt to find them in bed together (aka to find proof of them violating the law). They inform the Lovings that their marriage certificate is not valid in VA and take the Lovings to jail. Perry is released after a day, a pregnant Mildred is held for a few days. They are charged with unlawful cohabitation and given the option to spend a year in jail or leave Virginia and not return for 25 years. Judge Leon Bazile states:
"Almighty God created the races, white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."

*using religion to justify upholding white supremacy - sounds familiar!*

The Lovings move to D.C. 

1963: The Lovings travel home to VA to visit family and are arrested for traveling together. Mildred writes to the U.S. Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, asking for help. He refers her to the ACLU who agrees to take the Lovings' case. ACLU lawyers  Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop file a motion asking Judge Bazile to vacate the Lovings' sentences, he refuses. 

Cohen and Hirschkop take the case to the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, which also upholds the original ruling.

1967: Following another appeal, the case makes its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The sides look like this:

  • VA's Assistant Attorney General Robert McIlwaine III defends the constitutionality of VA's anit-miscegenation law comparing it to regulations against incest and polygamy. 
  • Cohen and Hirschkop argue VA's statute is illegal under the 14th Amendment which guarantees all citizens due process and equal protection under the law
On June 12, 1967 the Supreme Court announces their ruling. In a unanimous decision the justices find VA's interracial marriage law violates the 14th Amendment to the constitution. This overturns the Lovings' criminal conviction and renders all the remaining anti-miscegenation laws in the country null and void. Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the Court’s decision: 
“Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry or not marry a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed upon by the State.” 


Where are we now on this? 

1994: Rumors that white and Black students planned to attend prom together leads Alabama principal to threaten cancelling the prom. After parent protests, a class boycott, and KKK involvement the principal allowed prom to continue and was promoted to a central office role.

1996: A Georgia Baptist church elects to disenter the body of a mixed race infant who was buried in the church's all-white cemetery and refused to marry the baby's parents - a white woman and a Black man.

1998: South Carolina becomes the second to last state to lift ban on interracial marriage, with 36% of South Carolinians voting to uphold the ban. Note - since Loving v. Commonwealth of Virginia this law was not punishable.

2000: Alabama is the last state to overturn ban on interracial marriage with 40% of Alabamians voting to uphold the law.

2004: Alabama voters reject a measure to overturn a constitutional amendment to erase segregation-era wording requiring separate schools for "white and colored children" and to eliminate references to the poll taxes once imposed to disenfranchise blacks.

2014: Students at a Rochelle, GA high school organize the town's first integrated prom.

2019: Mississippi wedding venue refuses to serve interracial couples on the basis of religious beliefs which is protected under state law.

2021: Seven states still required couples to declare their racial background when applying for a marriage license, without which they cannot marry. The states are Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota (since 1977),[36] New Hampshire, and Alabama.

Sources

Loving v. VA History

Loving vs. the Commonwealth of Virginia - what happened, where are we now?

Monday, June 14, 2021

Reuters


Many of us (myself included) first learned about the Tulsa Race Massacre within the last few years, and as we approach the 100th anniversary it's important to make sure we, and our kids, understand this important part of American history.

What was the Tulsa Race Massacre? 

Black Wall Street 

After WWI as racial tensions soared, Tulsa experienced an economic boom due to oil profits. The city's 10,000 Black citizens lived in the Greenwood neighborhood on land purchased by wealthy Black landowner O.W. Gurley in the late 1800s. Gurley intended for the community to be 'For Black People, By Black People'. Greenwood developed a thriving business district often referred to as Black Wall Street that consisted of all Black owned businesses - movie theaters, luxury hotels, luxury shops, grocery stores, libraries, doctors' and lawyers' offices, salons, barbershops, a school system, post office, and hospital. It was said that in Greenwood every dollar changed hands 19 times before leaving the neighborhood. Greenwood also had its own newspaper that educated its citizens on their rights, legislation updates, and court rulings.

The Massacre

On May 30, 1921 a Black teenager named Dick Rowland entered an office building elevator with a white woman elevator operator. The elevator operator screamed, the police arrived at the scene and arrested Rowland. Rumors of what happened in the elevator spread across Tulsa, and the [white newspaper] Tulsa Tribune falsely reported that Rowland had been arrested for sexual assault in the elevator.

