“White terror is as American as the Stars and Stripes. But when this is denied, it is no wonder that the events at the Capitol are read as shocking and un-American" from Denial is the heartbeat of America, by Ibram X. Kendi
I have to catch myself every time I hear someone write or say, “This is not who we are.” It makes me so angry that I can feel it in every muscle in my body. With that said, when I feel so much rage at other white people, I have learned that it's usually about my own “shit.” What is my body telling me when it clenches up in ”out”rage. It's telling me that I need to look in the mirror and take stock of my own complicity. Yes, dammit this is who we are and who we have been for centuries. I am angry and ashamed of how long it took me to get it and how much I still have to get. When it comes to shaming, us white folk are vicious to each other. I have learned that when my shame triggers around whiteness are poked at, powerful manifestations of Internalized Racial Superiority (IRS) get evoked. In this case, distancing/denial (I’m not one of those white people), competition (I’m a better white anti-racist than you are). These manifestations of IRS are deeply rooted defense mechanisms that my autonomic nervous system reverts to in order to avoid any discomfort that comes up and reflects on unwanted aspects of my racial identity. (I’m a racist, I’m not woke enough.) We need to stop denying, deflecting, projecting, and othering and start getting to the work of organizing, advocating, connecting, and healing.
See you on the journey,
Robin
Denial Is the Heartbeat of America - Ibram X. Kendi
Confront white supremacy. — Anti-Racism Daily- Nicole Cardoza
Your racist relatives are not “from a different time” a video blog by Kelechi Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJgpMA3gdBx/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
4 Steps That I and Other White People Can Take to Fight Racism by Christina Marie Noel
What To Do Instead of Calling the Police: A Guide, A Syllabus, A Conversation, Process - Written and Gathered by Aaron Rose
Starts February 2nd!
Starts March 4th!
Links to additional workshops:
PISAB (Undoing Racism Community Organizing Workshops) Zoom Training. A comprehensive exploration of how racism shapes American institutions. It moves beyond a focus on the symptoms of racism to an understanding of what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone. To register call PISAB (504) 301-9292.
Webinar - What White People Can Do About Racism, Part 2, February 11, 18 & 25, 2 - CWAC (Center for White American Culture)