I’ve been procrastinating about writing this blog post because I’ve been feeling a little paralysed. And ashamed, and embarrassed and tearful. Because you see, I’ve lived my whole life basically accepting white privilege by thinking ‘I’m not doing anything wrong because I’m a good person who isn’t racist’.
And despite studying an African language and learning about African culture all through high school, and attending a progressive University where I majored in American History and did my thesis on Roots by Alex Haley, I’ve still made no effort to create any real changes because my life is good, and I’m benefitting from the status quo. But I now see how wrong this is. I now know that this paralysis and inertia is part of what got us here in the first place.
And even though I’m not American or living in America where this revolution has started, racism is prevalent all over the world and I have seen it in all the countries I’ve lived in. I can see white supremacy practised in most societies. I’ve seen it in my living with it for all these years. And now I see that this must change. That is why I am joining this revolution now. And I’m deeply sorry that it’s taken me so long to truly wake up to this injustice. I will no longer be neutral and do nothing.
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
So, how do I become anti-racist?
Because posting a black square on Instagram and sharing posts about Black Lives Matter is only a start. Those small gestures are all fine and well, but for me, it’s no longer enough. Not anymore. So what next?
Like many of you, I’ve realised that I now need to unlearn a lifetime of wrongs and educate myself in true equality and humanity. And not only unlearn that past (which is big) but also live the change and be the change, from now onwards.
In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.”- Angela Davis
We need to start DOING the work. And that work can take many forms. But I think we all need to find ways to make this change happen. And after reading a few different articles and posts from around the internet, I’ve put together a list of steps that can get us started.
Steps to help us learn to be anti-racist
Follow BIPOC on your social media. (BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.) Now, this might seem obvious but have a look at the people you follow and see whether you might need some help in this. We’ve been subtly indoctrinated over the years to seek out people of the same skin colour. This is something that we need to unlearn. But don’t do this in an unnatural way. Follow people who have similar interests to you, for example, if you’re into fashion, follow BIPOC fashionistas, if you’re into design, follow BIPOC designers. Don’t be unauthentic. This is not about being patronising or being a white saviour.
Read articles and books written by BIPOC. I’ve just started reading and doing the work set out in the book Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad. It’s going to take me a while to work through because it includes a 28-day challenge and I need to think deeply and truthfully about my answers. I feel that I want to answer the difficult questions, that I need to feel uncomfortable and work through my previously learnt thinking to start to change on a cellular level. To think about how we were brought up to believe inequality and assume superiority. Here are some other books that I want to read too:
(Please note: these are affiliate links and any commission I earn will be donated to the ACLU or NAACP.)
Watch a movie, video, documentary or tv series about racism. We need to educate ourselves. We were mostly taught history in a biased way at school so we could all do with some history lessons to learn the full story and add a different perspective. I recently watched Ava DuVernay’s documentary, 13th, on Netflix. And it was mind-blowing. The statistics will break your heart. We need to find out what is going on, ask ourselves the difficult questions and become anti-racist.
Have uncomfortable conversations with your family and friends. Change starts with you and then those around you. Start discussions with your family and friends, and keep those discussions going. Stamp out racism in your family and friend group – don’t let even the little things slip by unchecked. It starts small.
Call out and stand up to racism. All the time and wherever it rears its ugly head. Challenge a racist joke. Bring attention to a subtly racist comment. That’s how change happens.
Make a difference where you can. Diversify your friend group authentically. Vote to ensure diversity on your local council. Talk to the businesses you use about their hiring policies. Support BIPOC businesses. Promote BIPOC people and businesses. We need to level the playing fields.
If you have any other ideas and suggestions, please leave a comment below for others to read and benefit from. We need to keep the momentum going.
I came across this great anti-racism resource recently. It includes articles and books to read, podcasts to listen to, videos, movies and tv series to watch, and organisations to follow. If you need some recommendations, go and have a look there.
Changes I plan to make on my blog
Looking at my blog, I realise that my representation of BIPOC is lacking and for that I’m sorry. For the most part, I have subconsciously tended to choose photos of white people in my cover photos and in the adverts I display. This will change going forward.
I will also strive to promote more BIPOC in My Five Favourites posts and highlight talented people and their work in a more representative way, with authenticity, on my blog.
I’m by no means an expert on these matters, nor am I brilliantly eloquent, but I can no longer to be silent about this very important issue. I recognize my privilege and I want to stand against racism and actively become anti-racist.
The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And that’s the only way forward. – Ijeoma Oluo
And finally
I want to continue to speak to my readers about midlife and everything that broad topic covers. When I started this blog, I envisaged my readers to be wonderful middle-aged women from all walks of life, who are experiencing this midlife transition – and I will continue to write for that all-inclusive audience. I thank you for being here and for reading my blog.
You might also want to read: How to deal with feeling invisible in midlife
Feature Photo by Porapak Apichodilok from Pexels
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