Anti-Racism: A Place to Start

By Rachel Zar, LMFT

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We can’t possibly truly understand the experience, the trauma, of our Black clients, colleagues, and friends, but we can sure as hell make a continued commitment to try -- to educate ourselves, to stand up against racism, to check our privilege, and to amplify black voices. I invite you to join us.

If this task feels overwhelming, that’s OK. After all, it’s a big one. If this task makes you feel uncomfortable, that’s OK, too. That discomfort is the path toward change. But tasks this large can often feel paralyzing. After all, there’s so much work to be done! Do I post on social media? Do I donate? Do I march? Do I call out a racist family member? Do I reach out to my Black friends? Do I sign a petition? I can’t possibly do enough, so I end up doing nothing. If you’re feeling that analysis paralysis, I suggest the starting point of listening and learning. After all, fighting racism is a marathon, not a sprint. Joining the cause isn’t just a fad, it’s a lifelong commitment, and information and education is our best weapon for the long haul.

If you’re looking for a place to start, join me in diving further into books and podcasts that explore race. Here are just a few:

Books:

  • “How to be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi

  • “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talke About Racism,” by Roin Diangelo

  • “So You Want to Talk About Race,” by Ijeoma Oluo

Podcasts:

  • “Code Switch”

  • “Come Through”

  • “About Race”

  • “Speaking of Racism”

There is no shortage of resources on the subject! This is just a sampling.

To non-Black readers, I invite you to read with me. Listen with me. Learn with me. Be patient with yourself, be forgiving with yourself when you stumble, and take breaks for self care. This is heavy work—and work that Black people should not be doing alone. Anything we can do to lighten the load matters.

To Black readers, we at Spark stand beside you, and we’ll continue to search for ways to use our voices to fight racism. Please take care of yourselves and ask for help from others if you need it. You are not alone in this fight.

Amy Freier