Protect abortion rights.

After the Supreme Court failed to block the legislation, Texas passed a law that essentially bans abortions after six weeks, which is in clear violation of Roe v. Wade. Known as Abortion providers in the state emphasized that the law, known as Senate Bill 8, will cause “at least 85%” of abortion patients to be unable to seek care. As a result, it’s likely that most abortion clinics will be forced to close (NYTimes). There has not been such a coordinated attack on abortion rights since the Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in 1973 (Pew Trust).

TAKE ACTION

Donate to organizations protecting abortion rights in your state. Here is a way to support several in Texas.
Get educated on the current abortion restriction laws that may be introduced or passed recently in your state.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

These abortion laws affect everyone who seeks to get an abortion in Texas, and the precedent this law sets threatens the rights of people in other states, too. But in Texas and across the country, people of color are less likely to have access to abortions already. Burdened by the lack of abortion clinics, costs, and lack of representation of doctors, abortion access has already been inequitably distributed. Much of this is intentional, the result of laws limiting access to reproductive care since enslavement.

Before the Civil War, abortion and contraceptives were legal in the U.S. These were administered by midwives, which, at the time, were majority Black and Indigenous women. Their work was increasingly considered a threat to white male doctors who dominated many other fields of care. They found the notion of white babies being delivered by non-white midwives both threatening to their careers and distasteful in the lens of white supremacy (ACLU).

What followed was an intentional smear campaign that devalued the work of midwives, referring to their practice as “barbaric” and “uncivilized.” In addition, the white, male-led field started to lobby the government to place restrictions on the services they offered – including abortions – so they could monopolize what’s left. These rules, of course, limited abortions to those deemed Medical organizations, like the American Medical Association (AMA), barred women and Black people from membership from ensuring that they weren’t seen as qualified practitioners (ACLU). (this is despite the fact that the reproductive science we know today was often the result of inhumane scientific research carried out on their bodies). The disparities of perception on who deserves to carry and birth children also contributed to harmful legislation passed against non-white women during this time, particularly related to immigration.

The most damning part of the bill is that it places individuals, not the government, responsible for enforcing the rules. If you, an everyday citizen, think someone in Texas is trying to obtain an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, you can sue the prospective provider. If you win, you might even be compensated.

This is dangerous for a couple of reasons. From a legal perspective, it makes it very difficult to challenge this law in the courts. According to the NYTimes, “when a state passes an unconstitutional law, the typical way to challenge it is to seek an injunction against the state officer in charge of enforcing the law” (NYTimes). But because in this case, the people are the “state officers,” there’s no legal precedent for filing an injunction against them. Even if you could, it’s difficult to file an injunction against people that “could” sue an abortion provider before they already had. For example, I live in Texas, and although I’m technically granted this power, there’s no way I’d ever exercise it. It’s not easy to drag people like me into court, lumped in with all other citizens.

From a moral perspective, this draconian law places individuals as the prosecutors against people that can carry children. It’s absurd that individuals should have that much entitlement to any child-carrying person’s body – period. But it’s somehow more sinister than that. Private party enforcement has been used throughout history in various legislation but has a persistent presence in laws that disproportionately impact communities of color. Our policing system, for example, is rooted in the capture and torture of enslaved Black and Indigenous people and was supported by everyday white volunteers granted autonomy to enforce slavery laws (The Conversation). Redlining and other real estate tactics used to keep Black people out of adequate housing were enforced by private contracts for decades until deemed unconstitutional in Shelley v. Kraemer in 1948 (Anti-Racism Daily).

We already know that the abortion restriction laws disproportionately impact communities of color. According to the CDC, Black people in America are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white people (Refinery 29). The rise in anti-abortion sentiment is part of a broader culture war accelerated during the Trump administration. Laws like this one in Texas are being passed alongside laws that limit the rights of transgender youth, ban curriculum related to the racial inequities of our society, and make voting more difficult for marginalized communities (Pew Trust). This is a coordinated effort against the freedoms that everyone in our nation deserves. Take a moment today to support abortion rights groups in your area.

Key Takeaways

After the Supreme Court failed to block the legislation, Texas passed a law that essentially bans abortions after six weeks, which is in clear violation of Roe v. Wade.
The law is designed to be enforced by private citizens, who makes them responsible for reporting abortions and adds to a history of citizens acting as vigilantes.
Abortion access is influenced by racism and white supremacy.

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Nicole Cardoza 8/27/21 Nicole Cardoza 8/27/21

March for voting rights.

Since the last election, states across the country have passed or attempted to pass harmful legislation limiting the people’s right to vote. In Texas, for example, Republicans aim to create stricter rules on mail ballots and prohibit 24-hour and drive-thru voting (AP News). In Georgia, absentee ballots have been significantly limited, mobile voting sites are essentially banned, and offering food or water to voters waiting in line now risks misdemeanor charges (N.Y. Times ). Consequently, civil rights activists have organized a mass mobilization in the spirit of the 1963 March on Washington, a historical event that transformed political engagement.

TAKE ACTION

Join an upcoming march near you using the map on the March On For Voting Rights website.
Urge your senators to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Donate one dollar a day to Give Us The Ballot (organizers of March On For Voting Rights) and fight voter suppression.
Follow us on Instagram to watch the march unfold in DC in real-time on Saturday.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her) and Tiffany Onyejiaka (she/her)

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom officially began on August 28, 1963 (History). Over 200,000 demonstrators, predominantly Black Americans, descended on the nation’s capital to protest and pressure the Kennedy Administration into creating stronger civil rights protections and legacies during this era of legal segregation (Stanford). It’s important to stress the economic aspect of the demands of this march. Racial oppression and economic oppression have been symbiotic for decades, and many civil rights leaders have fought for equity for Black Americans on both fronts.

Dr. Martin Luther King ended this march with his world-famous “I Have a Dream” speech. However, many other notable civil rights activists also shared powerful words and visions with the crowd. These include Roy Wilkins of the NAACP, Whitney Young of the National Urban League, John Lewis of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and others (National Park Service). Despite the male dominance of the speakers, women such as Dorothy Height of the National Council of Negro Women played essential roles in the organization and execution of this momentous march (National Park Service).

This march did lead to some direct successes for the civil rights causes. President Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson met with civil rights leaders such as King shortly after the march (Stanford). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 reflect many of the demands discussed during the many speeches of the march.

However, this march did not end many of the afflictions affecting the ability of Black Americans to have equity in political or economic opportunities. Over 50 years later, many of the topics are echoed by 21st-century activists demanding freedom and economic justice for Black people today.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was reversed in the June 2013 ruling of Shelby County v. Holder. Since then, 24 states have implemented new restrictions on voting that make it especially difficult for marginalized communities to exercise their right to vote (Vox). Activists fought for HR 4, known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to be re-introduced in Congress as an antidote for these manipulative practices. The bill would require jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination in voting to get clearance from the Justice Department before changing voting rules (CBS News). The bill passed in the House on Tuesday this week – but will need full support of Democrats and 10 Republicans to pass in the Senate. As of now, no Republicans in the House support it.

But even if this law does pass, we need to do more work to ensure that all of us have the right to vote. This has never been a one-time fix but a consistent and persistent march for justice – literally and figuratively.

Key Takeaways

Saturday, August 28 marks the anniversary of the The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, when 200,000+ demonstrators descended on the nation’s capital to protest and pressure the Kennedy Administration into creating stronger civil rights protections and legacies during this era of legal segregation.
In its honor, activists have organized a series of marches to protest the slew of state legislation implemented since the last election to limit individual's right to vote.
Throughout time, legislation limiting access to voting has made it especially difficult for marginalized communities to cast a ballot.

11/25/2020 | Question your understanding of "authentic" food.

7/22/2020 | Don't Americanize other cultures.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 8/13/21 Nicole Cardoza 8/13/21

Reject conspiracy theories.

Conspiracy theories are corrosive. It cuts people off from their communities, leading them down internet rabbit holes accompanied only by other true believers. Conspiracy theories can lead their believers to do terrifying things, like bringing a gun into a D.C. pizza shop to free children in a non-existent child sex ring (Salon). Though conspiracy theories can appear outlandish, they’re dangerous enough that we should confront them head-on.

TAKE ACTION

Communicate and find common ground with those exploring conspiracy theories to start to pull them out of their echo chamber.
Use Checkology to learn more about fighting misinformation and identifying credible news.
Support fact-based community organizations addressing conspiracy theory topics like Generation 5 fighting child sexual abuse and Serve Your City educating community members about COVID and distributing mutual aid in D.C.

GET EDUCATED

By Andrew Lee (he/him)

Last week, Trump stoked conspiracy theories that the January 6th death of Ashli Babbitt as she broke into a Capitol Building hallway had more to it than it seemed. “They know who shot Ashli Babbitt. They’re protecting that person,” said Trump. “I have heard also that it was the head of security of a certain high official, a Democrat” and not, as evidence suggests, a police officer (ABC).

Every death is a tragedy, but if you’re breaching your country’s seat of government by force, you should understand that your life may be at risk. It is unfortunate but unsurprising that Capitol Police shot an insurrectionist. No nefarious conspiracy is necessary to explain this tragedy.

Trump’s remarks are but one of a number of conspiracy theories in American political life. There’s a viral video making the rounds concerning a purported Muslim/Satanic child sex trafficking ring (Rolling Stone). This is related to the QAnon theory that President Trump is battling an international cabal of Satanic cannibalistic pedophiles. QAnon supporters were among those besides Babbitt on January 6th (ABC News). Others are now running in local elections around the country (Modesto Bee).

Conspiracy thinking is also entering traditionally left-leaning spaces. A significant group of yoga practitioners, reiki healers, and New Age psychics now loudly uphold anti-vaccine, COVID-denialist, and QAnon beliefs (L.A. Times). Illuminati theories about an all-powerful international secret society can appeal to both conservatives and those on the left skeptical of state and corporate power (Vox).

This is made more challenging by the fact that some of American history rivals the wackiest theories (The Guardian). The Central Intelligence Agency did in fact dose random American civilians with LSD, secretly observing their behavior to see if the drug could be used to brainwash prisoners (Time). A journalist at a major newspaper did report that the CIA started the crack epidemic by letting anticommunist paramilitaries fly crack cocaine into Los Angeles. That same journalist ultimately died by suicide (Sacramento Bee).

U.S. spy agencies actually financed everyone from abstract expressionist painters (BBC) to the Dalai Lama (NY Times). And oil executives did know about climate change in 1977, though they deceived the public for decades more (Scientific American).

Many of us have the sense that decisions are made outside our control. According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, a small, elite network from the same schools, churches, and fraternal organizations is able to almost exclusively “establish the governing policy agenda” in this country. “The public’s role in the policy making process in U.S. society is largely symbolic” (Psychology Today). A renowned social scientist’s analysis of American society doesn’t sound too far off from a conspiracy theory.

But real-life elite networks aren’t the Illuminati, because the powerful people in our society largely do not have to hide. C. Wright Mills didn’t have to sneak into secret underground lairs to compile his list of the American power elite: he analyzed publicly available data with academic rigor.

Though some criticism of billionaire George Soros is laden with repugnant antisemitism, it’s also true that his foundation funds pressure campaigns in 37 countries around the world (Inside Philanthropy), leading PBS to describe the philanthropist as “the only American citizen with his own foreign policy” (INCITE). Though the Pizzagate theory was 100% wrong, it is true that both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump were associates of child abuser Jeffrey Epstein (Daily Beast). And child sexual abuse is horrifyingly commonly, though most often committed not by some secret organization but by someone known to the child (U.S. DVA). Actual injustices become are harder to address when connected to nonsensical or bigoted false theories.

When we look at the real facts of unjustified concentrated power and wealth, we can build movements for social and economic justice to help undo them. But when we deceive ourselves into believing that it’s not garden-variety rich and powerful people but instead all-powerful, mystical secret societies of holographic alien reptiles who control our lives (MSN), coming together to actually make change seems futile. In the latter case, all we can do is dive deeper into learning about more and more conspiracies.

To actually make a better world, we have to reject conspiracy theories.

Key Takeaways

43% of white Americans say that they are “very confident” in their tap water, while only 24% of Black Americans and 19% of Hispanic Americans indicate the same degree of confidence.
Corporations are often allowed to bottle and resell municipal tap water at a high mark-up, skirting rules and regulations that disproportionately affect lower-income communities.
We need to mobilize around protecting the source of clean water, and center Indigenous communities who steward the land and waters.

Nicole Cardoza 6/9/21 Nicole Cardoza 6/9/21

Distinguish anti-Zionism from antisemitism.

Happy Wednesday! And welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. Today, Mordecai joins us to unpack the discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Thank you for keeping this independent platform going. In honor of our anniversary, become a monthly subscriber on our website or Patreon this week and we'll send you some swag! You can also give one-time on Venmo (@nicoleacardoza), PayPal or our website.

– Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Read Understanding Antisemitism by JFREJ and The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere by April Rosenblum.
Learn about the history of Jewish anti-Zionism and alternative Jewish politics.
Support Jewish organizations fighting Israeli apartheid like Jewish Voice for Peace (Instagram), IfNotNow (Instagram), and Breaking the Silence (Instagram).
Learn the role of Christian Zionism in Israel/Palestine politics.

GET EDUCATED

By Mordecai Martin (he/him)

Simply put, there is no place for antisemitism in anti-racist work. Antisemitism is antithetical to collective liberation, and it is real. Yet, the accusation that the left is as inherently antisemitic as the right is false: antisemitism in the right, specifically in white supremacist groups, is deadly, systemically legitimized, and funded (JFREJ). While it is true that there has been a global rise in antisemitism (HRW), it is also notoriously challenging to quantify incidents, especially in the US (Jewish Currents).

Antisemitism is distinct from other forms of oppression in that it positions an oppressed people, the Jews, as themselves oppressors and therefore a target for other oppressed peoples’ rage (April Rosenblum). In the United States and Europe, antisemitism protects capitalism and its almost exclusively Christian elite ruling class by pushing blame onto Jews, labelled by modern antisemitism as an “inferior race” (JFREJ). On the right, the “great replacement” trope favored by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter and several Republican representatives claims Jews orchestrate mass migration of non-white immigrants to majority-white countries (HeyAlma). On the left, Marxist analysis of the elite capitalist class of accumulators can be twisted into the conspiracy theory that Jews control the world’s wealth and media.

In the United States, antisemitism dates from colonial times, when Jews were defined as “filthy” by the Dutch, and continued in the lynching of Leo Frank (Dinnerstein), the refusal to accept Jewish refugees in WWII (USHMM), Ivy League restrictive quotas (Karabel), and consistent occurrence of hate crimes. Most recently, on May 18th, Iranian Jewish diners outside a West Hollywood restaurant were attacked by a group in a vehicle with a large Palestinian flag (Eater). Witnesses report the assailants shouted antisemitic slurs and asked which of the diners were Jewish before instigating the melee (NBC). The same day, a Los Angeles driver attempted to run down a Jewish person in the street. Two days later, two men attacked a pedestrian wearing a yarmulke in New York, yelling, “F**k Jews!” The latter attack came the same day as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire that ended Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory of Gaza (CNN). There’s no room to split words: such acts of violence are baldly antisemitic and must be denounced and opposed.

The Anti-Racism Daily has previously written about the need for Americans to oppose U.S. support of states that brutalize those under their rule. The state of Israel, like the United States, would certainly qualify. According to Amnesty International, Israel engages in “institutionalized discrimination against Palestinians” and that “torture and other ill-treatment of detainees, including children, were committed with impunity” (Amnesty International). Attacking random Jewish people does nothing to remedy these injustices; the government of Israel is not run by people eating at West Hollywood sushi restaurants. To say that Jewish people are responsible for the actions of a Jewish state is as blatantly prejudicial as claiming all Chinese people are responsible for COVID-19.

Conflation of Jews and the modern State of Israel serves entrenched right-wing power. The project of colonialism needs a friendly state in the Middle East. Numerous Jewish movements in resistance to Zionism have existed and continue to exist, like IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace (InTheseTimes), but they are ignored or sidelined in favor of an overwhelming narrative of Jewish support for Zionism. This ignores the fact that Zionism was itself rooted in antisemitism, as early Zionists internalized a sense of inferiority and proposed that the only solution to the “degeneration” of Jews was to create a modern nation-state (Project Gutenberg). The state of Israel, supported by the white supremacist projects of the United States and other settler-colonial nations, has limited not only the political imagination of Jews but of all progressives (Cornel West, Lamont Hill). One way our political imaginations have become limited is a refusal to believe in a future for the region where Palestinians and Jews are both welcome to live peacefully and have a right of return (The Guardian).

White supremacy cannot operate without antisemitism. Similarly, we cannot understand and defeat white supremacy without understanding antisemitism. We must use our imaginations beyond the state of Israel and what we are told is the only way for Jewish safety: there are many possible worlds without antisemitism and without colonialism in the modern Israel/Palestine region.

Mordecai Martin (he/him/his) is a 5th generation New York Jew and writer, who conducts interviews for The Poetry Question and whose fiction work has appeared in X-Ray, Funicular, and Gone Lawn. He lives in a small but not tiny house with a cat named Pharaoh and a wife named Atenea. He tweets @mordecaipmartin and blogs at http://www.mordecaimartin.net.

Key Takeaways

The United States has a long history of antisemitism and antisemitic ideas can be found across the political spectrum, though it is especially well-funded and deadly on the right.
The identification of all Jewish people with the State of Israel is a right-wing, antisemitic idea. Jewish anti-Zionism has a long history.

RELATED ISSUES

7/28/2020 | Denounce antisemitism.

4/16/2020 | Unpack superheroes and the American Dream.

10/8/2020 | Condemn QAnon.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 6/2/21 Nicole Cardoza 6/2/21

Unpack corporate political contributions.

Though the Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th failed, they motivated plenty of Republicans to keep pushing unsubstantiated claims. That same day, 147 Republicans voted against certifying the election results, alleging fraud (NYTimes). After pushback from community groups, some corporations decided they would stop contributing to these candidates. However, businesses like AT&T, Intel, and Cigna have since betrayed those promises with quiet donations to Republican fundraising committees, ensuring their money will in part be distributed to those who voted in lockstep with an attempted coup.

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily! Lots of you readers asked how corporate commitments to racial equity compared to campaign contributions over the past four years. Today, we're highlighting an initiative that's tracking corporate funding to those that supported the insurrection earlier this year. Read more and take action.

Our free, daily newsletter is made possible by our passionate team of readers that give one time or monthly to help sustain the work. If you want to support, give monthly on Patreon. Or, you can give one-time on our website or PayPal. You can also support us by joining our curated digital community.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Tell corporations to stop funding insurrectionists in Congress using the resources on the Insurrection Incorporated website.
Educate yourself about corporate lobbying and reasons for corporate political donations.
Learn how campaigns have forced powerful corporations to change their behavior.

GET EDUCATED

By Andrew Lee (he/him)

Color of Change PAC’s Insurrection Incorporated is a campaign to pressure companies to permanently stop supporting those who voted against certifying last year’s election. Their website tracks companies who supported such politicians and notes whether any donations were given after January 6th. Readers can contact corporate leaders directly to demand such support stop (Insurrection Incorporated).

Several of those who voted against the election results had received contributions from computer firm Intel. Though Intel insisted such support would cease, on February 26th, the company gave $15,000 to the National Republican Campaign Committee (Insurrection Incorporated). Why would Intel want to overthrow American democracy?

The American political system has been exceptionally good to Intel Corporation, which earned $77.9 billion in revenue last year alone (Intel). Intel was founded in the United States and its headquarters are in California to this day. It’s hard to believe that anybody inside those buildings, from the cafeteria dishwashers to the CEO, thought that shredding the Constitution would help Intel make more money than it already does.

And when we’re thinking about corporate political donations, the bottom line is all that matters. Investors buy stocks in publicly-traded companies hoping to profit as the value of those companies, and their stocks, rises. Publicly-traded companies have a responsibility to become more valuable so that their investors are enriched as well, whether over the short term or long (Forbes). The point of any corporation is to make money for itself and for those who gamble on its success. The decisions taken by any rationally-managed company will be towards this one objective.

Last year, Intel gave over $500,000 to federal candidates. The majority were Republicans, but almost half were Democrats (Open Secrets). When you’re a multinational corporation whose profits can be influenced by innumerable governmental policies, it helps to have as many politicians on the payroll as you can. And even if you think one party might help more than the other, with that much cash, it can’t hurt to hedge your bets.

“Companies donate millions to political causes,” says Business Insider, “to have a say in government” (Business Insider). It’s not like Intel’s CEO decided to continue giving money to Republicans because he sincerely hoped Trump would be President-for-Life. But he knew that both Democrats and Republicans will continue voting on numerous issues that could affect Intel’s profit margin.

What’s true for political donations is true for other kinds of corporate giving as well. After the protests last summer, Target announced that it “stands with Black families, communities, and team members,” since improving its public image with the socially conscious might help it make more money. Target simultaneously donated over $3 million to the National Museum of Law Enforcement and continued to run a Minneapolis forensics lab to assist police officers, since these actions might help it make money as well (Business Insider). The issue isn’t that corporations are hypocritical or have divided loyalties. They only have loyalty to their bottom line, and every political contribution or public statement or charitable fund is a means to that end.

This means we have some leverage to change corporate behavior. If a company expects its donation to a right-wing politician will net it a certain amount of money, we only need to demonstrate that a negative public campaign will cost them an even greater amount of money should they follow through. This could take the shape of a direct action to hamper business operation, a boycott to reduce sales, or a public relations campaign that makes their products and brand less appealing. The objective of the Insurrection Incorporated campaign isn’t to make corporations grow a heart, but to convince them that supporting certain politicians can be extremely costly if enough people come together.

These actions can’t make companies moral or righteous or maybe even decent places to work. And they certainly can’t erase all the bad effects of a system where the most powerful actors are sprawling conglomerates maneuvering to enrich themselves at the expense of people and the planet. But even when our adversaries are powerful and wealthy beyond comprehension, and the action each of us takes might be very small, with enough of us we can make a real change.

We can take action once we really understand corporate donations.

Key Takeaways

Companies have continued to support Republican politicians even after the attempted coup.
Many of these companies also support Democrats, since corporate contributions are designed for profit maximization, not ideals.
This includes donations or statements in support of progressive causes, like Black Lives Matter.
We can stop bad corporate practices or contributions by making them more costly for companies than not.

5/4/2021 | Fight anti-protest legislation.

9/27/2020 | Protect the polls.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 5/27/21 Nicole Cardoza 5/27/21

Advocate for our right to trial.

The U.S. positions itself as a just country with a superior legal system where people are always considered innocent until proven guilty and always granted the right to a trial before a jury of their peers. Except this isn’t true at all. Despite the promise of the Sixth Amendment, we do not have an effective right to trial because today, the overwhelming majority of cases will never see a judge.

Happy Thursday! Understanding abolition requires us to consider how our criminal justice system fails to live up to its expectations. Part of that is understanding how our right to trial is often convoluted. Today, Andrew unpacks more.

Thank you to everyone that makes this work possible. If you want to support, give $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website or PayPal. You can also support us by joining our curated digital community.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Read the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer’s report on “The Trial Penalty” and learn about racism in the criminal justice system.
Follow the Prison Policy Initiative (Instagram), The Marshall Project, and Prison Legal News.
Learn about how even deplorable acts of harm require justice from outside the legal system. (TW: discussion of child sexual abuse throughout).
Support Decarcerate PA (Instagram), the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the Center for Constitutional Rights, or a local group working to fight prosecution, incarceration, and dependence on the state for addressing harm.

GET EDUCATED

By Andrew Lee (he/him)

Some think that most criminal cases go to trial and that those who take a plea deal are always guilty. But in reality, only a third to a fourth off felony cases went to trial in the 1960s. Today, the figure is just one in twenty. 90% of the criminal convictions are the result of a plea deal, not a trial (The Outline). Most convictions happen after a defendant gives in to a prosecutor offering them a lighter sentence if they plead guilty or a much heavier sentence should they lose in court.

It’s not hard to imagine an innocent person who may have already spent months in jail deciding to take such a deal rather than risk a trial. This “trial penalty,” says the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, “has virtually eliminated the constitutional right to a fair trial” (NACDL). In the words of Judge Jed S. Rakoff, “Our criminal justice system is almost exclusively a system of plea bargaining, negotiated behind closed doors and with no judicial oversight. The outcome is very largely determined by the prosecutor alone” (The Marshall Project). Only 2% of those facing federal charges go to trial, and that percentage drops every year (Pew). We now have a system where prosecutors use plea deals to simply assign sentences to the disproportionately Black and Brown people kidnapped by the American state.

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world (Equal Justice Initiative) and incarcerates a greater number of people than any other country. One out of every four people incarcerated today are locked up in the United States, despite the fact that it has less than 5% of the global population (ACLU). The vast majority of those incarcerated are neither convicted nor sentenced by a judge or jury. The American criminal justice system is exceptional in many ways, but it is hard to imagine that such a system is exceptionally just.

Decrying the drop in cases taken to trial doesn’t mean we should go back in time. American justice wasn’t just when slavery was the law of the land. American justice wasn’t just in the Jim Crow era, when “Black Codes” and the convict leasing system returned thousands of Black people to effective slavery. It wasn’t just in the 1950s and 60s, when civil rights protestors were convicted as criminals (Equal Justice Initiative). It wasn’t just before 1963, when poor defendants had no right to an attorney (Britannica), or before 2003, when gay sex was illegal in more than a dozen states (Britannica). The American justice system has never provided justice for the masses of Black and Brown people, queer and gender non-conforming people, or poor people in general. That today almost nobody receives even the formality of a trial is but the latest egregious chapter in a long, enraging story.

