Today’s To-Dos:
Learn
Learn about the history of race and racism in the United States
Reflect
Reflect on your own thoughts and experiences with race
Act
Experiment with the Race Card Project and take our pledge to act to dismantle systemic racism
A Taoist saying is that the “journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.” We believe this to be the case when it comes to becoming Anti-Racist and growing in Allyship. Both of these goals take not only good intentions but also time and commitment. We are glad you are here, and excited to start this journey with you.
We know that it can be daunting to start such a journey. This is true especially when there is so much information out there, but few trusted resources to help launch and guide you on your journey. We also know that seven days is not nearly enough to become an Anti-Racist and an Ally. But, we believe that we all must start somewhere. It is our goal that you start with us and then continue your journey, all the while sharing with others what you have learned and how you have changed so that you can inspire change. Remember, it is about embracing the journey, which has been shown in research to produce positive results.
Learn
To begin our journey, please watch this 18-minute video (full length video here) that describes some facets of the history of race and systemic racism in America, and spend some time reading some (or all) of the essays that the Washington Post has recently curated about the history of race and racism in America. If you were raised and educated in the United States, you may have learned about some of these topics, or perhaps this is the first time you are reading about this; either way it is a good idea to refresh your memory as we start our journey. We think the Race in America video offers a good response to the question, “Why are we still talking about race?” (which is a much more common question than one might think). We think the resources that the Washington Post has presented will help you to deepen your understanding racial injustice and inequity in the United States.
Next Steps
Please go to pages 3-4 in your workbook for a reflection and an action.
