"Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable."
– Kenyan Proverb
"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."
– Arthur Ashe
"Just don't give up what you're trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."
– Ella Fitzgerald
The original 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge© is our call to action and founded in Black excellence –– a #BlackIdea. We welcome you and hope you will come with us, as we work toward the goal to create systemic and organizational change throughout the world.
READ
Eric Katz unveils the Trump administration's Fall 2020 policy to police and obstruct diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings. (Excerpt of photo by Alex Brandon/AP)
LISTEN
Breaking Green Ceilings Podcast*
Amplifies the voices of environmentalists from historically underrepresented communities including Disabled, Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color and accomplices.
(1 hour episodes)
*Access where you listen to podcasts
Louder Than A Riot Podcast
Hosted by NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden this podcast reveals the interconnected rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration and explores power from all angles — the power the music industry wields over artists, the power of institutional forces that marginalize communities of color, the power of the prison industrial complex and the power dynamics deep-rooted in the rap game (1 hour episodes)
Introducing: Nice White Parents
From Serial and The New York Times, reporter Chana Joffe-Walt looks at the 60-year relationship between white parents and the public school down the block. Includes reading list and discussion guide, calls in/out white progressives.
Teaching To Thrive Podcast*
Hosts Bettina Love & Chelsey Culley-Love share ideas that strengthen the everyday lives of Black and Brown students within our schools and communities. Each episode is aimed at empowering our knowledge for collective liberation. (20-40 minute episodes)
*Access where you listen to podcasts
Black Voices in Healthcare Podcast
By the acclaimed medical storytelling community, The Nocturnists, who in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, invited in Black medical community luminaries, Ashley McMullen, MD and Kimberly Manning, MD, to host this series about how being Black shapes medical workers’ personal and professional lives (30 minutes-1 hour episodes)
*Access where you listen to podcasts
Louder Than A Riot Podcast
Hosted by NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden this podcast reveals the interconnected rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration and explores power from all angles — the power the music industry wields over artists, the power of institutional forces that marginalize communities of color, the power of the prison industrial complex and the power dynamics deep-rooted in the rap game (1 hour episodes)
Do the Work Podcast
Hosted by Brandon Kyle Goodman explores race and relationships. Each episode is an intimate conversation between two people who know each other well, and have had or are still having a struggle to cross the racial barrier. We bring them together so they can finally have a real conversation about race, and we can all learn how to be anti-racist in our daily lives. Debby Irving has a small role in each episode (30-50 minute episodes)
*Access where you listen to podcasts
Acclaimed New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, examines how slavery has transformed America, connecting past and present through the oldest form of storytelling (30-45 minute episodes)
Duke University Professor of African and African American Studies, Mark Anthony Neal, interviews Black Studies in arts, education, music, sports, and more. (20 minute-1 hour episodes)
*Also access on YouTube, Tumblr, or search where you listen to podcasts
Hosted by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation) this podcast “explores indigeneity in all its complexity.” Episodes focus on issues such as DNA identity, appropriation, feminism, food sovereignty, gender, sexuality, and more while “keeping it real, playing games, laughing a lot, and even crying sometimes.” (approx. 1 hour episodes)
Oklahoma To Incorporate 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Into Statewide School Curriculum
On Point Radio host, David Folkenflik, interviews Tulsans about the 1921 “Black Wall Street” race massacre and recent efforts to integrate it into the Oklahoma education system (46 minute story)
Host Dr. Alex Gee “invites you to experience the world through the perspective of one Black man, one conversation, one story, or even one rant at a time.” (episode times vary)
Without Slavery, Would The U.S. Be The Leading Economic Power?
Here & Now host, Jeremy Hobson, explores with Edward Baptist, author of The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, how slavery established the United States as a world economic power. (15 minutes)
On NPR Morning Edition, Immigration journalist Rachel Martin, talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas for a response to a story in The Atlantic, written by David Frum, proposing the U.S. cut legal immigration by half. (6 minutes)
*Access where you listen to podcasts
Created and hosted by BBC producer, Jessie Aru-Phillips, each season showcases the depth of Black British talent. (approx. 1 hour per episode)
WATCH
I'm Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much
TED Talk by comedian and journalist, Stella Young, who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn't, she'd like to make clear, automatically turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In this very funny talk, Young breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into "inspiration porn." (9 minutes)
Munroe Bergdorf on Racism, Trans Activism and Acceptance
English activist and model Munroe Bergdorf, known for speaking her mind on trans issues, racism and misogyny, talks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about her own transition, the controversy that led to her being dropped by L'Oreal and why tolerance is not enough (38 minutes)
A MORE IN DEPTH WATCH
United Shades of America
Comedian and political provocateur, W. Kamau Bell, explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face. Multiple seasons and episodes of this CNN production explore timely and varied topics regarding race, white supremacy, and history. (1 hour episodes)
NOTICE
Once people start to learn about white privilege and America’s systems of oppression through history, they often ask, “Why didn’t I see this sooner?” It’s easy to overlook what we’re not looking for. Once you understand the phenomenon of selective noticing, take yourself on a noticing adventure.
CONNECT
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow racial justice activists, educators, organizations, and movements on social media. Consider connecting with any of the people or organizations you learn from other actions.