People in every country on Earth, from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, are taught that their country’s system is uniquely fair. Many Americans, despite all evidence, believe in the goodness of “our” system. Even after the uprisings of last summer, many seek minor reforms. If only we could modify the local police or change a few sentences of the legal code, the thinking goes, we could have the pure world of Law & Order episodes: intrepid cops who arrest the bad guy, a dashing prosecutor who uncovers incontrovertible proof, and a villain who tearfully confesses it all from the stand. The egregious reality of our court system suggests that we might instead look at limiting its power altogether. This means opposing incarceration, not only for drug or non-violent offenders but for everyone at all times (Prison Policy Initiative). This means opposing cages for people, whether they are in private prisons or prisons and jails run by the state. This means looking for transformation and justice within oppressed communities instead of demanding that prosecutors throw the book at alleged law-breakers (Teen Vogue).

Recognizing the lack of an effective right to a trial is one place to start.

Key Takeaways

Almost none of those charged with a crime go to trial. Instead, defendants are pressured into accepting plea deals.
In most cases, guilt isn’t established by a judge or jury. Instead, prosecutors are free to set sentences for suspects who plead guilty.
This means the right to a trial has effectively been written out of the U.S. criminal justice system.

10/29/2020 | Fight racist death row sentencing.

8/26/2020 | Be an active bystander.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 5/19/21 Nicole Cardoza 5/19/21

Recognize U.S.–sponsored brutality.

Israeli settlers are trying to evict Palestinian families from homes in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. “Since 1967,” says Amnesty International, “it has been the policy of successive Israeli governments to promote the creation and expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” (Amnesty International).

Happy Wednesday and welcome back! The ongoing crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has dominated the news cycle this week. Calls to acknowledge both sides often ignore the gross power imbalance at play, and the U.S.'s complicity in the violence. Today, Andrew outlines the role of the U.S. in the brutality.

Thank you to everyone that gives a little when they can to keep this newsletter going! If you can, consider giving $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website or PayPal. You can also support us by joining our curated digital community. This newsletter will continue to be a free resource because of this collective support.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Learn about the Israeli occupation, the Sheikh Jarrah expulsions, and Gaza airstrikes.
Understand the role the U.S. government plays in the oppression of the Palestinian people.
Support the Palestinian Youth Movement (Instagram), If Not Now (Instagram), and Free Gaza.

GET EDUCATED

By Andrew Lee (he/him)

Israel, like the United States, is a settler-colonial state, in which the inhabitants of a territory are killed or expelled by settlers who create their own society on the same land (Washington Report on Middle East Affairs). The foundation of the State of Israel saw the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people.

In the last two decades, dozens of Palestinian families have been evicted from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood alone. But the current attempted expulsions led to a huge wave of Palestinian opposition.

Far-right Israelis chanted “death to Arabs” at counter-protests, and the Israeli military stormed Al Aqsa Mosque, beating and shooting sniper rounds at those inside (Al Jazeera). When groups in the Gaza Strip launched rockets at Israel, the Iron Dome missile defense system shot down 90% of them. “Israel is the vastly more powerful player,” says the BBC. “Its air force, armed drones and intelligence-gathering systems enable it to strike targets in Gaza pretty much at will” (BBC).

Israeli airstrikes are now leveling buildings in Gaza, an impoverished region mostly inhabited by descendants of Palestinians whose families were forced out by the new State of Israel after the 1948 Arab-Israel War. Many live in refugee camps to this day (History). The Gaza Strip has high unemployment, inadequate water and sewage, and suffers from Israeli sanctions that block imports of resources like food supplies (Britannica). At least three high-rise buildings were destroyed by airstrikes last Wednesday alone. “There is nowhere to run, there is nowhere to hide. That terror is indescribable,” said a pharmacist whose apartment building was obliterated (AP News).

Violence is, of course, deplorable in general. But those liberal politicians and celebrities who merely condemn such violence “on both sides” miss two crucial points.

First, Israel is a settler-colonial nation-state immeasurably more powerful than its opponents. It was the more powerful party which started the current cycle of violence by supporting the eviction of families from land it occupies by force. Those dispossessed and displaced are organized into several opposition groups, all with significantly less capacity to inflict military damage than the Israeli state.

Second, when American leaders condemn “both sides,” they make it seem as if the United States were a disinterested party. But the U.S. is firmly aligned politically with Israel. In fact, the U.S. is Israel’s chief benefactor, providing both weapons and with international cover for the occupation. A 2018 UN Security Council resolution denouncing Israeli killings of Palestinian civilians would have passed had the U.S. not been the one member to vote against it (Reuters). The U.S. gives Israel over $3 billion each year in weapons, weapons which today are detonating in the Gaza Strip (U.S. State Department). On Monday, the Biden administration approved $735 million in precision-guided weapon sales to Israel (Washington Post). The day before, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the building containing the office for the Associated Press as the death toll in Gaza climbed to 148 (MSN). That same day, the United States stood alone in blocking a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between all parties involved (MSN).

There are many reasons for the United States’ uniquely strong support of Israel. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which lobbies for near-unconditional American political and military support of the country, brags of being the most influential lobbying group in Washington (New Yorker). Some evangelical Christians cynically support Israel out of a belief that Jewish control of the Holy Land is necessary for Jesus Christ to return and initiate the literal end times from the Book of Revelation (Belief Net).

The strength of pro-Israel sentiment in the U.S. government and vigorous efforts by Israeli politicians to ensure continued U.S. support do not mean that Israel alone controls the United States’ every move, a false idea connected to anti-semitic paranoias about all-powerful Jewish conspiracies. The United States is a superpower. Israel, the size of New Jersey, depends on U.S. weapons sales and international support. Thanks to American military aid, Israel is the most heavily armed country in a region whose location and natural resources are important for U.S. state interests (Observer). Arming and defending Israeli apartheid allows the American government to exert influence in a region thousands of miles away. “Were there not an Israel,” Joe Biden said in 1986, “the United States would have to invent an Israel to protect its interests” (Politico).

According to Human Rights Watch, the Israeli government committed crimes against humanity even before the current attacks (Human Rights Watch). The political, economic, and military support offered by the United States makes the U.S. government an active agent in these crimes. The residents of the United States have exponentially more power to fight for an end to Israeli apartheid, displacement, and aggression than anyone else in the world. “The size of the global solidarity has angered the [Israeli] occupation government,” said Sheikh Jarrah activist Muna al-Kurd. “I believe in popular resistance” (Al Jazeera).

U.S. support for international oppression is nothing new. In 1973, the U.S. helped overthrow democratically-elected Chilean President Salvador Allende’s government and its replacement by an authoritarian “reign of terror” under Augusto Pinochet (NPR). During the Salvadoran Civil War, the U.S. gave military training and $4 billion in aid (Britannica) to a government that tortured and slaughtered civilians, including the entire population of a village called Mozote (Huff Post). Today, the U.S. provides “defensive support” to a Saudi-led war in Yemen that has created conditions the United Nations describes simply as “hell” (Vox) (United Nations).

It is a political and moral responsibility for us to ensure our atrocities aided and abetted by our very own government are put to an end.

Recognize and resist U.S.-sponsored brutality.

Key Takeaways

After attempting to evict Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem, Israel began airstrikes against Gaza, flattening residential buildings and killing civilians.
Even before these attacks, Human Rights Watch declared that Israel was committing crimes against humanity.
Israel has many times the military power of its adversaries. 90% of rockets fired from Gaza were shot down by its missile defense system.
Israel depends on political, economic, and military support from the U.S., which provides $3 billion in weapons sales every year.

7/28/2020 | Denounce antisemitism.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 5/11/21 Nicole Cardoza 5/11/21

Increase access to identification in your community.

According to the ACLU, 11% of U.S. citizens – or more than 21 million Americans – do not have government-issued photo identification (ACLU). Much of the conversation around the need for IDs revolves around voting, driven by the rise of legislation that states across the country are implementing that include stricter identification requirements (NPR). Marginalized groups, including those disabled, the elderly population, and people of color, are less likely to have identification than the general population, which means their voices are minimized in elections. But beyond that, the identification gap causes many issues for people across the country, particularly during COVID-19.

Good morning and happy Tuesday! Many of the issues we focus on here have to do with access, offering ways we can advocate to make things more cost-effective, culturally-responsive, safer, etc. But the issue of identification and verification is often an underlying issue. It's one of the most foundational aspects of engaging in the social and political systems in the U.S. but not equitably distributed. Today, we review the urgency of identification during the pandemic and organizations making a difference.

This newsletter is possible because of our gracious supporters! Consider giving $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website or PayPal. You can also support us by joining our curated digital community. Thank you to all those that support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Support local organizations near you tackling the identification issue in your community, similar to the ones referenced at the end of the article.
Research to see whether your state requires photo identification to vote.
If you have easeful access to identification, consider: What daily activities does your ID allow you to do without thought? How would your day today change if you didn’t have identification?

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

First, lack of identification has made it more difficult for people to get vaccinated. The federal government does not mandate the need for identification, emphasizing that it’s imperative that everyone, regardless of immigrant status, has access to the vaccine. But each state has a different registration process, and vaccination sites often make up their own rules (Washington Post). I had to bring my ID and proof of residency to receive mine. Some states, like Florida, and testing sites have implemented identification requirements to combat “vaccine tourism,” where non-locals will travel to other communities to get access (BuzzFeed). But these measures impact people that actually live in these communities who just happen not to have identification.

This issue also contributed to the racial disparities of those that received PPP funding, government assistance to support small businesses through the shutdowns over the past year. Until recently, the application process required a social security number, making those that do not have one ineligible, even those who pay taxes with an individual taxpayer identification number (Los Angeles Times).

Lack of identification is a persistent issue for those that are unhoused. Many cities have enacted legislation that makes it illegal to live in public (Anti-Racism Daily). Not having identification can increase the likelihood for individuals to be arrested or fined because of this, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP). Furthermore, access to essentials like rapid housing, temporary housing, employment, and medical care can become far more complex (Vice). Violent sweeps, performed by law enforcement as an attempt to clear unhoused people from sidewalks and parks, often result in the loss of physical identification items, like licenses and birth certificates. Replacing an identification is a difficult process, especially without the original and access to a permanent address. Efforts to increasing access to identification for unhoused communities must include protecting their valuables from the state government.

These issues don’t just create barriers to life-saving essential services. They contribute to the ostracization that many marginalized people experience when navigating our country’s social services. Having an identification is one of the most foundational aspects of belonging in a society. And in contrast, when one has to constantly prove their legitimacy without one, it can foster feelings of isolation and distrust. Changing the narrative of who "deserves" to have identification shifts how we welcome one another into our communities.

There’s some remarkable work happening to combat the identification gap across disciplines. Organizations like Mini City, based in Atlanta, and Samaritarian, based in Seattle, use smart tech to make it easy for those without identification to authenticate and apply for social services (Vice). Nonprofit organizations, like Reconciliation Services in Kansas City, host regular drives to get more people state IDs and start the necessary paperwork for other forms of identification (Kansas City Beacon). Some are also helping to cover or waive the fees for obtaining photo identification (StreetRoots). Other cities are starting, or expanding, their own local IDs initiatives for county residents, like this initiative in Broward County, FL (Miami Herald).

Hopefully, something like this is starting near you, too. It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that no members of our community are left behind.

Key Takeaways

11% of U.S. citizens – or more than 21 million Americans – do not have government-issued photo identification.
The barriers to obtaining identification make it difficult for marginalized groups to gain access to necessary support services – all more urgently needed during the pandemic.
A variety of solutions have been created by nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and tech companies.

4/1/2021 | Protect the unhoused community.

2/11/2021 | Support an equitable vaccine rollout.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 5/4/21 Nicole Cardoza 5/4/21

Fight anti-protest legislation.

Despite the strong evidence, the GOP has continued to rail against these protests by proposing legislation to prevent citizens from utilizing their constitutional right to protest. In the 2021 legislative session, 81 anti-protest bills have been introduced in 34 states – twice as many as previous years. Often veiled as “anti-riot” bills, these statements exacerbate the hateful rhetoric that demonstrations against police brutality and violence are an act of violence in themselves (NYT).

Happy Tuesday, and welcome back! If you haven't caught up on what's happening in Elizabeth City, NC, you should: the city's response to ongoing protests is heartbreaking. But similar acts to limit our right to protest are popping up in state legislation across the U.S. Today, Nia advocates for us to fight for our First Amendment rights – read more and see how you can rally against harmful legislation in your state.

As always, we welcome any support for our independent news. Consider giving $7/month on our website or Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website or PayPal. You can also support us by joining our curated digital community. Thank you to all those that support!

Nicole

ps – thanks for all the feedback on the new template! I'm optimizing it a bit more each day, so thanks for your patience. You might also notice that these emails are going to your spam – be sure to add hello@antiracismdaily.com to your contacts. If you have Gmail, drag and drop this to your primary inbox. It helps *everyone* when you do this, even if you're not affected!

