WHERE DO I START? 10 Things to Keep in Mind

If you’re white and starting to think about systemic racism, there’s a good chance you feel overwhelmed. You might be unclear what the problem is, or whether there even is a problem. The buzzwords and phrases around social justice may sound “wrong” to you, but it’s easier to stay quiet than reveal your ignorance by asking for clarification.

You might feel attacked or ashamed. You might be bewildered by the sense of injustice that’s in the air. You may feel like nothing was handed to you, yet suddenly you’re not allowed to complain or say certain things.

If you’re willing to learn, you can make a difference in your immediate world. Below are 10 things to keep in mind as you start your inquiry.

1. This is an ongoing process. Pace yourself.

2. Learn to listen. Then listen some more.

3. Many whites were raised to fear being wrong. Let that go.

4. You will make mistakes. How you handle them is where the most difficult work often lies.

5. Cultivate your curiosity.

6. Online resources can teach you the language of anti-racist work.

7. Books and videos by BIPoC* can help you understand the many harmful aspects of racist structures.

8. Your enlightenment is your own business. Black people have limited energy and time for teaching white people about racism. Talk to other white people. Catch yourself up.

9. Similarly, your feelings are your business. Crying and defensiveness are normal reactions, but they are distractions to the work. Feeling is no substitute for action.

10. No matter how hard you try, you will never fully understand the “lived experience” of Black people. Try anyway.

You can make a difference. Black people are protesting a system of policing that has resulted in their murders. The bar couldn’t be lower.

*Black, Indigenous, People of Color