Anti-Racism Reading List October 2024

10+ thought-provoking articles to inspire anti-racism action

Author

Sharon Hurley Hall
October 30, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Heads-up: It’s the last ever live group cohort for the Launch & Profit Newsletter Course which starts November 4th - deep subscriber discount with the code SARNIE

Hello friends,

It's been one of those months, which I suppose is hardly surprising given everything that's happening in the world, and the US elections. It was also Black History Month in the UK, which led to a plethora of reflective pieces, some of which are included here.

1. What is Decolonized Journalism? by Arturo Dominguez

I've been reading Arturo's work for a long time, and he's unapologetic about bringing what's hidden to light. This piece is about media bias. You'll have to provide your email to read it, but I think it's worth it:

“How much the media demonizes nonwhite groups, for example, is as much about what the media doesn’t report as it is about what it does. From portraying white mass shooters as smart and quiet while citing neighbors and friends who say things like “we never would have thought he would do such a thing,” to demonizing nonwhite people, legacy media still has a major problem."

It seems almost inevitable that celebrating Black History Month will bring some sort of corporate misstep (I'm sure you can think of a few). One of this year's contenders? A now-withdrawn ad from Heinz. As this author points out, there's a long way to go.

“despite years of progress - or the promise of it - advertising still struggles to tell diverse stories without missteps. As I reflect on the current outcry and compare it to similar incidents in the past, it begs the question: Are we really learning from these moments, or are brands still walking the same tightrope, balancing visibility with responsibility?”

3. How to Avoid the Pacification of Black Talent During Black History Month and How to Do Things Better by Flavilla Fongang

This headline caught my eye, and then I was drawn in by the writer's practical suggestions to make meaningful change to support Black professionals Here's one example:

“Set clear, measurable goals for increasing Black representation in leadership, recruitment, and retention. Create accountability frameworks to track progress and regularly review the effectiveness of your diversity and inclusion initiatives. Transparency is essential—publish reports on your efforts, engage Black professionals in the review process, and adjust your approach based on feedback.”

This article goes nicely with the questions posted by Arturo Dominguez in the piece shared above. That's because it forces us to look at the occupation of Palestine in a way many might be uncomfortable with, as well as to consider the wider context. I'd be interested to hear how it lands with you.

“If we take his guidance to heart, we must frequently critically analyze our individual and collective roles in perpetuating harm against other groups of people. This perspective is empowering because it suggests we can foster a society where someone’s identity never becomes a shield from critique.”

5. The ABC launched a racism review. The responses were damning by Calum Jaspan

When we talk about colonialism, patriarchy and white supremacy being at the root of racism, this is one example of what we mean. The article covers a review that happened in Australia, but the findings will be depressingly familiar to people across the globe. (Also, did you clock that there’s yet another acronym?)

“almost all participants who identified as First Nations or CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) described having experienced racism in the workplace. Only one CALD participant said they had not experienced racism.”

This isn't an article, but a resource guide. Among other things, it looks a decentering whiteness in research, and many of the practices could usefully apply beyond academia. And then there's this acronym, which I kind of like:

“Most published research is not representative of the majority of populations because the human participant samples lack diversity. For example, behavioral genetic research heavily focuses on white people of European ancestry. Harden refers to these samples as WWEIRD in adding a W (White) to an acronym coined by Henrich, et al., where WEIRD stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic.”

Daily News for Curious Minds

Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440! Dive into 1440, where 4 million Americans find their daily, fact-based news fix. We navigate through 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive roundup from every corner of the internet – politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a quick, 5-minute newsletter. It's completely free and devoid of bias or political influence, ensuring you get the facts straight. Subscribe to 1440 today.

7. When White Men Ruled The World by Rebecca Stevens Alder

You'll need a free trial to read this one, but I thought it was worth highlighting the newest publication by Rebecca Stevens Alder, whom I've featured regularly in the last four years. In this article, she looks at the fear that's driving the right-wing backlash around the globe.

“White nationalists are now highly organized and emboldened. They represent a clear and present danger for Black people like me, and they can sway November’s election to Trump and his white supremacist friends, including tech bros like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. In the worst case scenario, we could go back to a situation like pre World War ll Germany where only Aryan folks were allowed and the rest of us who didn’t fit, who were too Black, Jewish, gay or disabled, where thrown out or massacred. It may sound far-fetched, but atrocities happen faster than you think. Sadly, as I write this, there are several horrific genocides taking place around the world.”

We've talked about multiethnic and multicultural identity a few times this year, and that's one of the themes explored in this fascinating interview.

“Victoria's work is about using her experience and skills to raise awareness to the current divides and the systems that are built upon them. She also bridges these cultural gaps through authentic storytelling and encourages us to push past our labels and to see people for who they are rather than what they are. These labels are often complex and can impact people at multiple levels. "If the systems we build are not working and there are people getting hurt by them...it is time to imagine different ones.”

There is Only Us

To begin the work of antiracism from an “us and them” standpoint is anathema to functioning differently. We must function differently..

www.antiracismnewsletter.com/p/there-is-only-us-naomi-raquel

This is a short but impactful LinkedIn post that reminds us what we're really trying to undermine and dismantle.

“Black America’s erasure and pain are always seen as conditions of Blackness and not a result of imperialism. Years and years of false narratives, propaganda, and straight-up lies have succeeded in making people assume that the issues affecting Black America are the result of Blackness alone and that American imperialism is somehow separate from their suffering.”

If you're not already following Paul Ladipo, one of our recent top voices in anti-racism, run, don't walk to do so. Every post is a winner, laden with insight, resources and visualisations, along with tips on how to do better. On the question of terminology, he points out:

“Changing the terminology does not change their impact on Black, Brown, and mixed-race folks. A pig with lipstick on it is still a pig.”

I’m always interested to read about the Windrush generation, who arrived in England shortly before my own parents did. While it wasn’t the first time Black people had come to England, it was a pivotal moment, and the legacy and trauma both endure:

“Along with arriving with excitement and hope, unbeknown to them at the time, the Windrush generation were ushering in intergenerational trauma. I think about the ‘barrel children’* like myself, who experienced disrupted attachment as a result of being separated from parents and left behind in the Caribbean, often under the age of one, with grandparents or aunties becoming the main caregivers. In my case and for many others, I thought they were my parents.”

Well, I hope you found food for thought in this month's reading list. More importantly, I'd love to know what action you'll take as a result of anything you read here.

Of Note - Things Worth Highlighting

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

What did you think of today's article?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

Black line with small circles at the edges and an icon with a raised fist holding a pencil in the middle
*Note: all articles linked here were free to read when I put together this edition. However, some may be paywalled by the time it is published, because capitalism. There’s not much I can do about that, but I hope the included quotes give you a flavour of the content.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2024. All Rights Reserved.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).

Reply

or to participate.