A mob of white vigilantes gathered at the courthouse to demand the police hand over Rowland and attempted to break into the National Guard Armory. A group of 75 armed Black men, many WWI veterans, showed up to protect the teenager and were met by the mob of 1,000 armed white men. The mob included civilians armed/deputized by local authorities and members of the State National Guard (is this starting to sound like another recent event to anyone else?). The white mobs marched to Greenwood and over the next 48 hours destroyed 35 blocks of the neighborhood. The white mobs burned buildings, looted homes and businesses, murdered residents, and planes dropped kerosene bombs into the town. 

The Aftermath

35 blocks of Greenwood were completely burned to the ground - businesses, churches, schools, homes, hospitals. 300 Black residents were dead and 10,000 were left homeless. Bodies were reportedly thrown into the Arkansas River and into mass graves, and hundreds (some reports say thousands) of survivors were rounded up at gunpoint and forced to stay in work camps for weeks until they were vouched for by white citizens. The city prosecuted Black survivors for inciting the massacre.

Insurance claims for homes and businesses burned down were rejected and no one was held accountable for the massacre.

Why Didn't I Hear About This Until Recently?

Authorities went to great lengths to cover up the worst race massacre in US history. Public ceremonies and memorials for the lives lost were forbidden, the Tulsa Tribune removed articles about the massacre from its bound volumes, and the police and state militia archives removed all information about the event. Oklahoma schools did not start teaching about the massacre until 2002, and even 83% of Oklahomans say they never learned about the Tulsa Race Massacre. 

However a recent bill signed into law by Oklahoma's governor that bans "lessons that include the concept that "one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex," that a person's "moral character is inherently determined by his or her race or sex," or that someone should feel discomfort, guilt or distress on account of their race or sex" are reportedly changing the way, or IF, the Tulsa Race Massacre is covered in OK schools as teachers fear lawsuits for leading conversations on the topic.

Why It's Important to Understand the Tulsa Race Massacre

This is an incredibly important part of our history and is just one event that shows how throughout US history when, against all odds, Black people found success it was violently taken from them. It is crucial in understanding how our economic and social structures are where they are today. We also know history repeats itself, and this story has some eerily familiar elements. 

How to Talk to Kids About the Tulsa Race Massacre

As a former educator I understand the difficult line we walk in educating kids about America's violent history. It's important for kids to grow up understanding these concepts to inform their world view, but many teachers are faced with obstacles when trying to teach these events in the classroom. It is imperative that parents/aunts/uncles/churches/communities take an active responsibility in educating our kids. Below are some resources to guide conversations:

Resources to Continue Our Education on the Tulsa Race Massacre

📺Tulsa's Buried Truth on Hulu
📺 PBS documentary Going Back to T-Town 
📖Learn more historic events not taught in school that kept Black people down in White Rage by Carol Anderson.

The Tulsa Race Massacre: why it's important to understand and how to teach it

Monday, May 31, 2021



Pull up a seat at the firepit for a conversation with my friend Amalia aka The Breakup Therapist on Instagram. Amalia is a therapist licensed in Detroit and Pennsylvania who specializes in breakups. In this chat she uses therapists' training on cultural competency to explain the dangers of how we approach culture when we won't name whiteness, and when we approach whiteness as neutral and everything else as "other". 

Around 9:30 we talk about one solution: cultural humility. I love the idea of approaching situations with curiosity and an understanding that we don't know everything, and being honest with ourselves about what we don't know. Remembering that we don't have to know everything is crucial in moving forward.

At 14:00 we get into how to approach finding a therapist with some great resources. I know the process of finding a therapist can be so overwhelming it blocks us from getting the help we need. 

Here are the resources and directories discussed in the video:

  • Amalia's website : https://www.amitydetroitcounseling.com/
  • Amalia's IG https://www.instagram.com/breakup.therapist.detroit/

Directories:

  • Mental Health Match: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/
  • Therapy Den: https://www.therapyden.com/
  • Directory centered around BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ community: https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/


[firepit chats] culture, competency, and humility

Saturday, May 15, 2021

This week has been extremely heavy- sending love to you all. Below are some petitions to sign, places to donate, and resources a few of you have sent me for helping kids process the events of the week. Sending extra extra love to the teachers who are having tough conversations and supporting kids this week <3.

Action Items

Sign the petition and donate to Yes4 Minneapolis - a people's petition to abolish the Minneapolis police.

Sign the change.org petition

Donate to Twin Cities Mutual Aid

Donate to Minnesota Freedom Fund to put $ towards bail funds

Donate to Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence

Donate to Communities United Against Police Brutality


Processing Daunte Wright's Murder and the Derek Chauvin Trial with Kids

Daily News Lesson: Police Killing of Daunte Wright Sparks Protest: PBS video and discussion guide for grades 6 -12.

