This week the prompts are suggested to only share with people of similar privilege, so rather than making all of the prompts available, I will consolidate just the high level terms and concepts here, with the ending journals and a few links.
You and color blindness. (The belief that) "If you act, as though you do not see color, you will not do anything racist, or benefit from racism. And if you teach your children not to see race too, you can create a new generation of people who will not do anything racist or benefit from racism. If white people do not see color, why do BIPOC still experience oppression? "
You and anti-blackness. Anti-black is identified in this chapter as "opposed or hostile toward black people," and the Movement for Black Lives defines anti-black racism as a "term used to specifically describe the unique discrimination, violence and harms imposed on and impacting black people specifically." "Antiracism work that does not break the heart open cannot move people toward meaningful change."
You and racist stereotypes. "Racism is the coupling of prejudice with power, where the dominant racial group is able to dominate over all other racial groups and negatively affect those racial groups at all levels - personally, systemically, and institutionally." "Racist stereotypes continue to reinforce the idea that those who not hold white privilege because they are other, inferior, and a threat to white civilization. "
You and cultural appropriation. "Cultural appropriation can include the appropriation of another culture's objects, motifs, symbols, rituals, artifacts, and other cultural elements." "The adoption or exploitation of another culture by a more dominant culture."
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) - variety of English natively spoken, particularly in urban communities by most working and middle class African Americans
What have you begun to see that you cannot unsee?
The disparity of opportunity.
The remnants of a racist past still shown prominently today.
When we talk about a "broken system," we are talking about laws that are unjustly constructed to do more harm for certain communities then others. We are seeing an over representation of white people in positive areas of life, and an over representation of people of color when it comes to criminality.
What have you begun to unearth about yourself when it comes to white supremacy?
Unjust laws and implicit biases have made it easier for me to move ahead in life, while making it harder for BIPOC to do the same.
If you came to this book thinking you were "one of the good white people" or an ally to BIPOC, how do you feel about that now?
So, I think I am still trying to learn and grow. I am working on evolving my behavior, my knowledge, and how I communicate. I think I am not the "ally" I thought I might have been, but I am willing to put forth effort to better my position.