Action learning to undo racism

Tools/practices/performances for whites to undo racism. first version written by Patrick Gibbs on September 18, 2008.


 * How I frame this: I approach this as a process of action learning for transformation -- I mean that we learn by doing and reflecting, and we're doing and learning these things to bring about transformation in ourselves and our society.     So what's action learning...? when I write "learn how to facilitate working meetings," I mean watch others do it, ask questions and consult other sources (friends, books, internet, etc), actually facilitate a meeting (maybe co-facilitate with someone with more experience), and reflect about how it all went (generally in that order). Also, if you keep a journal about your whole learning cycle, from listening/studying to doing to reflecting back to listening/studying to etc., then you'll be able to give a meaningful answer when someone asks, "How can I learn that?" (there's also a Wikipedia article about action learning if you want a more formal explanation.)


 * Sections: For clarity, I've put the ideas under five headings. Remember that they're all connected and mutually supportive -- one or two without the others will be less effective than all of them together.
 * Note: The ideas I present here are tools that have been given to me by many people and groups -- I do not claim creation or ownership of these ideas, and I do take responsibility for writing them this time, in this way.
 * This evolves: Change this, add to it, re-write it, etc. It's not set in stone, it is by no means "the big comprehesive list of everything" (there's no such thing), it's just what I've managed to write today about what I've learned so far.

ACTIVE LEARNING:


 * write a learning journal regularly (each day or week or such):
 * Write about my experiences, emotions, things I read/see/hear, questions and realizations.
 * Answer the Four Action Learning Questions:
 * What's going well [as someone striving to undo racism]?
 * What's challenging [as someone striving to undo racism]?
 * What are my long-term goals and visions?
 * What are my next achievable steps?
 * Create questions that are useful prompts for regular journaling.
 * Review your journal entries regularly, maybe each week.
 * create a personal/family whiteness auto-biography, as text or map or timeline or spoken or however you want to
 * find ways to be more self-aware and self-reflective. The aim here is to be able to recognize the thoughts I have that come from a racist society. Only by being aware of myself can I begin to heal myself.
 * learn with other people! Humans are pretty social, so learn with a group. For example: with a friend, take 10 minutes each to speak through the action learning questions. See the other sections of this document for more about the social aspect of learning for transformation.

STUDY:


 * how does racism function?
 * study what it means that white supremacy is a system
 * learn about intersectionality, and learn about how oppression and supremacy function in people's complex lives. (Racism isn't in a vacuum.)
 * strive to get and honest, realistic view of the present and the past
 * read/watch/listen to media created by people that are excluded from the mainstream media
 * when a concept or term is used (such as "white" or "politically correct"), seek out history of the concept
 * learn histories of undoing/healing from racism
 * look for white people who did this work in the past, and currently
 * study the histories of movements to undo racism, and learn about what situation those movements are in today and what issues they're dealing with and which questions they're asking/answering/contemplating
 * learn histories of racism and anti-racism at Hampshire College (check the online archives, the disorientation packet, and other sources), in the Connecticut River Valley, and in the other places I've lived
 * study whiteness and white culture (professor Enoch Page at UMass teaches about this).

 PARTICIPATE in the MOVEMENT: 


 * organize, organize, organize.
 * Participate in WARF meetings.
 * [learn how to] be an active follower of the leadership given by People of Color. This means not taking control of groups and projects, and also not waiting for word by word instructions from People of Color leaders. Follow their leadership while using my intelligence also.
 * learn how to collaborate effectively.
 * learn how to facilitate working meetings
 * learn how to plan campaigns
 * learn about popular education and action learning
 * arrive to appointments/meetings on time
 * cultivate mutually supportive relationships
 * don't just smile and nod all the time. Use my intelligence to give constructive criticism and really think about things.

 COMMUNICATE and RELATE: 


 * cultivate relationships (friendships) with other people working to undo racism
 * talk with my close friends and family about all of this (not too preachy, listen to what they think and feel).
 * try not to distance myself from white people. This includes those who act in vocally/blatantly/mainstream-recognized racist ways.
 * talk about this with your white friends and other white people. Bringing it up might feel awkward or scary -- bring it up anyways, and write about how it felt and work through those emotions with a support group or by using peer co-counseling, or any other way that works for me.
 * pay attention to whose voices are heard and whose ideas are implemented in groups I participate in (classrooms, work, community groups, spiritual community, government, etc.)
 * act on what I know:
 * speak up when someone tells a racist joke. Note that saying "hey, you're a racist" usually doesn't get anywhere desirable. Try stating my reaction and asking questions, like "I don't think that's funny. What do you mean by that?"

TAKE CARE of MYSELF:


 * make sure I have fun sometimes
 * for some people, there's a spiritual bit to staying well and healing from racism
 * learn from mistakes. When I stumble, then I get back up, reflect on what happened and what I might do differently, and start going again. Don't scorn myself.
 * participate in a mutually supportive community. This could be a white identity group, a co-counseling group, close friends and family, or many other forms of community.