Saved by Lael Johnson and
So You Want to Talk About Race
efforts. I was raised by a college-educated mother who taught me that a degree was important. I grew up as a neuro-typical, nondisabled child whom school was designed to serve and for whom teachers were willing and trained to dedicate their time and efforts. My grade school education was free and open to people of all genders and economic classes.
... See moreIjeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
You have to get over the fear of facing the worst in yourself. You should instead fear unexamined racism.
Ijeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
Systemic racism is a machine that runs whether we pull the levers or not, and by just letting it be, we are responsible for what it produces. We have to actually dismantle the machine if we want to make change.
Ijeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
Then activists, partnered with Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant, were able to get the city to commit a large portion of those funds to low-income housing. It was one of the highlights of my year to be able to tell my kids that they had helped bring positive change to our city, that we can accomplish just about anything if we don’t give up.
Ijeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
Doesn’t this fight racism? These sentiments are certainly understandable, but they err in conflating appreciation with appropriation.
Ijeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
Originally coined in 1966 by sociologist William Peterson to profile the socioeconomic success of Japanese Americans, the myth of the “model minority” has become a collection of stereotypes about Asian Americans, presenting them as an “ideal minority group” in the eyes of White Supremacy. Included in these stereotypes are presumptions of academic a
... See moreIjeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
Affirmative action teaches people of color and women that they don’t have to work as hard as white men. Sigh. Here’s the basic truth: the vast majority of affirmative action goals aim for a representative number of people of color and women. This means that if there are 10 percent black people in the area, the ultimate goal (not quota) would be aro
... See moreIjeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
So representation Equality not pure equality
I may well have been the most qualified person for the job. But it wasn’t a fair competition, and in acting like it was fair, and accepting my prize without question, I helped ensure that it would stay unfair.
Ijeoma Oluo • So You Want to Talk About Race
Take some time to really dig deep through all of the advantages that you have that others may not. Write them down.