Processing Police Brutality: Its Impact on Mental Health: a guide for leading classroom and small group discussions

Resources to Support Children During the Derek Chauvin Trial from AMAZEworks: Discussion resources for kids ages 3 - 18.

Tips for Parents During the Derek Chauvin Trial


Processing the week: action items & resources for conversations with kids on the Chauvin trial and Daunte Wright

Thursday, April 15, 2021

We're trying out a new thing around here that I'm calling "Fire Pit Chats". This attempt is to replicate the conversations my friends and I have around my backyard fire pit. Because of my professional background I have had the opportunity to hear different perspectives and learn how to sit in my discomfort and untangle complex social topics. One of the most valuable things to come out of this experience has been the continued conversations about how race impacts every part of our culture and non-white people's daily lived experience. I hope by sharing some of our conversations we can all learn to recognize the effects of race and how we can work to dismantle white supremacy. 

This conversation is especially timely with the events that unfolded this week. Ray has a unique perspective as a Marine Corps veteran, a father, a man who is half Black and half white, and as someone who has lived all over and worked in many industries. He talks through how he got started in his antiracism work, handling the discomfort that came with learning about himself, toxic masculinity, intersectionality (and what it is), where to start with "the work", and how to handle mistakes and apologies.

Check out Ray's YouTube channel that is a full library of resources to get your work started.

You can also find and share these conversations on my IGTV. 



[Fire Pit Chats] "The Work"

Saturday, March 20, 2021


Last week Robin DiAngelo, author of the New York Times best selling White Fragility,  announced the release of a new anti-racism book. I have to admit that while I recognize the importance of listening to Black voices on race topics, my initial thought was "are DiAngelo's books that bad they are encouraging white people to learn?" Enter Austin Channing Brown. We regularly discuss Channing Brown's work in my church circles and she provides an important perspective on religion and social justice, and last week she posted an interview with fellow antiracist educator Rachel Ricketts discussing WHY purchasing DiAngelo's (or any white anitracist educator for that matter) is problematic. I learned so much listening to this - if you are a white ally please make time to listen to the discussion ASAP.  

One of the biggest points they make is that DiAngelo and other white antiracist educators profit off of information they learned from Black educators, and that everything discussed in DiAngelo's books have already been taught by Black authors. Following this education, I polled the IG community for antiracist books from Black authors. Here is the crowdsourced list of books - I'll keep it as a living list so please feel free to message me with more suggestions.


Resources (videos, articles, courses):

Rachel Ricketts' Racial Justice Resources (articles broken down by topic and level)

Emmanuel Acho: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man (video series)


Books

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

An illuminating look at how white, middle-class, Evangelicalism has participated in an era of rising racial hostility, inviting the reader to confront apathy, recognize God's ongoing work in the world, and discover how blackness--if we let it--can save us all. 

Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy by Rachel Ricketts

A revolutionary offering that addresses anti-racism from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spiritually-aligned perspective. This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices 

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad (good for entry level)

Structured as a 28-day guide targeted at white readers, the book aims to aid readers in identifying the impact of white privilege and white supremacy over their lives.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

This book explores the complex reality of today's racial landscape--from white privilege and police brutality to systemic discrimination and the Black Lives Matter movement--offering straightforward clarity that readers need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide 

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.

Examining everything from eradicated black history to the political purpose of white dominance, from whitewashed feminism to the inextricable link between class and race, Eddo-Lodge offers a timely and essential new framework for how to see, acknowledge, and counter racism.

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum

Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about enabling communication across racial and ethnic divides.

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper

So what if it’s true that Black women are mad as hell? They have the right to be. In the Black feminist tradition of Audre Lorde, Brittney Cooper reminds us that anger is a powerful source of energy that can give us the strength to keep on fighting.

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

In her searing collection of essays, Mikki Kendall takes aim at the legitimacy of the modern feminist movement, arguing that it has chronically failed to address the needs of all but a few women. Drawing on her own experiences with hunger, violence, and hypersexualization, along with incisive commentary on politics, pop culture, the stigma of mental health, and more, Hood Feminism delivers an irrefutable indictment of a movement in flux.

Nobody: Casualties of America's War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond by Mark Lamont Hill

Hill digs underneath events to uncover patterns and policies of authority that allow some citizens become disempowered, disenfranchised, poor, uneducated, exploited, vulnerable, and disposable. To help us understand the plight of vulnerable communities, he examines the effects of unfettered capitalism, mass incarceration, and political power while urging us to consider a new world in which everyone has a chance to become somebody.

