A long noticed tendency is for white people who are following an anti-racist path to step away from and distance themselve from whites who have not worked to undo their racism. To not be associated with those racist whites and never talk to them. But this is counter productive to the goal of really transforming society. Especially as white people, we must stay committed to developing the anti-racist perspective in other whites. Someone took the time with us, and we must do so for others.
Tendencies of Some Educated Anti-Racist Whites
Anne Braden, whom this program was named after, was someone who really took the challenge of organizing and educating other whites seriously. She noticed the tendencies between anti-racist whites towards not-yet-anti-racist whites and suggested another way.
Tendency: Lean Back
Suggestion: Move in Closer
Tendency: Monitor and fear
Suggestion: Use vision-based, historically grounded assessments (understand why people are the way they are based on systems of domination and oppression)
Tendency: Police and control (the behavior and words of "racist" or "ignorant" whites)
Suggestion: Supporting and developing the bigger picture strategy (working with them to becoming anti-racist)
Tendency: Critique from the sidelines
Suggestion: Leading and developing leaders to move from the center (from within the community)
This is not saying to sign on with racist things that people are saying - no you must stay true to your politics, but instead of abandon people to their racism, engage them in debate as their community member. Stick with them and help them move forward instead of leaving them behind. We speak so much about how capitalism has taught us individuality - that the important thing is for you to get ahead. We want to transform ourselves to be thinking, how can we all get ahead.
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