What kinds of anti-racist commitments would you like to ask of your target audience

Challenging “the new racism”:

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva argues in “The Central Frames of Colorblind Racism,” that the “new racism” is more subtle than racism during slavery and Jim Crow. Today, individuals most commonly uphold racism through “colorblindness,” the idea that if one “doesn’t see race” then its effects will go away. Colorblindness fails to recognize structural racism and blames Black people for lack of opportunities and socioeconomic inequality.

Some examples of the “new racism” include:

“Asian Americans are more successful because of hard work and family values. Black families need to value education in order to close the racial wage gap.”

“Slavery ended over a century ago. Things have gotten a lot better. We shouldn’t be talking about racism anymore.”

“I can’t be racist. I’m also a person of color, and I’ve been discriminated against by Black people.”

“It’s human nature to divide and conquer based on racial differences. We can’t do anything about it.”

Reflect back on your interactions with your loved ones. Where have you seen patterns of anti-Blackness? Identify if there are specific anti-Black viewpoints, perspectives, or practices that you would like to address in your conversations.

Before drafting your script, consider the following:

Who is your audience? Your scripts should be tailored for conversations with a particular person or set of people. Be strategic about how to best reach this person, and make sure your script is culturally competent (i.e. conversations with non-Black people of color may look different than conversations with white people).

What is your purpose? Your conversation will be most effective if you set realistic goals. What are 1-2 tangible points that you want your audience to understand? What kinds of anti-racist commitments would you like to ask of your target audience? While increasing awareness is important, changing behavior should be the goal of anti-racist work.

What strategies will be most effective? Keep in mind that conversations about racism can be challenging and uncomfortable. Approach the conversation with compassion and humility. Ask questions, and listen to the responses – you don’t want to just lecture at the person you are talking with. It is important that everyone feels heard. Assess whether data, emotional appeals, your own lived experiences, or a combination of the three would be most effective for reaching your target audience.

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