From Kim- Thoughts on How to Be an Anti-Racist

As I told many of you on Tuesday (great discussion and I’m getting used to the Zoom meetings) you are the only people I know that have read the Kendi book. I just finished it and want to share some of my thoughts about it. Do not feel obligated to respond!

I liked the structure of the book but thought he was too wordy, and I think if he had provided more specific actions, policies, and supporting data the book would have been better. I really liked all the history he provided in the gender chapter, for example. I thought his position that racism won’t go away because of education or moral arguments was original (at least to me) and compelling. As you all talked about at the meeting, it is only through changing racist policies and institutions will racism be eradicated in our society. I really appreciated his argument that changing those policies BEFORE overwhelming social pressure to do so is the most effective way to lead and promotes progress more quickly. He says everyone who considers themselves to be antiracist must be actively engaged in supporting antiracist policies and groups either through action or, giving us oldsters a break, through financial support. He promotes doing away with all institutions that accept racism.

My takeaways are:

–    I will try to direct more of my charitable contributions towards organizations that promote antiracism. I think Community Support Shelters is an example of a local organization, but of course there are many.

–    I really think it means that supporting efforts to “defund the police” and similar racist institutions is vital. I know that phrase rubs people the wrong way and I’ve had quite a few arguments with friends about it but as Kendi argues efforts to “reform” the institution have failed for decades. It’s time to start over and completely reimagine public safety so that a large number of our residents are  not more afraid of the police than are helped by them. I recognize that there will always be a need for some kind of police presence but it has to be radically restructured and the huge amount of money we spend on policing and incarceration can surely be better spent.

Any comments welcome!

From Jessica:
Thanks for your thoughtful comments and observations on the book.  As always, I appreciate your perspective and ways we can take action to confront racism.
I learned a lot from Kendi and nearly underlined the whole book!  It was a bit dogmatic in places and I found the “textbook” quality to it repetitive but it didn’t detract from the book’s powerful message.

I think some of his strongest messages were the ones commonly mentioned like “color blindness”  It may be well-intentioned but it does nothing to counteract while privilege/supremacy.  It prevents white people from recognizing implicit biases and harms people of color.
Other ideas such as reparations and truth & reconciliation are not new, but his sense of urgency made me think that we need to act on it soon.  Especially now as we see so much violence in our cities and racial injustices unmasked.
The section on capitalism and racism was well written and thought provoking to me.

And finally Kendi’s equation that racism=metastatic cancer is a vivid reminder of the tough road ahead that we as a nation face.

From Deb:

Thank you, Kim, for taking the time to return to Kendi’s book + share your thoughts, complete with action items—& you, too, Jessica.  I’ve left the last couple meetings carrying on conversations: so much to consider + then how do the words & awareness serve action?  like –as you note—working to defund the police [& majorly restructure prison-options, + support kids]. –wishing for more time w/you all & these books & authors.

Despite the endless repetition in Kendi’s book, I found it not one to skim + was reminded how much I—we?—need repetition when trying to change a mind groove, rut, habit, & appreciated that Kendi seemed to be working on himself, too—not some enlightened higher-being speaking down but right in there with us, even when well-intended often going astray [as mothers, too, I was reminded in BELOVED].  That means alot. I remain impressed the way Kendi went back to his parents’ deliberate sometimes askew efforts, + his handling of Assimilation, complete w/illusions & the strength it takes to survive within a culture that thinks itself Supreme in its whiteness. Yes, some tiresome prose AND much achieved—w/ another remarkable book following, BELOVED, and am mulling that daily, too.

Speaking of the Bible & Beloved the character, as we were at the end of the last Zoom conversation: the book’s epigraph, Romans 9:25—I will call them my people, which were not my people, and her beloved, which was not beloved.  –further complicates just who this figure is in the story for me.  + the wrongfully-killed will not stay deadà resurrection (Jesus & Beloved) notion also kindled more thoughts about our gender roles & how Morrison handles the subtleties and power of being a Mother—as a slave woman + as a woman [end-stop].  admit I’m conflicted on the “best-self” notion & individuation threads . . . plus impressed Morrison fully acknowledges the impossible place men are put in, too within set roles—expected to be tough etc.

which brings me back, too, to overvaluing words (while maintaining deep respect for great books!) & considering silence when it’s a chicken/fear-based position,or avoidant irresponsible, –racist, or a good move to defuse + return. Then there’s that return. .