TAKE ACTION

The ACLU of Florida has made a public statement about the anti-protest laws, and the ACLU defends the right to protest nationwide. You can donate to the ACLU by following this link.
Research the anti-protest legislation proposed or enacted in your state.
Write to your elected representatives to state your opposition to anti-protest legislation. You can find information about who your elected officials are at the local, state, and national level here.

GET EDUCATED

By Nia Norris (she/her)

Millions of people in the United States have participated in demonstrations since George Floyd was murdered in May of 2020 (NYT). The national attention that the movement for Black lives received generated a flurry of corporate support: two-thirds of the largest companies in the U.S. made public statements about police brutality (MarketWatch). However, not everyone has embraced the movement. Last year, former President Trump inaccurately claimed that the Black Lives Matter movement is destroying Democrat-run cities (USA Today). Twelve thousand demonstrations over the previous year were analyzed by the Crowd Counting Consortium at the University of Connecticut. They found that the majority of them were peaceful, with no property damage or injuries (ABC News)

Protesters are more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators. Last year, protestors were hit with cars more than 100 times (WSJ). In Kenosha, WI, on Aug. 25, 2020, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse open fired on demonstrators, killing two and seriously wounding one. He pled not guilty to all charges, claiming that he shot the individuals in self-defense (NPR). Between May 26 and June 5, 2020, Amnesty International USA recorded 125 incidents of police violence against protestors (Amnesty International USA).

Bills passed in Florida, Oklahoma, and Iowa grants immunity to drivers who hit protestors with their vehicles. Indiana’s proposal seeks to bar those convicted of unlawful assembly from state employment. In Minnesota, a bill seeks to restrict individuals who are convicted of unlawful protests from receiving benefits such as student loans, unemployment benefits, or housing assistance (NYT)(TNR). In some cases, states are looking to criminalize the act of merely attending a protest. The Iowa bill makes it a felony to even be present at a riot, regardless of the protestor’s actions (ABC News).

Unlike most protests, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was a violent event, resulting in five deaths that included a Capitol Police off(PBS). The assault on the capitol was incited by a speech by President Trump, who made false claims of election fraud and encouraged the mob to go out and “fight like hell” (NPR). Despite this, the police response to this riot was unlike the police response to protests. Officers were seen clearing the barricades and taking selfies with the rioters (PBS). Although the anti-protest legislation does not distinguish between types of protests, Republican proponents of the bill choose to center Black Lives Matter protests in their arguments instead of noting the danger of this event (NPR).

These laws are clearly meant to suppress individuals who would like to see accountability for police violence and racism. They’re also a direct violation of our First Amendment right, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of people to assemble peacefully and to petition the government for a redress of grievances (Congress).

Key Takeaways

Republican legislators are passing laws restricting the right to protest, thinly veiled as anti-riot laws. Many of these laws offer protections for citizens who hit protesters with their vehicles.
Black Lives Matter protests have been largely peaceful, with the most violent protest of the last year being the Capitol riot of Jan. 6th.
Anti-protest legislation is a violation of our First Amendment rights to assemble peacefully.

7/26/2020 | Pay attention to the Portland protests.

6/30/2020 | Boycott as a form of protest.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 3/29/21 Nicole Cardoza 3/29/21

Rally against voter suppression.

Last Thursday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a sweeping voter suppression bill into law that allows for more legislative oversight and control on election proceedings. The bill has a couple of positive provisions, like lengthening the time of early voting in general elections, but they fail to compensate for the negative.

Happy Monday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily! We covered this topic briefly last June on the anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder, and it's all the more relevant with the law that passed in Georgia last week. I didn't realize how many other states have similar legislation pending – so stay alert for the latest in yours.

This newsletter is a free resource made possible by our supporters. We'd love you to consider making a monthly recurring donation on our website or Patreon. You can also give one-time on PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). Thank you for all your support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Donate to the New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan effort to register and educate Georgia voters. The most effective way to reverse these laws is to create a Democratic-led state government in 2022.
Voter suppression laws are in progress in several other states right now. If you live in teh following states, click the link to take action (provided by Fair Fight): Arizona | Georgia | Florida | New Hampshire | Texas.
Sign the petition to encourage your Congresspeople to pass H.R. 1 and H.R. 4.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Absentee voters have to submit a driver’s license, state ID or other proof of their identity.
Absentee ballot drop boxes can only be located in early voting locations (which are often placed predominately in wealthier, white neighborhoods)
Drop boxes won’t be available in the last days of an election (after it’s too late to mail ballots in)
The State Election Board is now managed more by the state legislature, who now have the power to suspend anyone for inappropriate conduct
It shortens runoff elections from nine weeks to less than a month and cuts the early voting required from three weeks to one week. Consider how critical the runoff election in Georgia was for establishing a Democratic Senate in early 2021.

(NBC News)

The most blatant addition prohibits volunteers from distributing items like food, water, and folding chairs to voters waiting in long lines. Because of the lack of polling locations available, Georgia voters – particularly those of color – waited hours to be able to vote in the 2020 elections (NBC News). Not only is this an apparent attempt to deter individuals from voting, but it’s also troubling that the government finds it appropriate to ban a human from providing food and sustenance to another while participating in their civic duty.

When asked during his first formal news conference, President Biden was adamantly against the law, stating that it “makes Jim Crow look like Jim Eagle” (Washington Post). Stacey Abrams called the law Jim Crow 2.0. On Twitter, Kemp proudly shared a photo of the occasion, depicting him seated at a table, surrounded by six white men, signing the bill (Twitter). Reporter Will Bunch from The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that the painting in the background featured the Callaway Plantation, a plantation in Wilkes County, GA, where hundreds of Black people were enslaved, which makes it all the more sinister. Read the full story on Will Bunch’s Twitter thread.

To fully understand the context, we have to analyze its similarities with voter suppression laws of the Jim Crow era. By definition, voter suppression, is when the state or federal government intentionally makes it difficult for people to exercise their right to vote. The Fair Fight PAC breaks down three fundamental voting stages: voter registration, access to polls, and ballot counting. Voter suppression can happen at any stage of this process. Although voter suppression affects everyone from having a fair and democratic election, it usually directly impacts communities of color, the elderly, people with disabilities, and others systemically marginalized in our country.

Voter suppression for Black people has been around since the beginning. The 15th Amendment, enacted in 1870, made it unconstitutional to deny any man the right to vote based "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (National Geographic). But, Black men were often barred from the polls, along with other people of color, through state-wide rules and regulations that limited their rights. This wasn’t just a racial decision but a political one; during that time, Black people overwhelmingly voted Republican (the party of Abraham Lincoln).

States implemented polling taxes – which made it too expensive for any poor person to vote. Some also started to use literacy tests to thwart Black people, knowing that many weren’t granted the opportunity to learn – and were punished for attempting to.

Side note: The grandfather clause is often included as a form of voter suppression. This practice granted prospective voters eligibility if their father or grandfather had voted in the past. This obviously did bar non-white voters from voting, but it was actually implemented to enfranchise uneducated and/or poor white men, so the poll taxes and literacy tests didn’t block them. The law became obsolete after a Supreme Court ruling in 1939, but the “grandfathered in” terminology still remains (NPR).

In Mississippi in 1890, the state went so far as to require voters to read and interpret a section of the state constitution chosen by a local official. White people were given simple clauses to read and were often assisted by poll workers. In contrast, Black people were given the most incomprehensible clauses that even the most well-read political figure may not have understood. During his run for re-election, Democratic Senator, Mississipi Governor and noted white supremacist Theodore Bilbos said the following:

“

The poll tax won’t keep ’em from voting. What keeps ’em from voting is section 244 of the constitution of 1890 that Senator George wrote. It says that for a man to register, he must be able to read and explain the constitution...and then Senator George wrote a constitution that damn few white men and no niggers at all can explain.

(Race and Liberty in America: The Essential Reader)

These laws were effective. In Mississippi, less than 9,000 of the 147,000 voting-age Black people were registered to vote after 1890. In Louisiana in 1896, there were 130,000 registered Black voters. But this number plummeted to 1,342 by 1904 (Smithsonian).

It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the federal government attempted to eradicate these voting laws. Within four years of its enactment, Black voter registration increased from 25% to 65% (Brennan Center). But seven years ago, the Supreme Court significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. In its June 25, 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, the Court rejected a provision of the Voting Rights Act that determined which jurisdictions with a history of discrimination had to “pre-clear” changes to their election rules with the federal government before implementing them. This gave states a free pass to make whichever rules they see fit without oversight (Brennan Center).

This enabled states like Georgia to implement new laws that disenfranchise voters. One rule, the “use it or use it” law, allows states to remove their citizens from the voter registration list if they didn’t vote in past elections. The "exact match" law requires that voters’ registration information exactly matches the information found at the state’s Department of Driver Services or the Social Security Administration. In 2017, the Georgia state government, led by then-Secretary of State Kemp, who had just announced his run for governor, used these two rules to remove over 600,000 voters from the registry (The New Republic). An additional 53,000 voter registrations were pending at the time of the election. Unsurprisingly, Kemp won the election against Stacey Abrams by roughly 55,000 votes (NBC News). You can read about other examples of modern-day disenfranchisement here.

Progressive leaders have been advocating for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would reinstate some of the changes made in 2013. They offer a more comprehensive view of discriminatory acts in the voting process that reflects modern-day (Brennan Center). The For the People Act, introduced in early 2021, is also designed to restore the VRA and end gerrymandering and reduce corporate spending in elections (Brennan Center). It’s possible, but not likely, that these will pass the Senate, but we can rally. More urgently, we must support the organizers in Georgia to ensure everyone has access to the resources they need, despite an equitable system. As you watch this conversation unfold, be sure to tune into the latest on voting rights in your state, too.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Last week, Georgia state legislatures passed voter suppression laws that will disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
These laws echo similar acts throughout history that tried to make it more difficult for people of color to access the polls.
Although the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 to end the Jim Crow voting laws, a provisional change in 2013 made it easier for states to create oppressive laws once again.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 3/26/21 Nicole Cardoza 3/26/21

Learn the definition of "woke.”

This past week, Tim Scott has come under criticism for admonishing “woke supremacy,” naming that the liberal movement is “as bad as white supremacy” (The Hill). The rise of the term “woke supremacy” indicates that the word “woke” has strayed far from its original intentions.

Happy Friday and welcome back. I’m taking a slightly different take on today’s newsletter to highlight the history behind the word woke and the harm in pitting calls for accountability against the violence of white supremacy culture. Because of that, the take action section offers a couple of urgent CTAs from communities across the U.S.

This newsletter is a free resource made possible by our supporters. We'd love you to consider making a monthly recurring donation on our website or Patreon. You can also give one-time on PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). Thank you for all your support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

A large unsheltered community at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA, is being displaced by law enforcement after building a safe and peaceful community. Use this toolkit to join the community, and follow the latest on the hashtag #EchoParkRiseUp.
Undocumented workers in NYC have gone on hunger strike to demand access to pandemic aid, which must be included in the state budget by April 1. Donate to support their efforts.
The Missouri State Legislature wants to make protesting in the streets a felony. Sign the petition to protect free speech.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

The term is often attributed to author William Melvin Kelley, who used the term in his 1962 New York Times essay about the appropriation of Black vernacular (often referred to as AAVE). But the idea of “staying awake” has been used to support social and political issues for hundreds of years. The term “stay woke” specifically was first used as part of a protest song by Blues musician Huddie Ledbetter called “Scottsboro Boys,” which a group of nine Black teenagers in Scottsboro, Arkansas, accused of raping two white women (Vox).

The word resonated with musician Georgia Anne Muldrow, who used it as her own personal mantra to stay motivated. Her definition of the term is as follows:

“

Woke is definitely a black experience — woke is if someone put a burlap sack on your head, knocked you out, and put you in a new location and then you come to and understand where you are ain’t home and the people around you ain’t your neighbors. They’re not acting in a neighborly fashion, they’re the ones who conked you on your head. You got kidnapped here and then you got punked out of your own language, everything. That’s woke — understanding what your ancestors went through. Just being in touch with the struggle that our people have gone through here and understanding we’ve been fighting since the very day we touched down here. There was no year where the fight wasn’t going down.

Georgia Anne Muldrow, in conversation with Elijah C. Watson for OkayPlayer

Muldrow wrote the word into her song “Master Teacher”, which was re-recorded by Erykah Badu, a Grammy-award-winning singer and songwriter, and released in 2008 (OkayPlayer). That track brought the term “stay woke” to the forefront of modern Black culture. “Stay woke” became a rallying cry for Black lives after the killing of Michael Brown in 2014, a reminder to watch out for police brutality. This specific use of the term defines its relevance to our current culture. Aja Romano wrote a detailed history about the word “woke,” including a comprehensive timeline, if you want to learn more (Vox).

