Chapter 4 - How To Be An Antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi

Chapter 4 - Biology

Biological Racist: One who is expressing the idea that the races are meaningfully different in their biology and that these differences create a hierarchy of value
Biological Antiracist: One who is expressing the idea that the races are meaningfully the same in their biology and there are no genetic racial differences.

Microaggressions, coined by Chester Pierce in 1970, and later defined by Derald Wing Sue as, "brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership."

Microaggression isn't an accurate term for actions that promote distress, anger, worry, depression, anxiety, pain, fatigue and suicide. Racist abuse would be the correct term.

Racism will not miraculously go away.
If we stop using racial categories -- leads to not being able to identify racial inequity.
Cannot identify racial inequity -- will not be able to identify racist policies.
Cannot identify racist policies -- cannot challenge racist policies.
Cannot challenge racist policies -- a world of inequity none of us can see, or resist.

"To be antiracist is to recognize there is no such thing as White blood or Black disease or natural Latinx athleticism." pg. 54 - Kendi

Self-Examination.
Do I call on certain students more than others? In my interactions with students, do I make assumptions or assume guilt/innocence because of race? These questions are mine and what I need to be reflecting on regularly. There is no biological difference between our collective humanity. Skin color is meaningful and I cannot ignore the impact it has on our daily lives. Experiences in the classroom, the mall, walking down the street are all impacted by skin color and with being white I cannot downplay or ignore this because of my whiteness. I cannot ignore reality and instead address it as an antiracist.

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