White Rage by Carol Anderson 

Anderson pulls back the veil that has long covered actions made in the name of protecting democracy, fiscal responsibility, or protection against fraud, rendering visible the long lineage of white rage.

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

The National Book Award winning history of how racist ideas were created, spread, and deeply rooted in American society.

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

This book points to our entire social structure as an unrecognized caste system. 

Black antiracist educators to support instead of Robin DiAngelo's new book

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

 We're trying out a new thing around here that I'm calling "Fire Pit Chats" because the attempt is to replicate the conversations my friends and I have around my backyard fire pit. Because of my professional background I have had the opportunity to hear different perspectives and learn how to sit in my discomfort and untangle complex social topics. One of the most valuable things to come out of this experience has been the continued conversations about how race impacts every part of our culture and non-white people's daily lived experience. I hope by sharing some of our conversations we can all learn to recognize the effects of race and how we can work to dismantle white supremacy. 

And so today on the heels of International Women's Day I'm excited to share a conversation with my sister-in-law Kiana about the importance of representation. She is an incredibly smart and talented (because I'm biased towards her let me stop my list of adjectives there) engineer - one of the few women of color in her field. 

Last summer E! News' (yes that E! News) Instagram account featured Kiana in a post outlining the stats of Black women in engineering. The post went viral and while there was an overwhelming amount of positive comments (thousands), many comments (many hundreds but who is counting) showed how much learning still needs to happen for most of America. Not only were people questioning why it mattered that she was Black or a woman, people were truly offended to see this post congratulating a Black woman on being one of the few to graduate with this degree in the US. Hundreds of comments cried "divisiveness!" and "this is what's wrong with America" and "since when did E! become a radical BLM account!?" People threatening to unfollow E! because of the divisiveness displayed in the post (don't let the door hit you on the way out, Karen!). This is why I'm so glad we are having this conversation, and I hope you will share it with anyone who finds congratulating Black people or publicizing statistics on race in the workforce offensive or unnecessary. 

Aside from the E! News post, we talk about Kiana's experience being a double minority in a white male based field. She talks through how she even got into engineering (completely self-driven because no one thinks to encourage women in this field), specific examples of the treatment she received from both classmates and instructors as a Black woman in a white male dominated field, and how that impacted her. She also covers what her current company is doing to drive more diversity in the industry and what is required of white allies to begin to dismantle white supremacy in the workplace.

See yall out there.



Fire Pit Chats: Why Representation Matters

Friday, March 12, 2021

 I swear this isn't turning into a Bachelor blog- I still don't even watch the show- but the Bachelor Nation represents a large portion of the US and it's important to unpack what is going on here. It's a lesson in White Supremacy for sure. 

My friend Charisse is back for another chat to discuss the recent happenings here (reminder: listen with an open mind and no one is speaking on behalf of entire subgroups). There are a few parts to this one, here are the minute markers in case you want to skip ahead.

  • 2:00: I don't see race!
  • 4:00: what's the big deal about having Rachael on the show?
  • 9:00: What Old South Antebellem parties are and Lindsay's experience with Greek life in the South
  • 14:00: Problematic plantations
  • 15:30: Chr*s H*rrison's interview
  • 20:30: The apologies and what we want to see from Chr*s and Rachael
  • 24:00: What we DON'T want to see from them
  • 31:00​ Where we go from here
  • 35:00: What YOU can do



And because everything in Bachelor Nation is moving at lightning speed, another event unfolded shortly after Charisse and I chatted which I broke down on Instagram (see here in highlights).

  1. Here's what I want us to take away from this:
  2. It is crucial for white people to understand white supremacy and how it shows up for us (Me and White Supremacy is a great starting point)
  3. Learn how to be called out and how to respond with action
  4. Hold your white friends accountable
  5. When you see something, say something. Don't put it on your Black friends or colleagues to call things out. Find ways to advocate that does not compromise yourBlack friends/colleagues or put them at risk. What we see unfolding in the franchise happens at even the wokest companies. 

there's more with the bachelor

Wednesday, March 3, 2021



Today is the final installment of race & The Bachelor where we'll be discussing Chr*s H*rrison's problematic interview with Rachel Lindsay. Let's start with a quick clarification for those of you (like me) who don't really mess with The Bachelor like that. We're talking about some key characters and 2/3 of them have the same name so it gets confusing.
  • Chr*s H*rrison: rich white dude who has hosted the shows for 18 years.
  • Rachel Lindsay: The first Black Bachelorette who has stayed vocal about race and The Bachelor franchise. She is now an anchor on Extra, which is why she was even interviewing Chr*s H*rrison in the first place.
  • Rachael Kirkconnell: A finalist on The Bachelor who we talked about extensively here.