And, as words tend to do in culture, the word “woke” was mainstream by 2016. Everyone – individuals, brands, talk shows, politicians, sports teams – started using the word broadly to align themselves with conscious values and ideas. As Sam Sanders notes in his article for NPR, this is a standard pattern for how words cycle through our culture (NPR). And AAVE is routinely adopted and misconstrued by mainstream communities. But a word that once carried significant cultural significance for the Black community got co-opted to display solidarity without any action attached to it. Woke went from something we did to something we only said.

“Words that begin with a very specific meaning, used by a very specific group of people, over time become shorthand for our politics, and eventually move from shorthand to linguistic weapon. Or in the case of woke, a linguistic eye-roll” (NPR).

As soon as the term found mainstream understanding, it also started to be wielded by conservatives as an attack. Nowadays, it’s more likely you hear about “wokeness,” “woke culture,” "woketopians," or “woke supremacy” condescendingly, usually as a way to dismiss liberal views of equity and inclusion as a “liberal agenda” or a form of “political correctness.” Suddenly, the word woke went from protecting marginalized folk to attacking them for standing up for their rights. This evolution of the term aligns with an incredibly polarized era. It’s no wonder that by October 2018, 80 percent of Americans believe that “political correctness is a problem in our country” (The Atlantic).

But woke supremacy is just a phrase. White supremacy is a culture. The word “woke” wouldn’t even exist if Black people had to stay vigilant to stay alive. Individuals, for example, wouldn’t express outrage over a journalist using the N-word if white supremacy hadn’t fostered a condition where discrimination against Black people hadn’t been normalized for generations. The conversation on racial stereotypes in some of Dr. Seuss’s books can’t happen if those racial depictions haven’t been weaponized against communities of color for decades.

Although some individuals have faced personal discomfort after being called out publicly for inappropriate actions, this so-called “woke supremacy” doesn’t have the capacity to create systemic harm. Don Lemon stated it far more plainly on CNN. “I’ve never seen a woke supremacist lynching anybody. Never saw a woke supremacist denying anybody access to housing or a job or education or voting rights. Never saw any woke supremacists enslaving anybody. Never saw any woke supremacists trying to keep people from marrying amongst different races. Where are the woke supremacists attacking police? Where are the woke supremacists hunting police officers in the halls of the Capitol and beating them with Blue Lives Matter signs” (Huffington Post)?

Ironically, centering “woke supremacy” alongside “white supremacy” only emphasizes the real issue. Some people are so focused on protecting white supremacy that they’re willing to manifest a new enemy to exercise its power against. As a result, there are coordinated attacks against “wokeness” that are actually more forceful applications of white supremacy culture. Schools are passing bills to ban the 1619 Project and conversations on racism and sexism from the curriculum and poll public university employees about their political identity. In FiveThirtyEight, Perry Bacon Jr. notes that this isn’t new; the right has leveled the same attacks against “‘outside agitators’” (civil rights activists in 1960s), the ‘politically correct’ (liberal college students in the 1980s and ’90s) and ‘activist judges’ (liberal judges in the 2000s).”

So, what do we do about it? First, we recognize that the argument is inherently flawed. We focus our attention back on systemic harm rather than political noise. In essence, we draw our attention back to the root of the word itself: the social and racial issues that threaten the safety of Black people and other marginalized groups. And instead of preparing for battle in a fictional war, we stay committed to the work. After all, actions are louder than words.

8/23/2020 | Support those incarcerated and impacted by COVID-19.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 3/24/21 Nicole Cardoza 3/24/21

Abolish the filibuster.

Happy Wednesday and welcome back! Honestly, all I knew about the filibuster until recently was "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Turns out filibusters are much more than impassioned, 25 hour speeches, but an insidious way to stifle progress. Diarra shares more about the process and offers the little we can do to change it.

This newsletter is a free resource made possible by our paying subscribers. We'd love you to consider making a monthly recurring donation on our website or Patreon. You can also give one-time on PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). Thank you for all your support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Sign the petition at actionnetwork.org to abolish the filibuster.
Research and vote for representatives who are committed to abolishing the filibuster.
Read the Structural Biases in the Structural Constitutional Law and understand the disadvantages that Democrats and progressives face in the current system

GET EDUCATED

By Diarra English (she/her)

The modern filibuster is the greatest threat to American democracy right now. Without so much as a word, any senator who objects to a bill has the power to completely derail the bill’s progression until sixty senate members vote for the delay. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is no stranger to the filibuster and has used it to block any bill he simply does not like. He and his colleagues are willing to go through major lengths in order to block bills, and President Joe Biden’s presidency doesn't seem much different.

Last week, President Biden took the first steps that possibly could help in dismantling the disruptive structure of the filibuster. He says it needs to be reformed back to how it was when he first began his thirty-eight-year Senate career—a talking filibuster (The Washington Post). Without a reformed filibuster, it will be nearly impossible for President Biden to pass legislation such as the voting rights bill, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and many more (Rolling Stone).

According to the U.S. Senate, a filibuster is an action designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent vote on a bill, resolution, amendment, or other debatable question (United States Senate). When a filibuster is enacted, the amount of votes needed to pass the legislation automatically rises from the original majority of fifty-one to a supermajority of three-fifths, or sixty votes. On bills where support is already limited, it becomes impossible to garner the remaining votes needed to pass the supermajority.

The filibuster was first introduced in the mid-nineteenth century as a tool to unfairly uphold the institution of slavery at a time when leaders were beginning to realize the need to abolish it (NPR). Adam Jentleson, former deputy chief of staff to former Democratic leader Harry Reid from 2010-2017, credits John C. Calhoun as being the father of the modern filibuster as we know it. Calhoun fought hard to defend Southern slave owners by using filibusters, and later on the filibuster stayed true to its racist history by derailing Civil Rights legislation.

It has long been understood that the American democratic system was founded on racism, therefore, its never been an ally for Black and non-white people. However, the extent to which this applies is more apparent as you dive into the structure of American politics. From the contradictory verbiage in the Declaration of Independence to the gerrymandering of cities, towns, and counties, there truly is no place for the American Black in the United States government. Today, the filibuster’s racist structure of politics speaks louder than ever as senate Republicans plan to use it to dismantle the voting rights of millions of Black Americans.

Many members of the Senate have been calling for reform or abolition of the filibuster, and President Biden just joined the team along with democratic Senators such as Chris Coons and Dianne Feinstein, who was adamantly opposed to the filibuster up until last Friday afternoon. Feinstein stated in President Biden’s proposal (Twitter) that she is open to changing the Senate’s filibuster rules if necessary to pass legislation such as expanded background checks for firearm purchases, and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Most recently, Senator Bernie Sanders said, “The only way the [fifteen dollar minimum wage] would pass is if they abolished the filibuster” (Politico). Similarly, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has vehemently opposed the filibuster and is now applying more pressure than ever to make sure President Biden addresses the issue.

At the heart of the issue is the vulnerability not only of the majority, but also the ability to pass legislation that is essential to a functioning democracy. Following the election of Senators Jon Ossoff and Rafael Warnock, an onslaught of voter suppression laws was presented by Senate Republicans in crucial Southern and swing states. In the 2020 presidential election, the power of the Southern states was evidently clear; Black and Brown voters are unstoppable when they join together and aren't disenfranchised (The Atlantic). Without reform of the filibuster, it's easily possible for these laws to pass and cause irrevocable harm to the democratic process. As imminent as the threat may seem, President Biden does not appear to have the same urgency as Democractic senators or top aides who want to see reform happen as soon as possible. “He needs time” has been the consensus instead of moving forward with diligent speed (Politico).

It is certainly going to be difficult garnering the support of Senate Republicans to alter the filibuster in the slightest, especially with minority leader Mitch McConnell as the head. He cites the filibuster as a means to force “deliberation” and is something that was within the wishes of the founding fathers. He believes eliminating it would dismantle the structure of the senate and will cause a ‘nuclear winter’ (The Guardian). But, President Biden doesn’t want to abolish it completely; he only wants to “refashion” it back into what it used to be (The Washington Post). In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Biden states that he is all for bringing back the rules of the filibuster where Senators had to stand up, demand the floor, and keep talking (ABC News). This will make it harder for opposers to block essential bills and it will deter those from disrupting senate proceedings just because they don’t like something. They will actually have to work for it.

As long as the filibuster still is considered fair game in our democratic system, no progressive legislation will pass. As it has been used to block gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, Obamacare expansion, and numerous civil rights bills, there is no hope for forwarding movement as long as anyone senator can waste precious time either through silence or procrastination. There’s a reason the founding fathers did not support the filibuster. They had the forethought to understand the danger that a filibuster could cause, especially in the matter of the supermajority (Indivisible). It can’t be okay for the minority to essentially throw a tantrum whenever something isn’t going their way. We need to return to the balance of power intended for the government when it was first developed. Imagine a reality where American citizens advocate for the change they want to see and are actually able to see it because their senators can vote on and pass their concerns. It can happen without the filibuster and, as of Friday afternoon, we are one step closer to its reform and hopefully its abolition.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The filibuster has always been a racist means of objecting to progression.
Without the filibuster in place, the minority will no longer have the power to derail the wishes of the majority and the American citizens who want change.
The filibuster often advances the desires of those who seek to abuse power.

RELATED ISSUES

2/22/2021 | Advocate for reparations.

1/28/2021 | Take action on executive orders.

1/14/2021 | Impeach, ban and convict Trump.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 2/22/21 Nicole Cardoza 2/22/21

Advocate for reparations.

Last Wednesday, February 17, Congress held a hearing on “H.R. 40: Exploring the Path to Reparative Justice in America.” The bill, referred to as H.R. 40, calls for Congress to create a commission to study the history of slavery in the U.S. from 1619 to 1865, and develop actionable steps to pay reparations. You can watch a recording of the entire hearing on PBS.

Happy Monday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. I was hoping to cover this issue last week on the day of the hearing, but I totally missed my own deadline with everything happening in Texas. It aligns well with Andrew’s article yesterday, which analyzed our relationship to reconciliation through history.

This newsletter is a free resource and that's made possible by our paying subscribers. Consider giving $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website or PayPal. You can also support us by joining our curated digital community. Thank you to all those that support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Send a message to your members of Congress urging them to support H.R. 40.
Download and review the reparations toolkit from the Movement for Black Lives.
Research efforts for reparations in your state and local community. See how you can support, amplifying, or advocate as needed.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

This is a marked point of progress on the long road to receiving federal reparations for Black people. In 1898, The National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief Bounty and Pension Association had 600,000 members – all of who organized to obtain compensation for slavery from federal agencies. During the 1920s, Marcus Garvey organized hundreds of thousands of Black people to demand reparations. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr advocated for reparations as part of his book “Why We Can’t Wait” in 1964. The Black Panther Party called for reparations as part of their ten-point program.

In fact, in her 2019 public lecture at Columbia Journal of Race and Law, activist, attorney, and scholar Nkechi Taifa emphasizes that, since the end of slavery, “there's been no substantial period of time where the call for redress has been neglected.” Read her full speech via Columbia and more examples of reparations through history via ACLU.

But in 1988, Congress passed legislation paying reparations to Japanese Americans that were descendants of those held in detention camps, along with funding dedicated to educating the history of Japanese internment and a pardon for all those convicted of resisting arrest. This action created a framework for approaching reparations for Black people in the political sphere. As a result, the H.R. 40 bill was introduced a year later, led by the late Representative John Conyers (MI). It’s named after “40 acres and a mule,” referencing the broken promise of 1845 to redistribute land to formerly enslaved people (learn more in a previous newsletter).

The House and the Senate issued apologies to Black Americans for the impact of slavery and Jim Crow back in 2008 and 2009 (NPR), a hollow gesture without joint accountability or reparations for the harm. (They also apologized for the harm that happened “to Native Peoples” during this time). But otherwise, there’s been no significant progress on behalf of the federal government.

Despite this, public perception of reparations is rapidly shifting. Ta-Nehisi Coates’ article, The Case for Reparations, brought reparations to the front-page in 2014 (The Atlantic). And racial reckoning of this year alone has swiftly shifted sentiment in favor of passing reparations. Reparations have been a persistent demand from major Black-led organizing groups. And last summer, the Human Rights Watch, along with dozens of other organizations, sent a letter to Congress urging the review and passing of H.R. 40 (Human Rights Watch).

Representative Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) took on this work after the passing of Rep. Conyers. She reintroduced the latest version of H.R. 40 on January 4, 2021. This pivotal step got buried in the news; two days later, white supremacists stormed the Capitol building – resulting in another slew of calls for accountability. It’s difficult to imagine what more is needed to make this case a national priority.

“
Reparations is repairing or restoring. It’s a formal acknowledgment and apology, recognition that the injury continues, commitment to redress and actual compensation.”

