How to Be an Antiracist

To truly understand the racialized world around us, one must first confront the very definitions we use. Racism is not merely individual hatred or bigotry; it is a profound marriage of racist policies and racist ideas that together produce and normalize racial inequities. An antiracist, then, is one who actively supports antiracist policies through their actions or expresses antiracist ideas, striving always for racial equity. There is no neutral ground, no passive state of "not racist." To claim such a stance is, in effect, to allow racist policies and ideas to persist, becoming complicit in the perpetuation of inequity.

My own journey through understanding race has been a winding path, fraught with the very racist ideas I now seek to dismantle. I recall delivering a speech as a young man, inadvertently blaming Black people for societal problems, having internalized the very stereotypes that racist ideas propagate. It was a profound awakening to recognize how deeply ingrained these concepts can be, even within those who are themselves targets of racism. This ongoing process of self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination is essential, as becoming antiracist is not a destination but a continuous striving, a daily choice.

The roots of racist ideas are not found in ignorance or hatred alone, but in power and self-interest. Historically, powerful policymakers have created racist policies for their own benefit, and then generated racist ideas to rationalize and defend the resulting racial inequities. These ideas then circulate, taking on a life of their own, consumed by everyday people. Whether conscious or not, individuals can perpetuate racism by supporting these policies or ideas. This understanding shifts our focus from merely judging individuals to scrutinizing the systems and structures that produce and maintain racial disparities.

Racism manifests in myriad forms, each demanding a distinct antiracist response. There is biological racism, which falsely posits inherent differences between races; ethnic racism, which targets specific racialized ethnic groups; bodily racism, perceiving certain bodies as more animalistic or violent; cultural racism, which imposes a dominant cultural standard; and class racism, which racializes economic disparities. These forms often intersect, creating complex layers of oppression. To be truly antiracist means to reject not only the hierarchy of races but also the interwoven hierarchies of race-genders and race-sexualities, recognizing that equity must extend across all identities.

The crucial distinction lies in action. Changing minds, while valuable, is not activism in itself. True activism, the work of an antiracist, lies in producing power and policy change. When we observe racial inequity, we must ask not "What is wrong with those people?" but "What is wrong with the policies?" It is about identifying racist policies in all their manifestations, investigating their causes, and then inventing or finding antiracist policies that can eliminate them. This requires courage, a willingness to speak out, and a commitment to work with sympathetic policymakers to institute change.

This fight demands a persistent, active stance. There is no remaining on the sidelines, for inaction itself supports the status quo of inequity. It means promoting and advocating for policies and leaders that are antiracist, educating others, and being vulnerable about our own biases. It means looking within our workplaces, schools, and communities to dismantle the ingrained structures that perpetuate racial injustice.

The path toward an antiracist society is arduous, demanding constant vigilance against the recurrence of racist ideas and policies. Yet, within this struggle lies profound hope. Once we lose hope, we are guaranteed to lose. But if we ignore the odds and dedicate ourselves to creating a truly antiracist world, one where equity is the norm, then humanity has a chance to live in communion, a chance to be forever free.