ICYMI: Chr*s H*rrison went on Extra to talk to Rachel L. about Rachael K. and it turned into a front row seat to "upholding white supremacy 101", "disconnected rich white dudes who are pretty racist but probably don't know it", and "internalized racism on display". He has since apologized for his behavior via an IG post...we'll see where it takes us. For now, let's discuss the interview.

First of all, the number of times he, a white man, spoke over Rachel Lindsay, a Black woman, on the topic of how hurtful a white woman's actions are to Black people, was unacceptable. In times where people are hurt we check on them and try to understand the pain- we don't tell them how bad it SHOULD hurt or why it shouldn't hurt. This is no different. 

Second, white fragility. He came to prove that Rachael K is a victim in this, that we need to give her time and grace. Look I've been called out before and it is humiliating, it hurts, it's hard. But it doesn't hurt as much as a lifetime of enduring racism does and so we apologize, work on ourselves, and follow up with action- we don't put it on other people to find the space to give us grace. 

Third: Gaslighting. Gaslighting is something that is easy to fall into when we are uncomfortable and/or get called out. I want to make sure we all understand how it showed up in this interview so we can recognize when we start to default to it in uncomfortable situations. Here is a non-exhaustive list of how gaslighting showed up in the interview:
  • Minimizing BIPOC perspectives by jokingly calling people hurt by the situation "woke police"
  • Minimizing BIPOC perspectives by calling people hurt by the situation "unreasonable"
  • Focusing on how people calling her out did it wrong (see also: tone policing) and saying "two wrongs don't make a right"
  • "These people are the problem"
  • Making Rachael K out to be the victim
  • Speaking on behalf of a minority group he isn't a part of, saying Rachael K will issue an apology when she's ready and it will be good enough for reasonable people (note: if you are part of the group in power and NOT in the group harmed, it's not up to you to accept or reject the apology)
  • "We're not in the business of dealing with every problem you have"
  • Referring to 2018 as if it were a long time ago, calling it "five years ago" "a different time" etc. 
  • "50 million people went to an Old South party" (everyone does it so you shouldn't have a problem with it)

We'll see how their apology tours go and if their actions back up their words. Like I said, no one is doing antiracism perfectly. There is a lot of guilt and shame in this work, and it is absolutely necessary to keep moving forward. 

Race & The Bachelor Part 3: Chr*s H*rrison Upholding White Supremacy 101

Thursday, February 18, 2021


In case you're not following The Bachelor the TL;DR is that a Rachael K, a finalist in the season known as The One With the First Black Bachelor, has a problematic past in regards to race. This includes but is not limited to: attending an Old South antebellum party (background), allegedly making fun of women for dating Black men, and supporting Tr*mp. Let's break this down.

Actually - before we get into this I want to address a comment I have seen all over the internets: "but she's dating a Black man, how can she be racist?". I don't know if y'all missed this but Ted Bundy was married to a woman, plenty of sexist misogynist men are married to women, slave owners fathered children with slaves, the list can go on and on and on of why proximity is not a get out of jail free card. And while we're on the topic, dating a Black person or marrying a Black person or parenting Black children not only does NOT excuse you from the work, it requires you to double down on the work. A lot of people don't though, and that's where real harm is caused. 

Exhibit A: attending Old South and other problematic parties. 

Look, I went to college in Georgia where Old South was a thing. While I never attended Old South, I fcked up in plenty of other ways. A big part of racial reconciliation and becoming an antiracist is coming to terms with our role in white supremacy and things we have done that hurt BIPOC. This means digging into our past and naming it, it means sitting with feelings of guilt and shame, it means learning, it means apologizing, and it means making a path forward to do better and hold others accountable. No one has been doing this perfectly and we are all constantly learning (as we should be). A lot of us would make different decisions with information we understand now, but we didn't and so we take responsibility for what we did, apologize to those we have hurt, and do everything in our power to make it better. That's it. That's the message. 

If you're thinking what's the big deal, she attended some parties when she was young? Please take some time to read other people's perspectives. Van Lathan had an excellent point that we don't see Germans dressed up at "1941 European" themed parties - we would all be appalled! Why do we excuse people dressed up for Old South Antebellum themed parties? I believe most people attended parties like this without thinking much about it and without any intention of hurting anyone, but intention rarely equals impact. The road to hell is paved with good intentions which is why we have to learn and stay vigilant. We aren't our mistakes, but we do have to own our mistakes.