Nkechi Taifa, told to Donna M. Owens for NBC News

Proponents of the bill believe that this year, H.R. 40 has a chance. It’s likely the bill will pass the House but may falter in the Senate. But they hope that President Biden will step in, enacting this work as an executive order if Congress votes against it. The press secretary at the White House confirmed that Biden supports a study on reparations but didn’t explicitly note how he’d respond to the bill (Newsweek).

In the interim, we can also turn to state and local governments to pursue reparations in their communities. Over the past two years, in particular, states and cities have increased efforts to pay reparations for Black people and other people of color (Pew Trust). For example, Maryland has launched its own commission to consider financial commitments like free college tuition at Maryland schools, low home mortgages, and business loans without collateral (NBC).

It’s important to remember that conditions only worsen each day the government fails to act on reparations. A recent study found that reparation payments could have reduced the transmission and fatality of COVID-19 across the U.S. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Lancet Commission on Reparations and Redistributive Justice analyzed data in Lousiana and found that payments could have reduced between 31% to 68% of coronavirus transmissions (Social Science and Medicine). As of this past weekend, over 500,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 in less than a year. This is more than the number of U.S. soldiers that died in both WWI and WWII (NBC News).

The best time to demand reparations was yesterday. The second-best time is right now. We must hold our leaders accountable for a legacy of harm to protect our communities today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Last week there was a Congressional heraing on H.R. 40, a bill that calls for the government to create a commission to study the history of slavery in the U.S. and pay reparations.
Social sentiment on reparations is changing swiftly, particularly due to the racial reckoning of the past year
The work to federally recognize reparations for Black people has been happening for decades by politicians and organizers alike

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 1/28/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/28/21

Take action on executive orders.

Since his presidency began two weeks ago, President Biden has signed 26 executive orders to rewrite our political history and create a distinction between his and the previous administration. And in text, these statements are powerful. Four of them signed last Tuesday directly address racial equity, and cover topics you’ve seen in this newsletter: they stress the importance of land sovereignty for Indigenous communities, address anti-Asian sentiment due to COVID-19, reduce the use of private prisons, and acknowledge the role the federal government has played in discriminatory housing policy. The previous sentence links to previous newsletters. Read more about these orders on Politico.

Happy Thursday! And welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. Executive orders are meant to spark confidence in a new administration. But that can be performative if they're not emulated in policies and practices, or simply become revoked when there's a new President. We can't decide that for our nation's leaders, but we can certainly influence it. Today is a recommendation to channel the hope you're feeling into change by organizing on the local level. I've included the hopes and visions of our writers to help spark your own.

This newsletter is made possible by our subscribers. Consider subscribing for $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website, PayPal, or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). You can also support us by joining our curated digital community.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Get clear on your visions for this administration. What are you hoping this administration achieves in the next four years?
Read the executive orders published so far. All are available on whitehouse.gov.
Use our framework at the bottom of the article to start investigating how to take the executive orders you read into local action.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Since his presidency began one week ago, President Biden has signed 26 executive orders to rewrite our political history and create a distinction between his and the previous administration. And in text, these statements are powerful. Four of them signed last Tuesday directly address racial equity, and cover topics you’ve seen in this newsletter: they stress the importance of land sovereignty for Indigenous communities, address anti-Asian sentiment due to COVID-19, reduce the use of private prisons, and acknowledge the role the federal government has played in discriminatory housing policy. The previous sentence links to previous newsletters. Read more about these orders on Politico.

Because our team has spent much of our newsletter’s history writing about these disparities, I wanted to hear from them about their hopes for the upcoming administration. Here are their thoughts:

While the abject cruelties of the last administration may pass, I think it’s important to hold on to the reality that racism, Islamophobia, and brutal state violence didn’t start with Trump and won’t end with him, either. Trump’s term was a time of repression and violence but of courageous resistance as well. My hope is that during the next four years, we can continue to manifest dignified, beautiful rebellion as we work together to craft a world that fits all of us.

– Andrew Lee

I want to see student loan forgiveness, accessible healthcare for all, foundational criminal justice reform, the beginnings of reparations to the Black and Indigenous communities and more; I want to see it and not just hear about the possibility of it. And I want to see people continuously demanding more of their local, state and national representatives, even when it isn’t trending anymore.

– Shayna Conde

I would like to see the Biden-Harris Administration combat drug addiction. As a recovering cocaine addict, my experience with prison-based rehab was very dispiriting, and didn't work for me. There isn't one shoe that fits all when it comes to combating drug addiction. And for Black people entering prison-based rehab, we are required to submit to the broken-self narrative. Even if it means saving a life, it can be a barrier getting Black people to admit to white authority figures that we are morally and emotionally broke and need white men to manage our lives.

– darryl robertson

I am looking forward to more BIPOC leadership at all levels of government from Madam Vice President to Senator-elect Raphael Warnock to take their rightful place in the White House and other areas of government. I am hopeful that as we see more diverse leadership, our policies will begin to reflect and prioritize the needs of communities in the U.S. including BIPOC, the LGBTQA, disability community, the elderly. Lastly, I am hopeful for a clear COVID-19 plan, a plan that was nonexistent prior to Biden's inauguration. Wishing for a new year of healing and invigoration.

– Kayla Hui

On Twitter, writer Kim Tran (@but_im_kim_tran) said: "If the rights of the marginalized can be diminished and reestablished in the space of years/hours, they are not inalienable, they are subject to state power and the real work is to free ourselves from a framework that would treat our humanity as such." I thought that described the problem so well. My hope is that over the next four years we will not grow complacent under a Democratic administration, but use our collective power to dismantle this framework piece by piece.

– Jami Nakamura Lin

I'll be honest: a Biden-Harris administration is both fearful and relieving to me. Even with a Democrat-controlled Congress and Executive branch, the battle for progressive policies like universal health care, erasing student loan debt, abolishing ICE and defunding the police seem so far off. But after an election with such a massive voter turnout, I am hopeful that all of the people who've joined this fight won't turn their backs on us and are in this for the long haul. Trump was a symptom of years of white supremacy and capitalism, so now more than ever, we must mobilize for a better future.

– Olivia Harden

National organizers see these executive orders as just the beginning. Black Lives Matter Movement co-founder Patrisse Cullors sees President Biden’s executive orders on racial equity as “a nod,” but emphasizes that "there's so much more to do and we will push this administration to do it” (MSNBC).

And Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, co-executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center, emphasizes that all of this was because of organizers on the ground fighting for change. “This is not just because of his good graces, but movement made it possible that racial equity is prioritized in the executive branch of our government”. She notes that the work is a step forward, and that “this is the floor, not the ceiling” (Democracy Now).

As Jami said above, the worst thing that we can do is become complacent. So, in the spirit of Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, I encourage us all to put these executive orders into action in our own communities. As you continue to review the executive orders in the coming days and weeks, consider:

Who is exemplifying this work in my local community?

What policies and practices need to be implemented here to align with these national initiatives?

Where are the existing support services in my community already doing this work?

How can I contribute to this work? How can I cause unnecessary harm?

Why is this work so critical to move forward now, not tomorrow?

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 1/22/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/22/21

Embrace multiculturalism.

On January 19, outgoing-secretary of state Mike Pompeo published a tweet that excoriated multiculturalism as “not who America is” and a ploy to “make us weaker” (NYTimes). The irony that his last name is Italian is lost on no one, though his use of the government’s imprimatur to make this racist statement is no joke. Pompeo’s denouncement is in-line with the Trump administration’s goal to sow division and erode the rights of anyone who does not align with whiteness (Forbes).

Happy Friday! And welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. After four years of fighting against Trump, the start of a new administration feels exhilarating. In his first days as president, Biden signed 17 executive orders and introduced other initiatives to rebalance the system. A few directly centered racial equity, including ending the 1776 Commission, reinstating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and revoking Trump's ban on diversity training for federal agencies (for context, I've linked our previous reporting on each topic). Review all executive orders >

The Trump administration is behind us. But its impact is not. So we need to shift our focus from fighting against the political leaders of our past to reimagining the future we deserve. Juan's article today morphs a final bitter statement from leaders past into how we can become the leaders our future deserves. Consider this: how are you modeling tomorrow, today? Regardless of how you may feel about the new administration, it was clear that multiculturalism was on full display during this inauguration. How do we carry this into the communities we serve.

This is a free daily newsletter that operates on pay-what-you-wish contributions. Consider subscribing for $7/month on Patreon, or give one-time on our website, PayPal, or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). You can also join us in our d igital community.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Take a look at the company you work for, the school where you/your child attends, and/or the community you value most. Consider: how does this organization focus on multiculturalism? How does it celebrate diversity in ideas and values? List three tangible ways that the organization can improve and share with key leadership.
Make a concerted effort to only spend your money at places that support and pursue diversity. If you stop patronizing a business because of its lack of diversity, be sure to send and email explaining why, as well as the changes you would like to see if you are to return.

GET EDUCATED

By Juan Michael Porter II (he/him)

As a professional dancer in NYC, I participated in an interactive teaching program called “Multicultural Fusion.” “Multi-Culti,” as we called it, used dance forms from all over the world to show immigrant students how diversity made America great. My boss, Michael Mao—who himself was born in Shanghai—reasoned that by encouraging students to immerse themselves within the numerous cultures that comprised America’s mosaic, they would discover how vital they were to their new home’s vitality.

Though it meant leaving our glamorous rehearsal studios in midtown Manhattan to take a bus to NYC’s outer boroughs, I loved this program. It brought to mind my travels around the world, interacting with people who went out of their way to make me feel like I belonged. Most pressingly, I loved seeing teenagers guilelessly burst out of their shells to rejoice in physical expression.

For the past four years, their futures in this country have been imperiled. On January 19, outgoing-secretary of state Mike Pompeo published a tweet that excoriated multiculturalism as “not who America is” and a ploy to “make us weaker” (NYTimes). The irony that his last name is Italian is lost on no one, though his use of the government’s imprimatur to make this racist statement is no joke. Pompeo’s denouncement is in-line with the Trump administration’s goal to sow division and erode the rights of anyone who does not align with whiteness (Forbes). It plays right into the hands of white supremacists such as Hans von Spakovsky, a lawyer at the Heritage Foundation, who has stated that “diversity is a way of justifying discrimination” (Time).

Trump’s attacks on multiculturalism have included rolling back long-standing civil rights protections, instituting a travel ban on mostly Muslim, declaring the “Black Lives Matter” sign on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue “a symbol of hate,” expelling migrant children to Mexico regardless of their country of origin, and banning diversity and racial sensitivity training at the federal level. (ProPublica, NPR, Vox, Axios). *Editor's note: the Biden administration has ended the travel ban as part of the first executive orders issued in its presidency.

These assaults on diversity were dangerous even when they faced legal challenges because they allowed lawyers to refine their statutes until they were legally plausible, though still regressive. Erica Newland, who worked in the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department, revealed as much while lamenting having stayed on with the Trump administration in a misguided attempt to curtail his draconian measures. Regarding the travel ban, she says that if she and her colleagues had not been on board to “nip and tuck” the agenda, “the attacks would have failed” (NYTimes).

That’s what makes statements like Pompeo’s dangerous. Though he is departing in disgrace, his words influence future legislators and policies. In fact, the Trump administration added six mostly African countries—Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar—to the travel ban on January 5th, 2020, for no other reason than they can (NYTimes).

When I think of the harm resulting from lost contact with these incredible countries, I am reduced to tears. Following a devastating dance injury when I first arrived in New York 21 years ago, my training in Nigerian and Ivorian folkloric African dance rejuvenated my body and brought me back to the art form. My exposure to Sudanese storytelling and its focus on inter-communal sharing inspired me to become one of the largest independent dance presenters in New York and one of the world’s very few Black dance critics. Beyond my own selfish gains, diversity has been proven to make countries and companies stronger because it quite literally challenges us to prepare better, work towards consensus, and anticipate alternative viewpoints (Scientific American, Harvard Business Review). Let us also consider that embracing diversity is simply the right thing to do.

When Trump promised to build a wall along the U.S. southern border, many failed to realize that walls can be metaphorical and physical. Under his reign, our country has lost stature, entered into bruising trade wars, and become isolated from its allies (Pew Research, Bloomberg, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic).

Without multiculturalism, our bonds to other countries are weakened. It is essential that we reject Pompeo’s assertions, promote multiculturalism, push the incoming Biden administration to re-open the borders as swiftly as possible, and reclaim our position as a country that welcomes anyone seeking to build their own “American Dream.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Trump administration has instituted racist policies that erode civil rights and isolate the U.S. from the rest of the world.
Mike Pompeo’s outgoing message as secretary of state seeks to destroy future policies that promote multiculturalism.

RELATED ISSUES

12/4/2020 | Repeal the Trump Equity Gag Order.

9/21/2020 | Support the 1619 Project.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 1/14/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/14/21

Impeach, ban and convict Trump.

The following are the BLM's list of demands in response to the Capitol coup shared via email. Action items in today's email reference the points made below. I've added contextual information in italics with an asterisk *.