Widen your circle of who you follow and connect with the following resources.
Pro Tip: Check out who these organizations follow, quote, share, and retweet to find more people and organizations to follow.
National Center for Transgender Equality | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Movement for Black Lives | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Dream Defenders | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum: APIAHF | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
United We Dream | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Philanthropy Initiative | Twitter
National Congress of American Indians | Twitter | Facebook
Antiracism Center | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Audre Lorde Project | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Black Women’s Blueprint | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Color Of Change | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Colorlines | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Conscious Kid | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Families Belong Together | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Teaching Tolerance | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Colours of Us | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Anti-Defamation League | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Nonprofit AF | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Define American | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
AWARE-LA | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Privilege to Progress | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Black Minds Matter | Twitter
18MillionRising | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Black Voters Matter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Teaching While White | Twitter | Facebook
White Nonsense Roundup | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Conversations with White People: Talking about race | Facebook
Race Forward | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Racial Equity Tools | Twitter | Facebook
1Hood Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
White Awake | Twitter | Facebook
The Transgender Training Institute | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
ENGAGE
Engagement can be the hardest part for people new to racial justice work. Engaging in racially mixed settings can trigger age-old power and privilege dynamics. The goal is to be a learner, more than a know-er, exactly the opposite of what dominant US culture teaches us to be.
TIP 1
Enter the process to learn and bridge knowledge gaps.
TIP 2
Enter the process to practice mindful social habits like the ones below.
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Work to stay engaged even when your mind and body start sending you signals to shrink or walk away.
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Ask clarifying questions.
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Acknowledge what you don’t know.
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Validate others by listening closely and believing the truth and importance of what they are sharing.
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Share airtime so that multiple perspectives are shared.
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Step Up Step Back. If you are generally quiet, step up and practice speaking more. If you are generally a talker, practice stepping back and listening more.
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Notice your biases and judgments as they arise. These are gold for you to excavate your subconscious!
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Notice when you are uncomfortable. Reflect on why you’re uncomfortable and think about what you can do to build more emotional stamina in this area.
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Honor confidentiality. Though you can share what you are learning in general terms, do not repeat stories in a way that can be traced back to the person who shared it.
TIP 3
Find a mentor within your own racial group to support and guide your growth.
• If you are white, join a Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ) chapter in your area.
• Google who’s who in your area by typing in "Racial Justice” or “Anti-Racist/m” + name of city/town, organization, or sector. A few website visits, emails, and phone calls later, you’ll likely have an idea of how to get on the mailing of one or more organizations in your area who are addressing issues of power and privilege. Once you connect to one, it’s easy to connect to many!
TIP 4
Research racial justice speakers and see who might be coming to your local university, church, community center, or speaker series.
TIP 5
Take a course or workshop. Community Colleges and Adult Education Centers are a great place to find a course about social justice issues.
ACT
Though many people want to jump to action sooner instead of later, action without a vigorous self-education, self-reflection, and multiracial coalition can unexpectedly reproduce the very power and privilege dynamics we seek to interrupt. That said, sometimes acting immediately is called for. Welcome to the messy, imperfect world of challenging the status quo!
ACTION IDEAS
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Invite friend(s), family, and/or colleagues to do the 21-Day Challenge with you.
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Prepare yourself to interrupt racial jokes. Click HERE for some advice about how.
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Interrupt the pattern of white silence by speaking openly with family, friends, and colleagues about what you’re doing and learning in the 21-Day Challenge.
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Invite friend(s), family, and/or colleagues to join you for one or more of your daily “to-do’s” for a low-threshold invitation into the work and introduction to the 21-Day Challenge.
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Find out if your school, workplace, or faith group has an Equity Committee. What can you learn from them? Are they open to new members? Join if you can. Support in other ways if you can’t.
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Find organizations such as The Privilege Institute and other groups doing racial justice work and support them through donating your time, money, and other resources. Get involved!
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Find a 21-Day Challenge group in your area and reach out to connect with, and perhaps, co-create a specific 21-Day Challenge in the future. Google “21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge + your state, region, or sector.”
When the status quo is blatantly racist, disrupt it. No matter how big or small put yourself out there to create change. No need to wait until you are comfortable disrupting; it may never get comfortable, though you will get better at managing discomfort. These actions are generally more successful when done in multiracial coalition. Examples from past participants include:
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Demanding administration change the name of a dodge ball team from “The Cottonpickers”
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Improving the representation of books in the library by raising funds and purchasing hundreds of new books
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Conducting an equity audit within the organization
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Creating learning communities to set goals, objectives, and action plans
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Disrupting inappropriate language by offering alternative language you yourself are learning
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Speaking, emailing, and posting about articles, blogs, movies, and this 21-Day Challenge that you find impactful.
Let people know you are not neutral!
REFLECT & STAY INSPIRED
WHY REFLECT
Difficult emotions––such as shame and anger––though uncomfortable to feel, can guide you to deeper self-awareness about how power and privilege impacts you and the people in your life.
Reflecting and journaling enhances learning. By using a 21-Day Reflect tool each day, you discover how much you are actually understanding and making meaning. It helps you to transform your personal experience into a learning experience, and thus build your racial equity habits.