Exhibit B: making fun of women for dating Black men. 

This is an allegation made on Tik Tok so who knows, but this type of "joke" is pretty common so let's break down the problematic parts of commentary like this.

Part 1: Othering

Othering is a phenomenon in which some individuals or groups are defined and labeled as not fitting in within the norms of a social group. It is an effect that influences how people perceive and treat those who are viewed as being part of the in-group versus those who are seen as being part of the out-group.

Othering not only dehumanizes groups of people, it is a contributor to prejudice and racism.


Part 2: Fetishization

Fetishizing on a basic level is the sexualization of something, which can then make it desirable.

Look, fetishes are fine - you do you boo! However, fetishizing groups of people makes us think of these groups of people as "conquerable" and dehumanizes them in our eyes. Fetishizing Black people is as American as apple pie, and it is dangerous. 


Part 3: Centering of whiteness

The centering of whiteness happens when we decide "white is right". We see this type of centering in professional standards ('professional' hair styles that exclude locs and natural hair), how we expect people to speak, food we deem acceptable for events, etc. etc. It shows up everywhere, and this is a prime example of how it shows up in our personal lives.


If these allegations are true, did she mean to hurt anyone? What if it was just a joke? Regardless of intentions or how serious she was, it was said and it was an idea that was in her conscience. We all have biases like this in our heads which is why the reading and the workshops and the learning is so so important. Even when we make jokes about race, we perpetuate ideas and make these types of comments acceptable. If you hear someone make a comment like this, the appropriate response can be:

"That's not funny."

"That's hurtful."

"That is not appropriate. I understand you are making a joke, but it is harmful."


Exhibit C: supporting Tr*mp.

I'm not clear if anyone actually found evidence of this or if this is based on her parents political affiliations, but let's talk about why our votes matter. I hear all the time how divisive labeling Republicans as racist is, but unfortunately this is where we are. Sure there can be Republicans who aren't racist, but people who supported Tr*mp in the 2020 election actively cast a vote for racism and Black suppression. If their reason for voting that way was "the economy" or "taxes" or whatever you want to use, it was a vote for their own economic success at the expense of minorities. Quite American but not ok. 


Conclusion

If you're white, it's likely that you have massively messed up at some point in regards to race. I don't believe these things make Rachael K a bad person, but these things do mean she has a lot of work to do. She offered an apology and it's not mine to to accept, but I hope she follows it up with actual actions unlike other members of the franchise (*eye roll* Hannah). 

Race and The Bachelor Part 2: Dissecting Rachael K's Actions and Why They Matter

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

 


Welcome to Part 1 of our 3 part series on Race and The Bachelor.

A lot has been going on with The Bachelor this season and while I'm not a fan of the show, the Bachelor Nation is representative of a big part of the country and is currently showcasing some serious race issues. 

After public scrutiny and pressure from the Bachelor Nation in the form of a change.org petition with ~200k signatures demanding the franchise increase diverse representation, in its 24th season the 40th lead is the first ever Black Bachelor. And even though they originally had a white Bachelorette we'll give them partial credit for bringing in the show's second ever non-white Bachelorette this season as well. 

There is no arguing that representation matters, especially in a franchise as far-reaching as The Bachelor. But this season of The Bachelor with Matt James as the first ever Black Bachelor is a shining example of why diversity without the equity and inclusion piece is at a minimum problematic and in many cases dangerous. My good friend Charisse (@thisladylion) has a background in media and took the time to talk through her hot takes on The Bachelor, who the show is actually for, and what white people can do to move us forward besides petitioning for Black Bachelor contestants. You can view our conversation here (note: video editing is not my forte).

The idea behind these recordings is to provide different perspectives. The people I speak with share their own personal opinions and are never speaking on behalf of their race or subgroup. As you watch, please remember our #1 allyship rule: listen with an open mind. Some things are hard to hear, and these are usually the most important . 

Because of my professional background I have had the opportunity to hear different perspectives and learn how to sit in my discomfort and untangle complex social topics. One of the most valuable things to come out of this experience has been the continued conversations about how race impacts every part of our culture and non-white people's daily lived experience. Having the professional and life experiences with a diverse friend group is a privilege I know many white people don't get, and most people will never have the opportunity to learn about social justice and equality in the safe space I had. I hope by sharing some of our conversations we can all learn to recognize the effects of race and how we can work to dismantle white supremacy. Even our most seemingly petty topics (ie The Bachelor) make us think, and realize what a privilege it is to even be able to sit and fully enjoy a show without ever feeling discomfort and hurt. 



