Chapter 18 - How To Be An Antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi

Chapter 18 - Survival

​"The history of racist ideas is the history of powerful policymakers erecting racist policies out of self-interest, then producing racist ideas to defend and rationalize the inequitable effects of their policies, while everyday people consume those racist ideas, which in turn sparks ignorance and hate." Pg. 230 

Policy needs to change before mental change can happen.

"Our world is suffering from metastatic cancer. Stage 4. Racism has spread to nearly every part of the body politic, intersecting with bigotry of all kinds, justifying all kinds of inequities by victim blaming; heightening exploitation and misplaced hate; spurring mass shooting, arms races, and demagogues who polarize nations; shutting down essential organs of democracy; and threatening the life of human society with nuclear war and climate change." Pg. 234

"But before we can treat, we must believe. Believe all is not lost for you and me and our society. Believe in the possibility that we can strive to be antiracist from this day forward. Believe in the possibility that we can transform our societies to be antiracist from this day forward. Racist power is not godly. Racist policies are not indestructible. Racial inequities are not inevitable. Racist ideas are not natural to the human mind." Pg. 238

Self-Reflection.
What policies am I learning about and promoting change or implementation. I have a hope that this country, this world, will be better for my children. I plan on to continue learning to capture and eliminate my racist ideas and policy position so that I can be an antiracist. I will strive to listen to those who are impacted by racist ideas and policies. I vow to use my privilege to build others up in love. I now understand that this is an everyday process and new ideas and new policies will be introduced that need to be evaluated. I want to be held to the standard of being an antiracist in my ideas and actions.

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