While we often hear the words 鈥渞acism,鈥� 鈥渨hite privilege,鈥� and 鈥渋ntersectionality鈥� in today鈥檚 discourse around racial justice, 鈥渁nti-Blackness鈥� and 鈥渁nti-Black racism鈥� almost always get left behind. What many people don鈥檛 realize is that anti-Blackness is the root of most oppression and racism in the United States.
Even for non-Black people with dark skin, such as Indians and Filipinos, some of the racism they experience is rooted in anti-Blackness. There鈥檚 also colorism, a type of discrimination in which lighter skin is privileged over darker skin, that exists among people of the same race or ethnicity. Non-Black communities have negative stereotypes about Black people, and these communities will distance themselves in order to maintain some level of power.
In this 鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk About鈥� edition, we provide resources to help educate your students about how anti-Blackness shows up in our everyday lives and how it is erased from public discussion. By having a clearer understanding of the root of much of the racism in this country, we can be better equipped to dismantle harmful structures and institutions.
NOTE: Talking about racism can be uncomfortable. There may be students in your class who may feel self-conscious or vulnerable if there is a discussion about anti-Blackness and how dark-skinned people are treated in society, including your school. Proceed with care and sensitivity. You know your students best. Scroll down for 鈥淪ome Tips for Talking About Tough Topics.鈥�
How to Use This Collection
Suggested below are steps to a thoughtful and meaningful discussion with your students about anti-Blackness and its impact on their personal lives and in society. Choose what is appropriate for your class.
- Have students complete a pre-survey (optional).
- Choose at least one YES! article and another site鈥檚 article for a robust compare-and-contrast activity.
- Use the discussion questions鈥攐r craft your own鈥攖o gauge your students鈥� understanding and opinions.
- Have students complete a post-survey (optional).
- Explore the suggested curriculum if you鈥檇 like to dive deeper.
Some Tips for Talking About Tough Topics
We recognize that talking about tough topics鈥攕uch as race, immigration, and, even fat-shaming鈥攚ith your students may be uncomfortable, not necessarily age-appropriate鈥攁nd may not even be allowed in your building.
Good conversations are deliberative. They encourage reflection, understanding of different voices and perspectives, and respect for complexity. They also take time.
Devin Hess of UC-Berkeley鈥檚 History-Social Science Project is passionate about 鈥渄eliberative dialogue.鈥� Rather than debate an issue, deliberative dialogue has students exploring a topic together from multiple perspectives. Eventually, students may gain clarity on their personal opinion, and the class may even come to a resolution.
How might you and your students have a deliberative dialogue?
Provide a safe environment. If you choose to have this discussion, it’s important to provide a safe environment where students can voice their opinions honestly without fear of being judged or silenced. In your discussion space, while you may wish to welcome controversy and passion, be careful that this energy does not spill over to 鈥渙thering鈥� students and out-of-control vitriol.
Keep the armor off. Think about making these discussions about discourse, rather than debate. As John Esterle of The Whitman Institute explains, one enters discourse with vulnerability and their armor off. They listen with the mindset that they might change their minds. Whereas one enters a debate with their armor on. They listen to prepare their rebuttal and to win the argument, not to understand.
Allow students to explore issues from different stakeholders鈥� perspectives. Your students can get to clarity by understanding the experiences of the people who are affected by the particular issue. Have them assume the mindset of the stakeholder to gain introspection and empathy鈥攅ven if it’s a point of view they would disagree with or can’t relate to.
Be careful of the questions you ask. You don鈥檛 want to invite topics or specifics that target or insult someone in your classroom or feed into fake news frenzy, such as 鈥淭he Holocaust is a hoax.鈥� Think about the conversations you don鈥檛 want in your classroom鈥攖his depends on your students. Do ask questions that get all students talking and diving deeper into understanding.
Shut down conversations that are hurtful and ignorant. When the conversation strays to hurtful and perpetuating ignorance, reconnect dialogue to the content.
Bridge divides with key questions. Your students can take a position and still appreciate other perspectives. When the room is boiling with disagreement, ask your students: Where is there common ground? What are the aspects of the divide? Why is there no compromise?
Own your politics responsibly. There鈥檚 an assumption that teachers need to be neutral. Not true. Take responsibility for your position and share it, when appropriate, professionally and respectfully. Look at the issue beforehand and provide direction for a positive, deliberative discussion.
Resources for guidelines on difficult and deliberative conversations:
(UC-Berkeley History-Social Science Project)
(Facing History)
(Teaching Tolerance)
Reading Materials
YES! Articles
Racial Profiling and the Loss of Black Boyhood
3 Things Schools Should Teach About America鈥檚 History of White Supremacy
Confederate Statues Have Been Invisible to Most White People
It鈥檚 Not Just the South: How Everyone Can Resist White Supremacy
My White Friend Asked Me on Facebook to Explain White Privilege: I Decided to Be Honest.
Outside Articles
This article is part of The Guardian鈥檚 that explores the roots and impact of colorism鈥攄iscrimination faced by darker-skinned people, often from within their own community.
Curriculum
Sample chapters and lessons, plus teaching materials related to Teaching for Black Lives, a book published by Rethinking Schools, that grows directly out of the Black Lives Matter movement. Click on “Additional Resources” to access free Teaching for Black Lives resources.
Discussion Questions
- When was the first time you were aware of the color of your skin? Describe how you saw yourself when you realized that other people鈥攅ven within your own race or ethnicity鈥� had a range of light to dark skin. If you feel comfortable, share an example of when you experienced colorism.
- What is anti-Blackness? How are some ways that anti-Blackness present itself in America and in non-Black communities of color?
- What are unique challenges Black people face in society, different from Indigenous and other people of color?
- What does White supremacy have to do with anti-Blackness?
- Describe how you can push back against anti-Blackness within your friend group and your family, school, or community.
Like what you see? Discover discussion guides on other tough topics.
