Anti-Racism Reading List April 2022

“If diversity is about being seen, and equity is about being valued, I see inclusion as feeling respected — for who you are, what you know, and what you can do. I want all people to feel respected, and that requires a whole lot of intentionality on the part of all leaders. Leaders need to be more intentional about how they engage people and how they show up for others.”

“Black folks are adept at reading body language. Over these last 400+ years, our survival in America has relied heavily upon our ability to read white people’s intent. Not too long ago, the wrong move at the wrong time could get us killed.”

“Even more shocking is our collective failure to develop a credible strategy to address the root causes of racism – be it against Indigenous peoples, refugees, temporary migrant workers or other minority groups.

We remain incapable of even talking about the racism in our midst, let alone what should be done to stop it.”

“That is what I do for you here, in thirteen movements of 240 characters each. It would appear that as long as you do not slap the Academy with them, you are free to tweet, chat, post, email, fax, snail mail, Instagram, upload, and all around harvest them at will. The goal? To form a simple, unified, and impossible to ignore decree:

The Academy is playing fast and loose with the rules. We see you. #MakeThisMakeSense because if you cannot, we will make sure the world sees you too.”

““Globally, these groups currently represent c. 80% of the world’s population making them the global majority now. With current growth rates, notwithstanding Covid-19 and its emerging variants, the global majority are set to remain so for the foreseeable future. Understanding this may ‘shift the dial’. It certainly should permanently disrupt and relocate the conversation.””

“Bringing the focus back to the racism actually requires that racism written about in an active voice because first and foremost, speaking in passive voice absolves abusers — in their mind. After all, anyone could be burning Black communities to the ground. Anyone could be failing Black students. Anyone could be rapidly displacing Black people from their homes. The ambiguity of the passive voice that allows the atrocities to continue, and for society to claim willful ignorance.”

“My white colleague’s choice not to contribute derives from systemic privileges of skin colour power, including in individuals’ day-to-day decisions. Terence Channer’s friend’s choice not to contribute derives from systemic inequities and inequalities, and their consequential implications for individuals’ day-to-day decisions. The differences for the choice-makers are undeniable.”

“Advocating “kindness” rather than working towards equity and inclusion is a way to explain and justify why a company has NO DEI strategy.

Unfortunately, we’re not hearing any explanation for how these companies are executing on their "kindness strategy."”

“Calling white people “allies” reinforces a sense of saviourism, implying that my anti-racist endeavours are to ‘help’ those unfortunate souls born with skins darker than mine. Trust me, white people don’t need any encouragement to do this.”

“If one is quiet, perceived to be ‘anti-social,’ or not the first person to speak up in meetings, and—it must be said—Black, one is considered to be angry, unintelligent, unpromotable, not a team player and not a culture fit.”

“Black women journalists are often subjected to a double marginalization because of both - their race and gender. The Coalition For Women In Journalism pushes for racial diversity within the journalism and media industry in the US, and across the world. Find below a list of select women journalists who have made their mark on the media landscape through their powerful words and fierce reportage.”