Dear Anne,
I am new to public support of racial justice. I have very rarely stated anything controversial on my social media accounts. Recently, I've been making an effort to amplify Black voices and share on social media. My friends and family have mostly been supportive, but a few people have responded with thinly veiled racist beliefs. I've responded to these comments as best I can, but feel that I need to better educate myself to best counter their racist arguments.
So, should I stop posting things on social media until I'm better equipped to handle racist remarks? Or should I do what I can now to amplify Black voices and beg forgiveness if my responses are lackluster? My leaning is towards the latter (not wanting to exhibit white fragility or an unwillingness to speak) but I do fear I'm doing more harm than good.
-Unsure on Upshur
Dear Unsure on Upshur,
Thanks for writing in! The short answer to your question is a resounding keep doing what you can to promote racial justice, amplify Black voices, and respond to racism! Here at SURJ DC, we think saying something, even if it’s not perfect, is better than silence. Alicia Garza, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, has emphasized the importance of doing “what you know, and what is within your reach, even if it’s imperfect” and we wholeheartedly agree!
In addition to amplifying Black voices, we also encourage you to use your platform to make it clear that you as a white person have an important role and mutual interest in ending white supremacy, and invite others to join you. From a SURJ post written soon after the murder of George Floyd:
To end police brutality, white supremacy, and to build a movement to get us all free, we need to move people with us — namely people who are conflicted or watching from the sidelines. This means calling in our folks — people in our families, faith communities, neighborhoods, and workplaces — inviting them to join a movement and be on the right side of history. It might feel good to just yell at other white people in the short run. But when we spend time with those who are awakening in this moment and are wanting to show up, as imperfect as they are, that helps us all. This is the work.
If you’re going to be engaging with friends or family in challenging conversations, we recommend taking it offline if possible. If you’re able to connect over the phone, or for a socially distant visit, it can help ameliorate any misunderstandings that could be construed via text or social media. We recommend you check out SURJ’s handy guide for calling in other white folx on the issue of protest “violence” during anti-racism uprisings. Some of the key recommendations can apply to any related topic:
Turn to curiosity over judgment. Strive to demonstrate genuine interest in understanding their point of view.
Seek empathy and connection. Wherever possible, illustrate where there is overlap in experiences or beliefs.
Avoid “why” questions. These can make people feel defensive and drive a wedge in the conversation.
While you don’t have to have all the answers to be a voice against anti-Black racism, we do encourage you to seek out more information to help you feel more confident in your understanding of institutional racism and how it is woven into the fabric of American society. While this list is by no means exhaustive, we think the “Learning” resources on our website or a SURJ DC Reading Group (see our emails and social posts to sign up) could be valuable.
I’ll leave you with this quote:
THE BATTLE IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A BATTLE FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF WHITE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM IS OUR ISSUE. IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE’RE CALLED ON TO HELP PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH. WE NEED TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH IT AS IF OUR LIVES DEPENDED ON IT BECAUSE REALLY, IN TRUTH, THEY DO. — ANNE BRADEN
In solidarity,
Anne
“Ask Anne” is a project of SURJ DC to help answer questions about race, racism, and white supremacy. Our goal is to take labor off people of color, make the anti-racist movement more accessible, and bring more white people into racial justice work in DC. Anne Braden (1924-2006) was a white anti-racist organizer, journalist, and educator in racial justice movements in the South. She worked from the perspective that white people have a self-interest in dismantling white supremacy. We hope to honor her legacy with Ask Anne. See the Anne Braden institute for Social Justice Research page for additional resources about Anne.
Are you a white person living in DC with questions about race, racism, or white supremacy? Write to us at surjdc+askanne@gmail.com with your question, a preferred pseudonym, and subject line “Ask Anne.” Your name will not be printed. We’ll publish a selection monthly.