Goals

• Protect & amplify black voices

• Understand that we all have things to work on

• Understand that we have a long way to go

Norms for Courageous Conversations About Race

1. Stay engaged.

2. Suspend assumptions.

3. Expect to experience discomfort.

4. Speak your truth.

5. Expect and accept a lack of closure.

What does this have to do with me?

• There is no “not being political” in this situation.

• Our privilege affects daily life, education, and the workplace

• Cultural appropriation in media we consume

Some things to be mindful of:

• Black communities are policed more heavily → more tickets, arrests, and violence.

• The pandemic is taking black lives at a higher rate.

• Systemic racism is real.

• “Black Lives Matter” isn’t saying that all lives or blue lives don’t matter.

• “I don’t see color” is problematic for a number of reasons (see page on Colorblindness)

What are the best ways to ally?

• Don’t expect black people to educate you – black people are going through enough right now. Be careful not to add to their burden and be mindful of what you are asking of them.

• Do honor the feelings of black people – while your instinct may be defensiveness, listen earnestly to black voices and black stories. Put black people’s feelings ahead of your own. Start giving black people the benefit of the doubt. Do not tell black people how to mourn, feel, or protest in response to their oppression.

• Do check yourself – racism is indoctrinated and systemic. Refrain from centering yourself in a movement that deserves your support but is not about you.

• Don’t compare racism to struggles you have experienced – while it may be a well-intentioned attempt at empathy, this conversational pivot prioritizes your struggles over racial discrimination.

• Don’t practice white saviorism

• Don’t talk about your white guilt