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Anti-Racism

Anti-Racism as Praxis

Anti-racism is a praxis that seeks to actively identify and upend white supremacy throughout social structures. Anti-racism efforts in social work are action efforts that move towards changes in social policies, organizations, teaching, learning, and practice. The goal of anti-racism is to take on what Robin D. G. Kelley describes as Freedom Dreaming. To take on "self-transformation, changing the way we think, live, love, and handle pain... to build community, establish fellowship, play, and laugh, and plant seeds for a different future..."  

Anti-Racism in Social Work

"Because racism is ingrained in the fabric of American institutions, it is easily self-perpetuating. All that is required to maintain it is business as usual. I sometimes visualize the ongoing cycle of racism as a moving walkway at the airport. Active racist behavior is equivalent to walking fast on the conveyor belt. The person engaged in active racist behavior has identified with the ideology of White supremacy and is moving with it. Passive racist behavior is equivalent to standing still on the walkway. No overt effort is being made, but the conveyor belt moves the bystanders along to the same destination as those who are actively walking. Some of the bystanders may feel the motion of the conveyor belt, see the active racists ahead of them, and choose to turn around, unwilling to go in the same destination as the White supremacists. But unless they are walking actively in the opposite direction at a speed faster than the conveyor belt—unless they are actively antiracist—they will find themselves carried along with the others." - Dr. Beverly Tatum

Partners Working Towards Anti-Racism in Social Work

Learn more about current Anti-Racism in Social Work efforts below. 

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