For white supremacy to end, White people have to be the ones to shut it down. I believe this with every fiber of my being, which is why I started a website called White People, Wake Up. I hope to encourage White people to clean up the mess created by people who look like them… a mess intended for the benefit of all White people, in general… and take the reins in leading other White folks down the path to enlightenment. Unless and until White people spearhead and support their own social justice movements and learn how to identify, grapple with and end racism, it’s just not going to happen. So, where are all of the White anti-racists?
Beyond the Usual Suspects
Here’s a short list of anti-racism authors, activists and groups I’m already familiar with:
- Tim Wise
- Robin DiAngelo
- Dr. Jackie Battalora
- Matt McGorry
- Dixon White
- Debby Irving
- Showing Up for Racial Justice
- Chris Crass
- Luke Visconti and DiversityInc
While I respect all of the aforementioned for taking a passionate and active stand against White supremacy, these can’t be the only woke White people who come to our minds. It’s going to take a lot more– a WHOLE LOT MORE– to send this evil spirit of racism straight to hell where it belongs! I sincerely want to peek in on other, more grassroots organizers and see how they’re coming along. I want to know who these people and groups are and what kind of progress is being made.
I spend a lot of time online (hence, the name of this blog) and I meet a lot of well-meaning Whites who espouse refreshingly non-racist ideals. Still, I meet very few who are active on the frontlines of any anti-racism movements, much less those started by White folks themselves. Yesterday, I received a comment on one of my Quora answers which summed this up perfectly by stating white people need to learn how to “be of use and not confuse it with “do gooding”. I totally agree!
Help Me Out Here
Do you know of any person or group who fits this description? Have any links you can share so the rest of the world may learn of their efforts? Seriously, drop a name, a link or a social media handle below or hit me on IG or Twitter @lalalivesonline and let’s give some White anti-racism activists some much-needed shine.
Oh and by the way, as a Black woman, I never intended to be the sole voice featured at WhitePeopleWakeUp.com. My setting the site up is just a nudge in the right direction to, hopefully, get some of you started in thinking and moving in the right direction. If you are a White person interested in contributing to the site as a volunteer, please drop me a line. Your people need to hear from YOU.
