How to Engage With the List
For folx who are very new to the self-work of dismantling their connections to and the perpetuation of white supremacy, racism, and bigotry:
Please start in the “Starting Your Anti-Racism Work” section. I cannot stress that enough. If you haven’t taken a deep dive into these things - hell, if you haven’t even stepped into the pool up to your knees - you need to take your time and start with building a learning base. If you really want to learn and unlearn? You need to start in the shallow end with floaties on.
And that’s enough pool analogies for one day.
Take your time. You’re starting what will be a lifelong journey to unlearn and reprogram how you show up in the world. Build your base, then start swimming in other watering holes.
OK. Now we’re done with pool analogies.I do not recommend reading a bunch of these books back-to-back. You have to allow yourself the time and space to learn, unlearn, grow, process, and get comfortable with your discomfort. Pick one book to read and give yourself a moment to absorb its contents, chapter by chapter. No speed-reading to get it done. Sit with what you’ve read. Then give yourself a week or two before deciding where your learning journey needs to go next. Do not overwhelm yourself. The moment you feel overwhelmed is the moment most people bail on doing the work.
Don’t be like most people.
For my Black and Brown folx, Indigenous folx, AAPI folx, Global Majority folx, and intersectional folx who have done some work and are continuing their journeys:
Be open to de-centering yourself while learning about the experiences of others and unlearning ingrained white supremacist ideologies, biases, bigotry, and stereotypes. If you grew up in Western culture, you’ve got a whole lot of funky stuff that’s been ingrained in you by your family, the communities you were raised in, and the environments you’ve been subjected to, as well as particular life experiences that have impacted how you view the world. And real talk? A lot of that baggage is rooted in white supremacy, bigotry, stereotypes, and oppression. If you’re diving into other cultures and experiences than your own, there will likely be some discomfort at times. All that ingrained funkiness will crop up. These things are often unconscious responses to discomfort or challenging, messy things that you have always thought to be true, that are now being disproved. I implore you not to run from those feelings. Unpack them, examine them, and approach them with curiosity. Think about where these feelings and beliefs come from. And continue being open to learning and unlearning. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
I do not recommend reading a bunch of these books back-to-back. You have to allow yourself the time and space to learn, unlearn, grow, process, and get comfortable with your discomfort. Pick one book to read and give yourself a moment to absorb its contents, chapter by chapter. No speed-reading to get it done. Sit with what you’ve read. Then give yourself a week or two before deciding where your learning journey needs to go next. Do not overwhelm yourself. The moment you feel overwhelmed is the moment most people bail on doing the work.
Don’t be like most people.