Taking a Stand in Your Space

People see you. I promise. Even when you feel invisible, even when you think that no one sees your posts, even when it feels that no one is listening, they are. 

What do I mean by "your space?" Your space is any place that you can fight systems of injustice that does not belong to those being oppressed. For example, I am a White woman. My space is not to be a leader in Black Lives Matter. My space is to help other White people in our commitment to being anti-racist. 

That being said, how are we using our spaces to disrupt systematic racism?

Things to consider:

1. Is whiteness valued above all else in the group that you are in?

2. What is the evidence for your answer to the first question?

3. Are the majority of people in your group white?

4. Why do you think that is so?

5. Do you think that people would be surprised if you took a stand for Black people, Queer people, Latinx, or other disenfranchised groups?

Things we can do:

1. Write a letter to your organization, stating your expectations for diversity and inclusion. 

I suggest you research letters written to specific types of institutions. For instance, visit (and contribute to) Rachel Cargle Patreon. I personally sent the Academia letter to my college. 

2. Research the diversity of your organization. Know how your organization contributes to systematic racism. If you are a teacher, use the following resource to find data about your district/ school: 

https://ocrdata.ed.gov/DistrictSchoolSearch#districtSearch Think specifically about the percentages you see in these categories. They coincide with the school to prison pipeline. 

Also, take a look at the percentages by race of students with IEPs and students in the gifted/ advanced programs. Notice in my district, Black students make up 81.6% of students, but only 50% of the gifted and talented students. 

3. Share the resources you are using with your White coworkers or associates in your organization. 

• Volunteer to be on committees that are specifically for helping White people do better. 
• Start a book club with these people. 
• Create and share resources to help fellow White people implement changes in their spaces. 
• DO NOT, in any case, think that your space is to be the expert. You are a listener, you are an amplifier, you are in the vehicle for change, but you are not the driver. 
• Be intentional to make relationship before you begin conversations. You need leverage. 
• Be patient. Listen to understand, not to argue. 
• If you do need to press pause for your personal mental health, be sure that you 1) recognize this is a privilege that BIPOC do not get the opportunity to do 2) you keep your feelings of exhaustion away from BIPOC--the last thing they need is for you to add to their trauma or emotional labor.