Impactful Inclusion Toolkit

ACTIVITY 49Evolve from “Not Racist” to Antiracist

“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist; we must be anti-racist.”

—Angela Davis

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While racism in America is centuries old, the willingness to talk about and address it is very new. Individuals and organizations alike are embarking upon courageous conversations about race as we strive toward more equitable and inclusive workplaces and societies. A growing number of Americans now acknowledge the racial injustice and discrimination experienced by people of color and want to demonstrate that they are not contributing to the problem. In doing so, they are quick to point out that they are not racist. Racists actively discriminate and inflict harm based on the belief that their race is superior to another, and that's not who they are. To be clear on what is meant by racism, the National League of Cities describes it as:

A system of oppression that is based in and upholds the superiority of White people and the inferiority of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Racism was created by and upheld through policies, practices, and procedures to create inequities between racial groups. Current leaders in positions of authority in government, private, and non-profit institutions have inherited and upheld racist institutions and structures. These leaders have historically diluted the term “racism” to reflect only overt interpersonal racist actions so that the full system of racism can continue to grow and persist, ...