Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor

by Layla F. Saad

We have all had the experience of stepping on someone’s foot or bumping into someone and immediately apologizing. It was not our intention to hurt them, but it is understood that the impact is still that harm was caused. Instead of refusing to apologize because we did not mean it, we rush to apologize because we understand we have caused pain.

Becoming defensive, derailing, crying, falling silent, or dramatically leaving the space or conversation.

Focusing on intent while ignoring or minimizing impact.

Focusing on how you can quickly fix things through optical allyship rather than really taking the time to reflect on your actions and do further research on what you are being called out/in for.

By continuing to focus on your intent and your feelings, you practice the belief that you matter more than BIPOC. That your feelings of discomfort about being called out/in matter more than the pain that BIPOC experience at the hands of racism.

The fear of being called out/in is a dangerous deterrent to genuine antiracism practice.

You will be called out/in as you do antiracism work. Making mistakes is how you learn and do better going forward. Being called out/in is not a deterrent to the work. It is part of the work.

Maya Angelou famously said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

White feminists will often ask BIPOC to set aside their race and issues with racism and instead band together in sisterhood under the issue of gender and sexism first.

The feminist movement has, from its very beginnings, been an extension of white supremacy. It has marginalized BIPOC and expected BIWOC to fit themselves into a so-called universal feminism that is in reality white-centered.

White feminists will tell BIWOC that talking about race is “divisive” and that we should focus first on being united under gender.

White feminism ignores or excludes the groundbreaking works of Black feminist leaders like Kimberlé Crenshaw, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Alice Walker, Angela Davis, or other nonwhite feminists.

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” —CORNEL WEST

Taking responsibility for your own antiracist education with the free and paid resources already publicly available, instead of expecting BIPOC to do that work for you. •Talking to your friends and family members who have white privilege about practicing antiracism. •Having racial conversations with other white people, whether in person or online. •Donating money to causes, movements, and organizations that are working toward liberation and dignity for BIPOC. •Paying money to more BIPOC businesses, entrepreneurial ventures, and projects. •Amplifying BIPOC voices (whether or not their work is about racism and social justice). •Showing up at protests and marches for BIPOC.

Calling out/in leaders, organizations, and institutions that are discriminating against and doing harm to BIPOC. •Continuing to show up, even when you are called out, you feel discomfort or fatigue, or you are not rewarded for it (socially or financially). •Taking up less space and allowing BIPOC to take up more space so that they can be heard and their leadership can be followed. •Risking relationships and comfort by speaking up instead of staying silent.

“The relevant question is not whether all Whites are racist but how we can move more White people from a position of active or passive racism to one of active antiracism.”

•I am committed to showing up for this lifelong antiracism work because… •I am committed to challenging my white fragility by… •I am committed to using my voice for antiracism work by… •I am committed to challenging racism in other people with white privilege by…

•I am committed to uplifting, supporting, and centering BIPOC by… •I am committed to financially supporting the following BIPOC movements and causes… •I am committed to decentering myself as a person with white privilege by… •I am committed to continuing my lifelong antiracism education by… •I am committed to the following values that will help me to practice antiracism… •I am committed to breaking through my white apathy by… •I am committed to showing up even when I make mistakes by… •I am committed to using my privilege for antiracism by… •I am committed to challenging my optical allyship by… •I am committed to being a good ancestor by…

No matter who you are, you have the power to influence change in the world.

You can continue to unconsciously allow white supremacy to use you as it used your ancestors, to cause an impact of harm and marginalization to BIPOC. Or you can intentionally choose to disrupt and dismantle white supremacy within yourself and your communities so that BIPOC can live free of racism and oppression. The choice is yours. The moment is now. Help change the world. Become a good ancestor.