Ibram X. Kendi : The difference between being "not racist" and antiracist

Ibram X. Kendi·TED2020

The difference between being “not racist “ and antiracist

Summary

I just wanted to study English, and I didn’t think that I've faced such kind of difficult articles. However, this must be a great byproduct, thus l can continue to study English.

The surprising speaker’s suggestion is to eliminate the concept of “not racist”. How paradoxical it is! People thought for a long time that being racist is bad, they tried not to be racist, though, it’s eliminated. He said that we have to realize that we’re either being racist or anti-racist. It means that people who are not racist are racist, and an antiracist is willing to admit the time in which they are being racist, recognize the inequality and racial problems of our society, and challenge those racial infidelities by challenging the policy. The present condition is that many people don’t admit it thus policies create more inequality. For example, policemen use guns only against black, black people are suffering more from COVID, they lose jobs, etc, so we have to admit those, and neutrality is not enough.

And then, the speaker answered some questions.

1, There is the idea of antiracism. Isn’t it only a concern of white communities? How can the black community, nonwhite, other ethnic minorities participate in and think about this idea of antiracism?

No, because if you are black, you think you have no power and you don’t resist a racist society, it doesn’t change anything. Not viewing racism is not a solution.

2, What is the reason that there were more deaths from COVID-19 in black communities? 

People and the media begin to see the need for systemic structural change. We have to recognize that there are only two causes of racial infidelity: either people or policies. Genetically, we are the same human, thus something in our system is wrong.

3, Do you feel that white privilege is starting to change?

He didn’t say yes or no. He tells us that people have to think of a more equitable society. He is not asking really white Americans to be altruistic in order to be antiracist. We’re really asking people to have intelligent self-interest. It surprised me because l was told that we had to be altruistic, though, it’s not to change a system. To change a system must mean to have intelligent self-interest for all people.

4, What do you view as the greatest priority on a policy level like this for justice continues? Are there any ways in which we could learn from other countries?

The speaker suggests a country where the health care system is free and reparations programs for economic livelihood.

5, How do you suggest liberal white organizations effectively address problems of racism within the work environment?

It’s important for not only the workplace but their upper administration to have diversity and to spread the thoughts of antiracism.

6, Donald Trump seems to be making supporting Black Lives Matter a partisan issue. How do we uncouple this to make it nonpartisan?

The speaker tells us that the solution is not marching if Donald Trump says that there is a problem with marching for black lives. (I think so!) it’s because we have to believe in human rights and it’s not related to whether you believe black lives matter or not.

7, What is your reaction and response to people who feel concerned about mental exhaustion from having to constantly think about how your actions may hurt or harm others?

Don’t be addicted to racism and restrain myself from reverting back to what lm addicted. Spending too much time thinking about how we feel and reducing time thinking about how our actions and ideas make others feel.

8, Can you speak to the intersectionality between the work of antiracism, feminism, and gay rights? How does the work of antiracism relate and affect the work of these other human rights issues?

In the first place, the thoughts about dividing, there is an intersection and groups are not good. Every race is a collection of racialized international groups. Rejecting, understanding, and challenging it.

9, How do you see cancel culture and antiracism interacting? How do we respond to that?

To discern people who are refusing or who recognize their mistakes and commit something.

10, In other nations and other cultures, how people think about race and oppression?

There are countries in which police officers don’t wear weapons, there are countries that have more people than the United States but fewer prisoners, and the good things are that there are more jobs and more opportunities than crime and police. It means to provide pretty sizable social safety nets for people who are not committing crimes out of poverty and despair.

11, The words in the speaker‘s book: ” Who Gets To Be America”

What does it mean?

It means that what l am, a black male, should not matter. Who l am should matter. You can have a job without relating your skin. There are racial equality and justice. There’s no assimilating into white American culture. It’s all valued equally.

12, Where do you see that on the spectrum of progress towards reaching that true beauty?

At this beginning moment, people seek change during a viral pandemic and lose their jobs unequally.

13, What gives you hope right now?

The hope is resilient to racism.

14, What about structure changes?

Voting is the most important.

Lastly, the speaker tells us that there is hope but still we have on the shackles of racism.

He doesn’t say clearly, though, l think that the solution is to love my own country and all humanity, to grow myself, and to create a strong country by all citizens.