Happy Thursday and welcome back! Another "new year", another impeachment of President Trump. Today we're amplifying Black Lives Matter's list of demands as our call-to-action. It has action items not just for the next administration, but tactical ways you can take action today.

As you do, remember that Trump has been inciting violence over the past four years. It took an insurrection at the Capitol to spur action, but our democracy and many of its people have been endangered (or outright killed, attacked and/or discriminated against) by his presidency since day one.

Our work is made possible by our paid subscribers. You can financially contribute by making a one-time gift on our website or PayPal or subscribe for $7/month on Patreon. Thank you all for your support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Co-Sign the BLM demands in response to the Capitol coup.
Contact your Senators and demand they vote to convict President Trump. You can use the Senate website, use this form via Everytown, call by dialing (202) 224-3121, or text EXPEL to 30403.
Take at least one of the four actions to support the BREATHE Act on their website, whether it's calling local representatives, spreading the word, or sharing your story on how the BREATHE Act would change your life.
Consider: How did Trump's hateful and incendiary rhetoric directly affect my wellbeing? How did it impact my community? Those more vulnerable than me? Those more resourced than me?

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

1. Impeach, convict, and ban Trump from future political office: Every second that Trump remains in office is a threat to our democracy. We are joining Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, and others who are demanding Trump be immediately impeached and convicted in the United States Senate. Trump must also be banned from holding elected office in the future. Call your members of Congress and demand they support impeachment by dialing (202) 224-3121.*It's not enough to simply impeach President Trump to prevent him from running again. Learn more aboutwhat needs to happen next, and learn how similar efforts have played out withother political leaders around the world.

2. Expel Republican members of Congress who attempted to overturn the election and incited a white supremacist attack: More than half the Republican representatives and multiple senators stoked Trump's conspiracy theories and encouraged the white supremacists to take action to overturn the election. We are supporting Rep. Cori Bush's resolution to expel them from Congress for their dangerous and traitorous actions. *Learn more about this resolution onCBS News.

3. Launch full investigation into the ties between Capitol Police and white supremacy: The Capitol was able to be breached and overrun by white supremacists attempting to disrupt a political process that is fundamental to our democracy. We know that police departments have been a safe haven for white supremacists to hide malintent behind a badge, because the badge was created for that purpose. Guilty parties need to be held accountable and fired. We are supporting Rep. Jamaal Bowman's COUP Act to investigate these connections. *Read more about the COUP Act.

4. Permanently ban Trump from all digital media platforms: Trump has always used his digital media platforms recklessly and irresponsibly to spread lies and disinformation. Now it is clearer than ever that his digital media is also used to incite violence and promote its continuation. He must be stopped from encouraging his mob and further endangering our communities, even after inauguration.*Here's aroundup of the actionsvarious tech platforms have taken to block Trump.

5. Defund the police: The police that met our BLM protestors this summer with assault rifles, teargas, and military-grade protective gear were the same police that, on Wednesday, met white supremacists with patience and the benefit of the doubt, going so far as to pose for selfies with rioters. The contrast was jarring, but not for Black people. We have always known who the police truly protect and serve. D.C. has the most police per capita in the country; more funding is not the solution.*Learn how calls to defund the police are translating politically with thisbreakdown of police budgetsacross the U.S.

6. Pass the BREATHE Act: The police were born out of slave patrols. We cannot reform an institution built upon white supremacy. We need a new, radical approach to public safety and community investment. The BREATHE Act paints a vision of a world where Black lives matter through investments in housing, education, health, and environmental justice.*Read more about The BREATHE Act.

Related Issues

10/1/2020 | Vote Trump out of office.

6/10/2020 | Defund the police.

11/16/2020 | Understand your local law enforcement.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 1/4/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/4/21

Tackle anti-Blackness in South Asian communities.

After Kamala Harris was elected America’s first Black, Indian American, and female vice president, South Asians largely reacted with enthusiasm. A September poll found that 72 percent of Indian Americans were going to vote for the Biden-Harris ticket (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace). But when the vice president-elect takes office in a few weeks, how are South Asian American communities going to grapple with their legacies of anti-Blackness alongside their celebration of this historical milestone? How will we make sure that we reject model minority tropes and also center her Black identity?

Hello and welcome to a new year, a new Monday, and a new article from the Anti-Racism Daily! We've had a lovely time on holiday and we're back in action with our daily reporting. We're just a couple weeks from the U.S. Presidential Inauguration (held January 20, 2021) where Kamala Harris will become the first woman, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to become vice president. Today, Vignesh joins us to discuss anti-Blackness and the complexity of multiracial identity.

I appreciate that Vignesh mentions that he is still learning, and invites others in his community to do the same. You might not identify as South Asian, but consider how you can take the same approach to address anti-Blackness in your own community.

This community has grown since holiday! Thanks to our group of financial contributors, we can continue to offer this newsletter free for all – without sponsors or ads. You can support our work by making a one-time gift on our website or PayPal, or subscribe for $7/month on Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza).

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Share Letters For Black Lives with your family. There’s even a version tailored to South Asian Americans. The template letters, available in dozens of languages, help spark conversations with loved ones about racial justice, police accountability, anti-Blackness, and why Black Lives Matter.
Read more about the history of South Asian and Black solidarity via historian Anirvan Chatterjee.
Read everything by Yashica Dutt and Suraj Yengde, who address issues of casteism in society.
Follow South Asians 4 Black Lives, which educates South Asians about dismantling anti-Blackness.

GET EDUCATED

By Vignesh Ramachadran (he/him)

Of course, identifying Harris has been a subject of much contention: some have labeled her as solely African American, others as only Asian American, while others have flat-out questioned her American roots (The Atlantic). Harris was born to a Jamaican American father and an Indian American mother in California. The incoming Biden-Harris administration clearly identifies her as a “Black and Indian American woman.” After the November election, lawyer Deepa Iyer encouraged Brown Americans to not “erase or de-center her Black identity” or “accept that oppression and inequality have ended,” as well as to address “anti-Blackness in systems and our own communities” (Twitter).

There are racist adages in parts of South Asian communities that basically say: Don’t date or marry someone who is Black (The Juggernaut). Whiteness has traditionally been the South Asian aspiration — from skincare products to matrimonial platforms to entertainment. When Indians have called out cultural appropriation in Western pop culture, they often ignore that Bollywood liberally appropriates Black culture and promotes whiteness — spurring the #BollywoodSoWhite movement. For more on colorism in South Asian communities, check out our previous newsletter.

All these issues stem from a legacy of colorism, casteism, and anti-Black sentiment that have pervaded South Asian cultures for years. The community must understand that history in order to course-correct today. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, one of the female characters dislikes her dark complexion. In Islamic history, some followers disliked one of Prophet Mohammed’s companions because he was dark and the son of enslaved people (The Juggernaut).

In more contemporary times, Gandhi was thought to have a “disdain for Africans” during his time living in South Africa (The Washington Post). In the well-known 1923 Supreme Court case in which Bhagat Singh Thind fought for American naturalization, he claimed his high-caste Hindu roots and supposed Aryan blood deemed him white. In 1958, Harris’s Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who moved from South India to Berkeley, California, to pursue higher education, soon participated in civil rights demonstrations (The Atlantic). The civil rights movement, fought by Black Americans, opened doors for the vast majority of South Asians to even move to the United States. The landmark Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 abolished old immigration quotas, allowing immigrants from Asian countries to grow exponentially (History.com). As Sharmila Sen writes in The Washington Post: “Rushing to celebrate our achievements — impressive household incomes, new-construction homes, millennia-old gods, low divorce rates, high SAT scores — we have, on occasion, silently accepted the badge of honorary whiteness.”

So many people in my own family have described my late maternal grandfather as a “great man and very handsome, even though he was very dark” — as though his Dravidian roots and South Indian skin were a character flaw he had to overcome. Even Hindu idols are largely depicted with fair skin, though there is some contemporary pushback (BBC News). There are also troubling parallels between race and caste discrimination (The Conversation).

But there is progress being made in 2020. Following George Floyd’s killing, parts of South Asian American communities finally began to discuss anti-Blackness — both in public spheres and in the depths of private WhatsApp groups. A group of my childhood friends who also grew up second-generation in Colorado started a Zoom meetup where we discussed issues of race. Kids are sending their older relatives Letters For Black Lives. Aunties and uncles — some of who participated in summer protests — finally began to understand why Black Lives Matter. We heard the heartening story of the Bangladeshi immigrants in Minneapolis whose restaurant caught fire during demonstrations, and in those moments of distress, expressed solidarity: “Let my building burn … Justice needs to be served” (Medium).

As the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) organization eloquently recommends, in addition to addressing anti-Blackness, it’s time for South Asian American communities to show up for Black communities. It’s time to uplift voices who are not just like me. We need to hear from those who grew up both Black and South Asian to better understand unique multiracial perspectives — like those of Harris. I’m still learning, and I hope more South Asian American peers will join me in this process.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

South Asians need to recognize that anti-Blackness in our communities goes back centuries. Whether we’re talking about emerging voices or famous leaders like Kamala Harris, it’s important to acknowledge intersectional identities and not just “Brown-wash” them.
The Asian model minority myth hurts everyone — especially our Black peers.

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Nicole Cardoza 12/4/20 Nicole Cardoza 12/4/20

Repeal the Trump Equity Gag Order.

On September 22, the Trump administration signed an executive order prohibiting “divisive concepts" in diversity training programs such as systemic race and sex discrimination and implicit race and sex biases (White House). The order, often referred to as Executive Order 13950, seeks to discredit systemic racism and the impact of the enslavement and genocide of Black and Indigenous people. It discredits critical race theory. And it emphasizes that implicit bias has no place in policies, and federal policy shouldn’t be spent to combat it. All of this attempts to invalidate the work of organizations that have committed themselves – through research, advocacy, public policy, creating safe spaces, etc. – to name and dismantle white supremacy. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund has filed a lawsuit against this executive order (NAACP).

Happy Friday and welcome back. The Trump administration's executive order on racial diversity training was signed two months ago and has already made a devastating impact on institutions and organizations, including ours. Today is a straightforward call-to-action to preserve the education and advocacy of the topics you've been reading here each day.

Yesterday marked our six-month anniversary of the Anti-Racism Daily! I started this newsletter on June 3 to offer consistent ways to take action to dismantle white supremacy. I never thought we'd be fighting against an executive order six months later. But I'm grateful we get to do it, together.

This newsletter is made possible by our generous group of contributors. Support our work by making a one-time gift on our website or PayPal, or giving monthly on Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go to antiracismdaily.com. You can share this newsletter and unlock some fun rewards by signing up here.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Sign the petition demanding the immediate repeal of the Trump Administration’s Equity Gag Order.
Use the hashtag #TruthBeTold to demand the repeal of the Equity Gag Order.
Fill out this form to provide any information on how the Equity Gag Order impacts your lives and communities.

These action items are provided by the African American Policy Forum, an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. Learn more about their work and support if you can.

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By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

We briefly referenced Trump’s sentiment on this issue in a newsletter outlining the history of critical race theory, before the executive order was announced. But now, two months later, we must talk about the impact that this executive order has had for institutions across the U.S. – far beyond the federal government. Many people assumed that this order was more performative than anything. But it’s easy to discredit its impact if you’re unfamiliar with the reach of federal funding.

First off, it had an immediate and significant impact on federal contractors themselves. The National Fair Housing Association, which rallies to end housing discrimination, provides training for federal agencies and industry leaders to ensure fair and equitable practices. As we’ve discussed in previous newsletters, systemic racism plays a significant part in housing equity – and all of this is exacerbated with COVID-19. Lisa Rice, the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, emphasizes that undoing systemic racism is critical for mitigating these issues. But because of this gag order, her organization is now restricted from effectively explaining why this gap exists.

“
If we cannot tell the truth, we cannot effectively advocate for the policies that we need.
Lisa Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fair Housing Association

But it goes beyond contractors. Organizations that rely on funding from the federal government worked quickly to act accordingly. This includes the education space, which is particularly horrifying. We’ve written about how critical it is to promote anti-racism education, from diversifying curriculum to actively acknowledging racism with the Gen Z community. Stanford University was thrust into the spotlight when they publicly released a checklist for approving diversity content. The corresponding memo states that the university prohibits diversity training that discusses whether the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist or whether meritocracy is racist, sexist, or made by one race to oppress another, alongside other referenced statements in the executive order (Venture Beat). After public backlash, the university expressed that the memo was shared pre-emptively and did not reflect their values.

It’s also affected organizations doing the work completely separate from federal agencies. The AAPI shared examples in their talk, and participants joined in through the live chat, and the impact was broad. An elementary teacher had her children’s books reviewed for restricted content. A diversity and inclusion trainer was asked to remove anti-racism from their invoice. A student was requested to remove lines about white supremacy from their dissertation! And our newsletter has been banned in schools and organizations alike – one organization asked if we could change our name to comply with their corporate standards.

