THREE ANTI-RACIST ACTIONS WHITE ACADEMICS CAN TAKE THIS WEEK

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Posted to our faculty listserv June 15, 2020 (our first)
THREE ANTI-RACIST ACTIONS WHITE ACADEMICS CAN TAKE *THIS WEEK* 
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” –Angela Y. Davis. 
Q: What, exactly, can white academics do to contribute to this fight for global human rights in this historic moment? 
A: We can do what we always do as teachers and scholars: research, read, pay attention, and teach our white students to do the same. For a starter list, check out what’s happened to the top ten best seller lists over the last two weeks! https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/books/antiracism-books-race-racism.html
  1. ACTION ITEM--Follow. Read. Listen. Don’t reply/speak. This is our time to listen.  #BlackInTheIvory.  Example: Just minutes after Ashanka turned me on this this, I (Shannon) found FIVE CONCRETE TIPS “For academics (especially White academics, but this goes for everyone) reading #BlackintheIvory and wondering how you can support Black students.
  2. READING/LISTENING: NPR’s podcast Code Switch   (you can’t go wrong, but one of the most recent “can’t miss” episodes is "Unmasking the Agitator” [June 10, 2020])
  3. PRACTICE/SYLLABUS: 
    • Class Activity “How to Deconstruct Racism one Headline at a Time” (hilarious, brilliant TED Talk, with an associated database of “Living While Black” headlines . 
    • Syllabus: Check syllabi for voices of color. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Intersectionality very important.” VERY important. 
We’re happy to complete future lists over the coming weeks. We hope you will as well. 

In Solidarity, 
Shannon and Ashanka













Teach our white students why w




YouTube: “All Plates Matter” 
Cartoon: “All Houses Matter

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