Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist (2019)-1

Page 12: Definitions and Soul Liberation

Definitions of Racism and Antiracism

• Racist: A person supporting a racist policy through actions or inaction, or expressing a racist idea.

• Antiracist: A person supporting an antiracist policy through actions or expressing an antiracist idea.

Soul Liberation at Urbana '70

• Event Description: Soul Liberation performed at the University of Illinois to an audience of eleven thousand students, contrasting sharply with the conservative image of White ensembles present previously.

• Historical Context: This event marked a significant push by Black students for recognition within the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, focusing on Black theology.

• Personal Connection: The performance had deep personal ties as the narrator's parents were among the attendees, who had traveled from New York City for this event.

Background of the Parents

• Parents' Journey: Larry and Carol met through church events in NYC and decided to attend Urbana ’70, where they were inspired by Tom Skinner’s preaching and the music of Soul Liberation.

• Impact of Tom Skinner: Skinner was a significant figure for Black liberation theology, and his works resonated deeply with the parents, leading them to confront and reassess their faith in light of racial identity and justice.

Page 13: The Influence of Tom Skinner

Skinner's Teachings

• Skinner's Keynotes: He began addressing the complicity of the evangelical church in historical injustices—slavery and segregation—and redefined Jesus as a revolutionary figure committed to social justice.

• Message Transformation: His definition of the gospel emphasized liberation and justice, encouraging the students to embrace a new understanding.

Reaction from the Black Community

• Culmination of the Conference: The students responded enthusiastically to Skinner’s call for activism and liberation, reflecting a significant cultural shift towards Black Power and solidarity.

• Parents' Transformation: This moment was pivotal for Larry and Carol, altering how they viewed their roles within the church and society, and leading them to embrace Black liberation theology.

Page 14: Personal Transformation

Commitment to Black Liberation

• Becoming Activists: Following Urbana '70, Larry and Carol engaged actively in the Black community, shifting their focus from saving Black people to liberating them.

• Cultural Changes: They adopted cultural expressions associated with Black pride, and began to question the relevance of traditional Christian teachings to Black struggles.

Encounter with James Cone

• Cone's Influence: Larry’s attendance at Cone’s class solidified his understanding of Christianity as a vehicle for liberation, further affirming their transformative faith journey.

• Defining Christianity: Cone’s definition of a Christian aligned closely with the struggles for liberation, marking a departure from their previous views.

Page 15: Personal Legacy and Antiracist Journey

Connection to Parenting and Antiracism

• Generational Impact: The transformation of the parents influenced their children, embedding an antiracist ideology from the very beginning.

• Importance of Definitions: The narrator emphasizes the necessity of clearly defining terms like racism and antiracism to effectively navigate racial issues.

Racism Defined

• Understanding Racism: Racism is a combination of racist policies and ideas that perpetuate racial inequities.

• Examples: The narrator uses data showing disparities in home ownership to illustrate racial inequity.

Page 16: Racist vs. Antiracist Policies

Distinction Between Policies

• Racist Policy: Any action that creates or perpetuates racial inequity.

• Antiracist Policy: A measure that promotes racial equity.

• Policy Implications: Emphasizes that all policies reflect either racial inequity or equity; thus, race-neutral policies are often misleading.

Discrimination Dynamics

• Discrimination Explained: Racial discrimination is seen as both a result and manifestation of deeper policies; claiming race-neutrality is a tactic used to uphold inequity.

• Need for Antiracist Actions: Emphasizes that previous discrimination requires active reparations in the form of antiracist policies and actions.

Page 17: Ideas and Their Implications

Racist Ideas Defined

• Concept of Racism: Racist ideas posit inherent inequalities among racial groups, while antiracist ideas argue for the equality among all racial groups.

• Historical Context: Discusses the legacy of Thomas Jefferson's views on racial differences as foundational to American racism.

Understanding Antiracism

• Antiracist Ideas: Ideas that challenge the notions of racial superiority and seek social equity.

• Linking Policies to Ideas: There exists a reciprocal relationship between racist policies and ideas and antiracist policies and ideas.

Page 18: Racial Disparities and Personal Histories

Personal Reflection

• Grandparents' Legacy: Reflects on the narrator’s family background and the impact of historical racial policies on their lives.

• Health Inequities: Highlights disparities in health outcomes between racial groups, citing specific statistics to illustrate systemic issues.

Ongoing Struggles

• Continuation of Racist Policies: Reflects on how modern policies continue to impact health and demographics in racially focused ways.

• Voting Rights and Racism: Discusses contemporary examples of voter suppression aimed primarily at racial minorities.

Page 19: Confronting Racism

Call to Action

• Personal Responsibility: Emphasizes the importance of individual choice in striving to be antiracist, framing it as an ongoing journey.

• Resistance to Racism: Points out that achieving true antiracism requires conscious efforts to challenge ingrained societal norms and values.

Conclusion

• Radical Choice: To be an antiracist is to make a radical choice against the backdrop of a history rooted in racism, necessitating a profound change in mindset and action.