Handbook for Understanding Racism

WE ARE UBUNTU RACIAL EQUITY TOOLS FOR CHANGEMAKERS AND MOVEMENTS

HANDBOOK FOR UNDERSTANDING RACISM

HANDBOOK

OUR VISION “...IT MUST BE REMEMBERED —IT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED— THAT THOSE CENTURIES OF [RACIAL] OPPRESSION ARE ALSO THE HISTORY OF A SYSTEM OF THOUGHT...” - JAMIS BALDWIN

The concept of racial equity is still relatively little illuminated in modern societies, even though it is one of the most commonly used words in everyday discourse. The issue seems to be that they are constructed within a worldview that is the product of a racially structured world.

As long as western politics thinks in a racist frame of mind and does not center racial injustice in its thinking about justice, but strives for an idealism that focuses on universalism, formal equality, etc., it does no work to address the racial injustice that is deeply rooted in modern societies.

Thus, if we seek justice, discourse must be challenged in such a way that it takes its limited margin and broadens it to achieve racial justice, and this is possible when racial issues are presented as critical and central to justice.

CONCEPTS

Race The idea of “race” was born and developed in Europe. Race, like class and gender, is a social concept that is constructed but "has a social reality"; as a result, having constructed the concept of race, it has real effects on racialized persons.

Racial System

Racism

The racial structure is rooted in what is constructed as a racial category that gives a systematic advantage to Europeans who are "white" and a systematic disadvantage to nonEuropeans who are "non-white."

Racism is the practice of claiming the innate superiority of particular race over all others, resulting in the entitlement to dominance.

CONCEPTS

Systemic Racism

Individual Racism

Systemic racism refers to the policies and practices that are established in existing institutions that contribute to the exclusion, in whole or in part, of certain groups of people.

Individual racism refers to the racially based beliefs, opinions, or behaviors of a particular person. Individual racism is linked to broader social structures and is backed and reinforced by systemic racism.

RACISM OCCURS When the target of the prejudice has less power than the perpetrator. as an exercise of power. social structures and actions which oppress, exclude, limit and discriminate against nondominant individuals and groups.

RACISM Racism = racial prejudice + social and institutional power Racism = a system of advantage based on race Racism = a system of oppression based on race Racism = a white supremacy system

RACISM = RACIAL PREJUDICE + SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL POWER

RACIAL PREJUDICE

Prejudice is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL POWER

An attitude based on limited information, often stereotypes.

Prejudices in general are negative, but not necessarily all of them. Especially when they are targeted towards people who are oppressed, they are damaging simply by denying the individuality of the person.

Prejudice, discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one`s own race is superior.

access to resources the ability to influence others access to decision-makers to get what you want done the ability to define reality for yourself and others

RACISM = A SYSTEM OF ADVANTAGE BASED ON RACE

WHITE PRIVILEDGE

White privilege is simply the unearned privileges that are daily enjoyed by white people because they are not subject to racism. White privilege signifies that everyday life is not affected by the color of one's skin.

SOME EXAMPLES OF WHITE PRIVILEDGE I am not constantly questioned by strangers about my origins and family history/family tree.

I can easily find things like pictures, children's postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children's books that have people of my color on them.

I can speak with my mouth full without people saying that is typical of persons of my skin color.

I can prove myself in difficult situations without being held up as a shining example to all people of my color.

I can buy patches in "skin color" that more or less actually match my skin.

“Privilege isn’t about what you’ve gone through; it’s about what you haven’t had to go through.” - Janaya Future Khan

RACISM = A SYSTEM OF OPPRESSION BASED ON RACE

OPPRESSION

The conjunction of prejudice and institutional power that creates a system that oppresses some groups and favors others.

INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION

Oppression = Power + Prejudice

Internalized oppression results in people of color internalizing negative ideologies about themselves and other BIPoC (particularly Black and Indigenous women) for the sake of white comfort and well-being.

RACISM = A WHITE SUPREMACY SYSTEM

WHITE SUPREMACY

WHITE FRAGILITY

It is the idea that white people and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions are superior to BIPOC communities and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

Robin DiAngelo refers to white fragility as “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.”

When racism is discussed, people go into defence mode, making it impossible to really listen to and understand what racism really is and what its challenges are. White fragility contributes to upholding the system of white supremacy.

INTERSECTINALITY

An intersectional lens to equity requires us to engage in a reflective process, recognising the ways in which different social identities (including our own) produce intersecting systems of privilege or oppression, and how these systems create different lived experiences within our social context.

Crenshaw advocated that discrete definitions of discrimination as occurring within a single category (e.g. attributing discrimination to either race or gender but not both) did not capture the experiences of people who experience discrimination due to the specific intersection of their multiple identities. Focusing on the experiences of black women and other women of colour, she demonstrated that using a single-issue approach to discrimination results in the systemic exclusion of intersecting discrimination.

ANTI-RACISM

Countering racism needs determined actions and efforts.

The task of dismantling systemic and institutionalised racism requires more than superficial gestures but instead entails assessing, changing, and even eliminating longstanding systems that lead to inequality.

Anti-racism is an active approach to life and attitude in the world in order to make it better.

Considering that racism manifests itself in all social spheres and at different levels of action, and thus can be used to create and maintain social exclusion, there is a need for antiracist education and a corresponding approach in all areas of society.

ALLYSHIP

A person of privilege aims to engage in antiracist work and in mutual support with marginalized communities through an intentional, continuous, and demanding process of learning and understanding.

Allyship is a lifetime practice of creating ties with underprivileged persons and/or communities built on honesty, commitment, and engagement. Allyship is not an identity, it is a process.

“Racism should never have happened and so you don’t get a cookie for reducing it.”

-CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

As an Ally Listen without judgment Recognize and acknowledge your prejudices.

Learn more about the history of racism Use your power to make to support BIPOC Accept criticism, even if it's unpleasant Don't center yourself in the work Strive to do better

CONTACT US

NONTOKOZO SABIC

AYHAN FERASET

Co-Founder of Rice Ubuntu Network

Head of Shelter International e.V.

She is an advocate for climate and social justice, community living, and North-South healing and reconciliation, utilising the principles of UBUNTU.

He is experienced project manager, trainer and local activist in social field.

riseubuntunetwork@gmail.com

feraset@shelterinternational.eu