Race & The Bachelor Part 1: The First Black Bachelor

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

First I'm going to kick this off with a confession. I am not a member of #TheBachelorNation. I believe the world is made up of two types of people: Married at First Sight people and Bachelor people, and the venn diagram overlap includes very few people (I'm MAFS all day). All that said, I have been closely following this season of The Bachelor as they bring in the first Black Bachelor, and I have a lot of thoughts. This week we've got a three part series comin: 

Part 1: The First Black Bachelor
Part 2: Dissecting Rachael K's Actions, and Why They Matter
Part 3: Chris Harrison's Problematic Interview

Even if you're like me and you're not into The Bachelor, I (and a few guests) will be talking about how race shows up everywhere, and problematic white behaviors. 

Related, this week we'll be talking on my Instagram stories about mistakes well-meaning white people make and how we can do better.


Let's Talk About the Bachelor

Monday, February 15, 2021


Last week was intense and our country's white supremacy was on full display as white terrorists stormed the Capitol, some with the assistance of the same police that tear gassed/arrested/rubber bulleted/flash banged/injured mostly peaceful BLM protestors just a few short months ago. There is so to understand and with this, here are some resources that have helped me unpack the events of the last week:

Resources

For teachers/parents:

PBS NewsHour: Classroom resource: Three ways to teach the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol

NYC DOE January 6, 2021 Resource Guide


For people managers:




Podcasts

The Daily: How They Stormed Congress talks through first-hand perspectives of the day and where the security planning went so wrong.

Reveal: The Evolution of All American Terrorism discusses what the government has done to stop domestic terrorism.

Reply All: #166 Country of Liars breaks down Q-Anon and the Q scam, big players in what went down last week.

Pod Save America: Two Americas provides perspective on last week from former Obama aides and journalists.


Articles

The Atlantic: A Christian Insurrection. As a Christian, I was horrified but not surprised to terrorists "marching in the name of God". Interviews with pastors and demonstrators on both sides provide some insight.

The Washington Post: ‘The storm is here’: Ashli Babbitt’s journey from capital ‘guardian’ to invader. How it happens.

Vox: Whiteness is at the core of the insurrection. We all saw it coming.

From my Sunday Reading List: Black Capitol Police Officers Describe Fighting Off "Racist-Ass Terrorists"


IG Accounts

Perspectives and processing:

@TiffanyTurnerMoon

@TheGoodCarmaBlog

News

@AllSidesNow

Breakdowns

@SharonSaysSo

@SoYouWantToTalkAbout

@EmilyInYourPhone

A Christian Take

@LosWhit 

@AustinChanningBrown 

@UpwardlyDependent 


Books

White Rage by Carol Anderson recounts the white violence throughout history that has formed our country. I thought of this book every time I heard a surprised white "this isn't our America!"

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad breaks down elements of white supremacy and provides action steps to do the work on ourselves. 


unpacking the siege on the capitol

Monday, January 11, 2021


A major concern I have heard (and felt myself) is that with Joe Biden's win, white liberals will go back to their comfy routines and the action will stop. It's crucial to keep learning, stay aware of the issues, and to continue to take action. One thing that has been helpful for me is newsletters - instead of scrolling when I wake up in the morning I read through a few newsletters. These are my favorites that keep me updated on race, equity, and current events (note - I never make it through them all, and I've heard from friends that these newsletters are great for late night feedings with new BBs).

Fortune has some great regular newsletters, these are my favs (subscribe to any by selecting them here):

  • RaceAhead is a weekly newsletter about DEI in the workplace.
  • Broadsheet is a daily newsletter that shares stories about powerful women in business, and the things that impact us.
  • CEO Daily rounds up everything you need to know happening in corporate America, and often leads with a write-up on leadership (which more often than not includes CEOs' stances on DEI initiatives).   

Anti-Racism Daily provides daily actions to dismantle white supremacy. 

New York Times Race/Related explores the ways race impacts our daily lives.

Washington Post About Us explores identity in America through race and political movements. 

Teen Vogue Take: Teen Vogue has emerged as the wokest teen mag out there in 2020 and their daily newsletter highlights current news, history lessons, and hot takes centered around social justice. Meanwhile as a teen I skipped the articles to swoon over pix of Devon Sawa and Usher. Good for these teens. 

The Betches Sup is a sarcastically hilarious take on the daily news.

Rebekah Gienap's Raising Kid Activists newsletter is a great parent resource. Last week's emails included a guide for addressing kids' stereotypes and a list of ten resources for an activist family.

