Addressing Systemic Racism Starts Within, and Requires Action

Looking for a place to start addressing internalized effects of racism in our society? Wondering if you are part of the problem, and also have a part in the solution? (You are. You do.) Read. Watch. Take in the vast and varied resources created for your education by people who have spent their lives studying (not to mention experiencing) issues of racism.

Read

There are so many ways and places to dive in. These two are for starting out, learning the territory, and understanding the language, and the particular internal barriers that might exist for you in your conversations with those around you. 

• So You Want to Talk About Race Ijeoma Oluo
• White Fragility (Book & workbook by) Robin DiAngelo
• More? Check out this (and many other) anti-racist reading list online.

Watch

• Seattle Townhall with Ijeoma Oluo: https://townhallseattle.org/event/ijeoma-oluo-with-charles-mudede/
• ​Ijeoma Oluo reads her intro to the book So You Want to Talk About Race and addresses Google in this youtube broadcast. ​​

Listen

Addressing Racism in the Body - application of many of the mind-body techniques in a beautiful a specific way is introduced in this On Being Podcast. A book is out there as well. 

• On Being with Krista Tippett Resmaa Menakem ‘Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence’ 

Take Action

Consider how you might offer support in a way that is needed, impactful, meaningful, and sustainable. Consider that learning is only the beginning. Action is important. What that action is, on the other hand can be as varied as you can imagine. Making phone calls. Texting. Writing letters. Donating. Choosing where and how you spend your money. Choosing where and how you have conversations. Self-care is also a powerful way of disrupting our system which is predicated on our being exhausted and underinformed. So, rest. Become informed. And throughout, don't be afraid to screw up. Do your best, and learn to do better (this is paraphrased, or perhaps quoted from Ijeoma Oluo). 
 
If you have money to donate, seek good advice instead of donating on the spur of the moment. Consider donating at a "level you notice," and plan to do so for the long-term in order to support change over time (thank you Sarah, owner of Yoga on Beacon for this advice, in her Facebook post). 

And as Robin DiAngelo asserts in her youtube talk don't stop at learning. Ask yourself, how will POC (or your community) know that you are learning? How will you show up differently? Keep asking.
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 Our growth and health as a community depend upon our all creating room within us, and outside of us for conditions that support growth and healing. ​