“I Am Not Racist” V.S. Anti-Racist

Furrowed brows, flaring nostrils, a face of disgust, and then the words of denial “I am not racist” utter out their mouth. Oh, and let’s not forget the way they look you up and down, offended, when called out on their racist ideologies.

A perfect example would be the 45th president of the United States: Donald J. Trump. “Laziness is a trait in blacks” claimed Trump, more than a decade prior to his presidential inauguration. He promised to build a steel wall worth billions of dollars on the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent the rapists and criminals from coming in. His plan to make America great again also included a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S., and the list goes on and on. Yet on various occasions, even on national television, Trump claims that he is “not a racist,” in fact, he is the “least racist person there is in the world,” apparently.

I am not racist V.S. Antiracist:

And that’s where the problem lies. While Trump is an extreme example, there is definitely a pattern where people are claiming to not be racist, yet upholding racist ideas and policies when it conveniences them. So let us be clear: when one claims to “not be racist,” they are promoting a neutral stance in racism; they are saying that while they don’t associate themselves with partaking in racist ideas, they aren’t actively working against them either.

The opposite of a racist is an antiracist. An antiracist will be working towards actively fighting against the oppression of minority groups this country has founded itself upon. An antiracist will uncover the historical roots of systemic racism and white supremacy in America while spreading that knowledge to their fellow peers. An antiracist will work with other antiracists to dismantle those racist policies, actions, and implicit biases. An antiracist will not give up on trying to eliminate racist inequities, but rather pursue various ways to build justice. An antiracist will do.

“Racist” is seen as a pejorative term and people always feel the need to defend themselves and justify their actions when being associated with such a derogatory term. However, being called a racist is not to be used as a slur. And it is not a fixed identity. Instead of defending yourself with immature pretenses, use this as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

Steps to be an antiracist:

A concrete step you can take to ensure that you are an ally is by constantly pushing people to be aware of their privileges and biases. And also using those privileges to aid those that lack such opportunities; if we are more aware and knowledgeable about the power we hold, it is easier to learn to use them for the betterment of society and take action against racism.

Another step can be by reading some books that educate you on how to be an antiracist. Whether it be through the book, How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (which I strongly recommend!), or other books I have put up on this blog that speaks on injustices towards minorities, the movement to being an antiracist is an ongoing process that means you have to constantly educate yourself to fight any racist beliefs.

Let us move forward with the correct terminology, but also remember to hold ourselves accountable by constantly educating ourselves and fighting back through any means we can.

Citation: Kendi, Ibram X. How to Be an Antiracist. Random House Large Print, 2019.

Let us all commit to a forever of accountability and justice <3