Misconceptions about Committing to Anti-racism Work

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

I am not and never will be an anti-racism educator or expert. However, I am committed to anti-racism work and to the elevation of the voices of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color. When I first began the lifelong journey of dismantling racism in myself as an individual and in institutions, I had many misconceptions. I know that I still have misconceptions and blind spots that will be revealed as I continue doing this work. I want to share six misconceptions with you all. If you are white and just beginning your journey, I hope this list helps you learn more quickly than I did so that our behavior doesn’t continue to harm Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color.

Misconception 1: I can’t make a difference because I don’t have a platform. A platform is necessary for my words and actions to matter in this work.

Why This Is Wrong: Kathy Khang said, "You cannot wait to build a platform to speak up" on the HER with Amena Brown podcast in Season 1 Episode 9, “Body Language featuring Kathy Khang.” In her book Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up, Kathy Khang wrote, “But remember, speaking up is never a question of gaining audience size. It's an act of obedience and faithfulness" (Khang, 2018, p. 151).

Solution: Be obedient and faithful moment by moment whether anyone sees or acknowledges your words or actions.

Misconception 2: White people will only listen to white people [who have positioned themselves as educators and trainers] when they are entering the work. 

Why This Is Wrong: In the March webinar for her Patreon supporters “Let’s Talk About White People Making Money off of Anti-racism Work,” Tina Strawn and others unpacked numerous reasons why it is problematic to pay white people for an anti-racism education. Tina Strawn explained that white trainers center themselves as the beginning point.

Solution: Elevate the voices of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color [who are anti-racism educators and trainers]. Recommend resources from Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color to white people when they are entering the work and continue recommending resources by Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color.

Misconception 3: I need to connect the grief of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, People of Color in specific ways to white people for them to be moved to action.

Why This Is Wrong: In the Truth’s Table podcast episode “The Kids are NOT Alright!”, Ekemini Uwan, Michelle Higgins, and Dr. Christina Edmondson discussed the separation of families at the southern border of the United States. Ekemini Uwan stated, “That ‘offness’ [we feel] should not be predicated upon whether we have children or not. And that’s, I think, some of the problematic advocacy that I’m seeing is, ‘My child. Because I couldn’t bear to be separated from my child.’ Ok. That’s fine. That’s well and good. But let’s not center you. Let’s center the actual children who are right now being held in cages. A fourteen-month year old who has not been bathed in 85 days who is covered with lice. That should make your soul cry out whether you have birth children, whether you have adopted them, whether you have not. It does not matter. That child is a human being made in the image of God, and all of our souls should cry out. And we should be repenting and weeping and wailing in sackcloth and ashes.”

Solution: See the inherent dignity in each person as someone made in the imago Dei period. Apply this to the suffering and injustice experienced by all Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color. Don’t distract from the issue at hand by centering yourself and basing your solidarity with Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color on, “I can’t imagine if” scenarios.

Misconception 4: I can't mess up or fail in this work. I have to do all I can to ensure I do not make mistakes, even if that means staying silent sometimes because I don’t want to say something wrong.

Why This Is Wrong: In the video “The Importance of Normalizing Conversations About Race + White Supremacy,” L. Glenise Pike said that we need to let ourselves be human. She explained that we will make mistakes and must be held accountable, and perfectionism allows us to hide behind what we think is a noble reason to not have these conversations. She sums this up as self-preservation. 

Solution: I would rather say and do something wrong and be corrected by Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color than be silent and do nothing at all. Silence and complacency make me complicit in upholding institutional and individual racism.

Misconception 5: I must jump right in and educate all the white people.

Why This Is Wrong: In The Trinity Academy webinar “From Master’s Wife to Social Influencer,” Weeze of the That’s Not How That Works podcast stressed the need to ask, “Who do I need to become?” before asking, “What do I do?”

Solution: Weeze explained that we need to become people who can maintain actionability. We need accountability for this. Submit yourself to the leadership of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color and financially support them for their work.

Misconception 6: I have to immediately block and cancel white people who make mistakes.

Why This Is Wrong: In the same webinar “From Master’s Wife to Social Influencer,” Myisha T of Check Your Privilege said that she is not into throw away culture.

Solution: Myisha T instead operates from the mindset of seeing the humanity of others first. Weeze said they prefer redemption culture, which provides people the opportunity to redeem themselves. This was said with the words of Maya Angelou in mind: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

I've learned all of this and so much more by buying books, listening to podcasts, signing up for webinars, and financially supporting Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color in other ways. You can, too. You should, too. Don’t look to me or other white people to educate you, and do not pay white people to educate you. Pay Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color anti-racism educators and activists. Join Patreon communities for monthly webinars like the ones referenced here. If we are truly committed to anti-racism work, we will put our money where our mouth is and believe that the education is worth paying for to receive it from those with lived experience and actual expertise. Then, we can do as Myisha T says and live into the work.

Grace and peace.

***Edited to add: Other Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander People of Color who are anti-racism educators may have differing opinions from the educators I referenced here.


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