From theory to praxis

For several years I have been doing the intellectual thing about antiracism. I’ve read lots of books; I wanted to be current on theory, events, thinkers, movements. I also wanted to really practice listening and understanding BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color), intentionally turning off all the filters I could put between myself and their creation. To do that, I’ve read a lot of BIPOC fiction. (Note: “Doing the intellectual thing about antiracism” is not doing antiracism, at all. Pretty much the opposite.)

My intention for 2020 was to begin gaining mentorship from one or more black or brown activists, to move my theory into praxis. (Note: “Gaining mentorship from one or more black or brown activists” is also not doing antiracism. Again, pretty much the opposite.) I hadn’t initiated this when George Floyd was murdered by cops in Minneapolis for suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20. The city, the country, the world erupted into #blacklivesmatter protests, and I figured out where to go.

I joined what I guess would be called a training community run by a 56yo black woman, a social worker by day. The goal of her activism is “to lessen and mitigated harm to black and brown people, inflicted and perpetuated by White people”. Her primary strategy is to deconstruct and recondition White people so they stop their direct harm of BIPOC, and reduce White harm both through direct engagement and service to organizations working and the local and systemic levels.

I’ve accomplished more in my first three weeks in this community than I did in three years of reading books. I knew I was missing a piece; I just wish I had realized that sooner. Now, I’m walking with hundreds of other White people in service to antiracism. I’m engaging outwardly now, and doing things that have an immediate impact on BIPOC lives.

The book work I did was valuable; it’s definitely a factor in how I’ve gotten so much done in three weeks. I understand everything I’m being asked to do, and how to do it; and I’m not having any trouble putting myself in service, keeping my internalized White supremacy subordinated.

But it was not enough. It put me and my development in the center of the antiracist narrative. That’s being racist in order to be antiracist: I know you can see the impossibility of that. Now I’ve got my center where it should be: on BIPOC, and focused on reducing White harm to them.