Extra Credit Reflection Post

I was so intrigued by what Dr. Ibram X Kenedi spoke about in this stream about his recent book and the elements of being anti-racist. In all of today’s ongoing issues with systemic racism in our country, I had never heard the term antiracist until tonight. When I first heard the term, I definition I associated with it was what most other people assumed about it at first, which was not making any racist comments or committing racist actions and showing support for the African American community and other minorities. But it is much more than that, it is about showing courage and vulnerability to step up to these racist thoughts and put more of verbal stop them, saying “I’m not racist” is not enough. By saying “I’m not racist”, I learned, that you are being racist because you are being complicit to others racist actions. I like how Dr. Kenedi mentioned that this common excuse is also rooted in teaching people how to deny being racist. I think this was a powerful statement and has open my eyes to those around me who use this phrase quite often and I finally see the problem with it. Another part of this stream that I like that he touched on was that white people have a hard time recognizing how they are not being racist. This is an ideology that has been present for while, something that ties to it is white people not recognizing their privilege. I think both of these concepts are deeply rooted within the home or neighborhood and then carried on into the school and higher institution settings. Today in society, white people are progressing more to understand their privilege and what it has granted them in life, for example being able to go to a better structured school, have more access to medicare and even live in better neighborhoods. Curriculum itself is the main problem in that it provides continuing structures and conditions that feed into racism.

Dr. Kenedi had me so intrigued the whole time because he is just so genuinely passionate about what he is fighting and demanding justice for. One point that got my attention was when he mentioned whites and African Americans can make a difference inside and outside the system. I was intrigued by the notion that in order for people to actually be part of the cause they must consider if they have the time, expertise, and funds to give to local and national racial justice organizations to help them fight on the frontline. Now within the system he brought up great examples of when people are in positions of power and they use those positions to benefit the collective group of African Americans or just to benefit themselves. One intersectionality of it was when African American Individuals are in high positions of policy making and they use that power to reinforce racism. By reinforcing this racism onto their own group they are only doing this to selfishly benefit within their work field and don’t care how the outcome will affect their society. The major take away I have come to agree with from this speech was we must start raising children in an anti-racist society so we protect them from entering a higher racist community. I really enjoyed Dr. Kenedi’s speech and I hope to hear more of him in the future!