Politico's Weekly Education: COVID Edition dives into news around education policy and politics. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-education

The HBR Hotlist: a weekly collection of HBR's most popular stories, usually includes 3-4 stories on being an inclusive leader. I also recommend subscribing to the Management Tip of the Day.



11 Newsletters to Keep You Learning & Doing the Work (newsletters on race and equity)

Monday, December 14, 2020

 


Everyone has that racist [insert family member], and while the pandemic is getting a lot of us out of  divided holiday dinner table conversations this year, some people will be (safely I hope) stuck in these situations. And unlike the Thanksgiving after the last election, wed don't have a new Adele song to bring us all together. Some friends I know are having practice sessions over Zoom (it is that serious!) and some have set boundaries for off topics limits at the dinner table. Either way, as an ally we need to be ready to step up and have some tough conversations this holiday season, so I pulled together resources for the statements I hear the most.


Tips

First, keep in mind that shaming does not change minds or behaviors. Trust me, I want nothing more than to tear people apart, but as an ally there is a bigger picture we are working towards here and it's not about a temporary rush for me.

Second, arming ourselves with vocabulary and facts is helpful. Note that it's not THAT helpful depending on who the discussion is with (*cough cough Fox News*) but it helps me feel confident in my arguments.

Third, keep in mind that behavior change is hard. We're not going to change that uncle's mind at one dinner discussion, but we can get the wheels to start turning.

Fourth, listen and keep an open mind (I know). 


Counterpoints

The "but Tr*mp has done so much for Black people" uncle

Oh right because he said so at the debate! This article outlines facts about the "things" 45 has "done" to "help Black people".


The "I'm tired of people saying I'm privileged because I'm white" auntie

White privilege does not mean you don't have struggles, it means you have not struggled because of the color of your skin. Starting on page two, this  report has 50 straightforward examples of white privilege to use.


The "BLM protests are violent/looting/scary" uncle

The media did make it look like these protests were violent and full of looting, however, 93% of the BLM protests were peaceful. This is impressive considering this has been the largest movement in American history with over 9% of the country participating. It is really important to focus on the issues the protestors are fighting for and not get easily distracted by media reports of looting.


The "I don't see color" auntie

I know you are coming from a good place with this, but when you don't acknowledge skin color you are erasing the Black experience, and the role of white supremacy in suppressing Black people.

  

The "I'm not racist so it's not about me" cousin

That is great that you aren't racist. It is important to keep doing the work though. No matter how not racist we are, as white people we have all benefitted from white supremacy and have a responsibility to fight racism and commit to learning.


The "why should I have to feel bad about what my ancestors did" cousin's boyfriend

No one is asking you to feel bad or give up what you have. We are asking that you recognize the reality Black people face every day in the U.S. and to use the power you have to make change.

When we donate to the food bank this holiday season we aren't saying "I didn't cause hunger so why should I feel bad about it". When we are giving gifts to Angel Tree or Salvation Army for Christmas we aren't saying "I didn't cause poverty, why should I have to feel bad about it". No, we aren't even questioning our duty to use our privilege and power to improve circumstances for others. What makes this situation different? 


The "Black people should behave better so they don't get shot by the cops who are just doing their jobs" uncle

Actually, Black people are murdered by police at two to six times the rate of white people. In cases where the victim is unarmed or poses minimal threat, Black people are 3.5x more likely to be murdered than white people.They are more likely to be stopped, arrested, and charged for any offense than white people. 


The "but Black on Black crime!!" auntie

Interestingly enough, white people commit crime against white people at about the same rate, but since white crime isn't racialized we just call it "crime". Even when you correct for poverty, crime rates across all races are much higher, but the rates are actually the same when looking at Black crimes against Black versus white on white. I would love to talk about options to fight poverty since that is such a strong indicator of crime.


The "Black people should pull themselves up by their bootstraps like I did" uncle

Oof.. I have a #30DayEducationChallenge for you! But for real, centuries of inequality in the U.S. have given you a lot more opportunities to "pull you up by your bootstraps" (that phrase makes me 🤮), and restricted Black people from a lot of the things that enabled you to do this. For example red lining, GI Bill,  healthcare, education - to name just a few. 


Racist Comments

These suck so bad. But there are some responses to get the wheels turning:

What makes you say that?

That hasn't been my experience.

Do you really believe that? I'd like to learn more about why.

I didn't want to say this in front of everyone, but that comment you made at dinner was inappropriate and racist. Comments like that are hurtful to [insert group] and perpetuate dangerous ideas.

Preparing for the holidays with your racist uncle

Monday, November 23, 2020

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