So when we can’t talk about the historical context of these inequities, where does it leave us? Rice emphasizes that it places the blame on the victim; the individual suffering from these systemic inequities is responsible – not the system or the structures that oppress them. This idea is something that the administration has pushed consistently. Just weeks after this was launched, Donald Trump Jr. put it bluntly, stating that Black people have to “want to be successful” for his father’s policies to work (AP News).

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Anti-racist speech is the most American speech. But we have to counter that against a President that believes ‘Make America Great Again,’ which means ‘make America white again.’
Charles R. Lawrence, III, professor and anti-racism scholar

This type of erasure attempts to diminish accountability for the federal government. But it also aims to deteriorate the foundation and strength of Black people. Our history, our culture, and legacy are not defined by the systemic inequities that we’ve faced – but certainly influenced by it. Furthermore, our labor and exploitation were critical to this nation’s growth and development; we wouldn’t be here without it. We can’t move forward if we don’t acknowledge where we’re coming from.

Based on the Biden adminstration’s focus on racial equity, it’s expected that this executive order will be reversed shortly after inauguration (USA Today). Ideally, they implement an executive order that counters this one, reinforcing the importance of this education for federal agencies, schools, and other institutions. And, most importantly, we must commit to keep doing this work ourselves. Continue to educate yourself, have tough conversations, and rally for change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

On September 22, the Trump administration signed an executive order prohibiting “divisive concepts" in diversity training programs such as systemic race and sex discrimination and implicit race and sex biases (White House)
This executive order affects the scope of what federal agencies can learn about racial inequity and how it influences their work
It's also created complications for how racial history and theory can be taught in schools and corporate settings
This gag order restricts us from acknowledging the impact of racism in America and discredits the resilience and strength of the communities impacted

RELATED ISSUES

9/7/2020 | Learn about critical race theory.

9/21/2020 | Support the 1619 Project.

12/2/2020 | Fight racism within Gen Z.

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Nicole Cardoza 11/6/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/6/20

Don’t homogenize Latinx identity.

I sometimes joke that when I moved to the United States from Mexico, I changed races. I went from being Mexican to being identified as an Asian-American by others.“You don’t look Latino,” Americans would say when I introduced myself.

I was born in Mexico City to a Chinese mother and a Mexican father of Indigenous descent. Spanish was my first language, and for a while, the only one I spoke. But when I arrived in the United States at seven years old, I quickly realized that I was not allowed to claim my Latinidad because I did not fit a narrow understanding of what being Latinx was supposed to look like.

Happy Friday. Lots of people pointing fingers at the Latinx community right now, which only further emphasizes how complicit whiteness is in this election – and society as a whole. Today, Ian joins us to discuss the diversity of the Latinx community.

This is the Anti-Racism Daily, where we send one email each day to dismantle white supremacy. You can support our work by giving one time on our website, PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). You can also give monthly or annually on Patreon. If this email was forwarded to you, you could subscribe at antiracismdaily.com.

TAKE ACTION

Support Voto Latino (@votolatino), an organization that seeks to increase Latinx representation in U.S. politics and recognizes racial diversity within the Latinx community.
Learn more about the Afro-Latinx diaspora by following @theafrolatindiaspora.
Reflect on some stereotypes you might have about the Latinx community and where you received the information that allowed you to form those stereotypes.

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By Ian Kumamoto (he/him)

Our collective misunderstanding about Latinx identity has never been displayed as clearly as it was this election. On Tuesday night, Democrats hoped to carry Florida and Texas in large part because more people of color, especially Hispanics, were turning out (NBC News). Instead, we saw historic numbers of Cubans and Venezuelans who showed up and helped Trump win. Although part of this can be attributed to those country's socialist histories, we must also confront another ugly reality: Latinx people can be white supremacists, too.

We often talk about Latinx identity as a monolith, especially when it comes to race. But “Latinx” and “Hispanic” are not races; they are ethnicities, as we will discuss in a future newsletter. As the elections near and discussions about the Hispanic vote intensify, we risk reducing a diverse population down to a singular cultural trope. More than 21 million people identify as Latinx in the United States. Many of them have vastly different notions of their identities, which means they also vote in radically different ways. One month ago, up to one-third of self-identified Hispanic people said they would cast their vote for Donald Trump in this coming election (Pew Research Center).

But Latinx people who vote for Trump aren’t “self-hating,” despite what John Leguizamo recently said on Real Time with Bill Maher (Remezcla). In fact, some feel like they have a real stake in upholding white supremacy (Remezcla). White supremacy within Latinx communities has thrived for centuries and has upheld a monolithic notion of the "Latino" that is exported abroad, one that erases Black, Asian and Indigenous people (The Nation).

Part of the reason the language around Latinidad is confusing is because it was made deliberately so. When the Spanish arrived in what is now Mexico in the 15th century, they created a racial caste system that positioned full-blood Europeans at the top. Peninsulares were the white ruling class while mestizos, who were mixed European and Indigenous, were below them (San Diego Reader). Similar systems developed throughout Latin America. But as more and more people became racially mixed, it got increasingly harder to determine the exact racial makeup of every person and categorize them accordingly. Eventually, Mexico discouraged such categorizations altogether (Indian Country Today). The umbrella term of “mestizo” was chosen as a sort of default national identity, even when referring to people who were mostly European or mostly Indigenous.

But a general mestizo identity glosses over the millions of people of other races who have little or no European ancestry at all. African enslaved people were transported to plantations in the Caribbean and Brazil. Chinese and Japanese immigrants went to South and Central America to farm, mine, and build railroads; in Peru, for example, people of Chinese descent make up 5 percent of the total population (Panoramas). Full-blooded Indigenous people were disenfranchised from economic systems and relegated to obscurity.

Despite the great racial variety of Latin American countries, its diversity is not reflected in the media. When you turn on the news, watch a telenovela, or scroll down a list of prominent celebrities in most Latin American countries today, you will likely see light-skinned or European-descendant people (The Nation). In the United States, many of the most recognizable Latinx figures (Bad Bunny, Pitbull, Shakira) are light-skinned. But it is much more difficult in these contexts to call out institutions for their lack of representation because they can simply claim a generalized Latinx identity and ignore how our cultures uplift whiteness.

Arguably the strongest pillar preventing a more inclusive notion of Latinidad is deeply-rooted beliefs that don’t question the idea of whiteness as inherently desirable. In the Dominican Republic and Mexico, for example, concepts like mejorar la raza (“to better the race”) are blunt ways of encouraging people to marry “up” and create more European-looking children who will be lighter-skinned than the generations before (Huffington Post). In Mexico, I grew up hearing the word Indio, or Indian, used as the worst kind of slur, while güero, or blondie, was used as a term of endearment.

In high school, I stopped speaking Spanish altogether because it promoted questions and sometimes even jokes (“Wow, an Asian who speaks Spanish!”). Even though the curiosity was seldom ill-intentioned, it became a barrier between me and the people of my community, who had internalized their own ideas about who was and was not allowed to be Latinx.

When discussing Latin identity and the political habits of Latinx people in the United States, it is essential to remember that our countries’ diversity means that our values and convictions can vary tremendously. It is crucial to have conversations about how white supremacy can be just as easily replicated by people who come to the U.S. from other countries. We must be vigilant against racism that pervades seemingly homogenous groups, or else we risk allowing the worst tendencies of a dominant group to thrive unchecked. Black, Asian, and Indigenous Latinx people are still fighting battles within our own communities to be seen, heard, and valued.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Latinx identity is not a monolith. More than 21 million people identify as Latinx in the United States, and many of them have vastly different notions of their identities.
When the Spanish arrived in what is now Mexico in the 15th century, they created a racial caste system that positioned full-blood Europeans at the top.
Despite the great racial variety of Latin American countries, its diversity is not reflected in the media. In the United States, many of the most recognizable Latinx figures are light-skinned.
Latinx identity often glorifies light-skinned people with European ancestry, but millions of Latinx people are racially Black, Asian, or fully Indigenous. We are still fighting battles within our own communities to be seen, heard, and valued.

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Nicole Cardoza 11/5/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/5/20

Abolish the electoral college.

Most people don’t realize that the popular vote doesn’t choose the President of the U.S. That’s only the first step. States first vote in favor of a presidential candidate, which validates the states’ electoral college. Then, these "electors" from each of the 50 states gather in December and vote for the President (and Vice President). The person who receives a majority of votes from the "Electoral College" – at least 270 out of 538 total potential votes – becomes President (National Archives).

Happy Thursday and welcome back! At the time of writing this, the U.S. is awaiting the results of key states to calculate the electoral vote results and declare a winner to this election. As we do, it's important to understand what the electoral college is, how we got here, and where we can grow. Dive in below, and take action to protect the results of this election.

This is the Anti-Racism Daily, where we send one email each day to dismantle white supremacy. You can support our work by giving one time on our website, PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). You can also donate monthly or annually on Patreon. If this email was forwarded to you, you could subscribe at antiracismdaily.com.

TAKE ACTION

Tell your legislator to pass The National Popular Vote bill, guaranteeing the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Fifteen states have already approved this, so check the list for yours first.
Tell your representative to support counting every vote before calling the election.
Join the Protect the Results initiative, which aims to mobilize voters if Trump continues to undermine the 2020 election results.
Reflect: How did the power and privilege you may experience contribute to the outcomes of this election?

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By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Please note: I wrote this Wednesday evening and included election information based on what I knew at that time. I’ve included a * for each sentence where information may have changed.

In case there’s a tie, The House of Representatives makes the decision. Each state gets one vote, and representatives of at least two-thirds of the states must be present for the vote. If they cannot decide by March 4, then the Vice President becomes President, and the person receiving the largest number of Vice President votes becomes Vice President (National Archives).

This is why although, as of Wednesday evening, 3 million more people have voted for Biden than Trump*, the race results rely on a few thousand votes in Midwestern states. Therefore, the electoral college has been scrutinized for whether it accurately reflects the perspectives of the American people.

In 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the electoral college was created when delegates assembled to devise something to replace the Articles of Confederation (National Archives). But equitable representation, both in Congress and in this process, was a place of concern. Small states like Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia would dominate the presidency because of the wide disparity in population size. In addition, Southern states argued that because their population was comparable, but mainly because of non-voting enslaved African Americans, they deserved a more significant say. Furthermore, many delegates (from both the north and south) felt that the average voter might not be educated enough to be “trusted” to make a decision (The Atlantic).

So, they devised a plan where “upstanding citizens,” referred to as “electors,” the power to make the ultimate choice (Vox). They also increased the size of representation for southern states that enslaved African Americans using the three-fifths compromise, or that each enslaved person counted as ⅗ of a citizen. At this time, about 93% of the country’s enslaved population lived in just five southern states. This rule increased the size of the South’s presentation in the House and Senate by 42% (The Atlantic). The three-fifths compromise has impacted more than just our presidential electoral process. We discussed how it affects tax inequity to this day in a previous newsletter >

As a result, Thomas Jefferson from Virginia won the election against Northerner John Adams. Observers at the time noted that Jefferson metaphorically “rode into the executive mansion on the backs of slaves” (Time). And until 1860, southern slaveholders continued to lead in the White House until Abraham Lincoln’s administration (The Atlantic). The Thirteenth Amendment was passed shortly after that, but the damage of the Electoral College remains.

First off, it tends to misrepresent Southern communities of color. Although Black voters overwhelmingly vote blue, five of the six states whose populations are 25% or more Black have been reliably red – and three of those states haven’t voted blue in over 40 years (The Atlantic). It also gives disproportionate decision-making power to smaller states with smaller population sizes. 15% of American counties generate 64% of America’s GDP, according to Brookings. This economic activity is centered on the coasts and few metropolitan areas in between – but those communities get roughly 30% of the representation. This means that lower-income, rural communities aren’t left behind, which is essential when considering equity. But it also means that their views and perspectives impact a much larger population, often with conflicting views (Brookings). Consider the issue of race: more liberal voices fighting for equitable solutions for diverse communities can be drowned out or deprioritized by a population that doesn’t feel the same urgency.

There’s also the issue of “faithless electors,” which adds a whole other level of inequity to this issue. It’s assumed that electors will vote along with their state’s popular vote (which is what you’re witnessing in the current election projections), bringing the voice of their constituents with them to the ballot in December. But this isn’t always the case. In fact, there have been 157 faithless electors throughout history (Smithsonian Magazine). In my humble opinion, “backstabbing electors” sounds more fitting than “faithless electors.” In the 2016 election, a record number of 7 electors were allowed to vote against their state’s popular vote, two voting for someone instead of Trump, and five voted for someone instead of Hilary Clinton (NYTimes). Thankfully, thirty-two states have some type of faithless elector law, which will take action against electors that vote against the state’s popular vote. Fifteen of these removes, penalizes, or cancels the votes of the errant electors (NPR). Furthermore, in July this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can remove or punish faithless electors (NPR). Historically an election hasn’t been swayed by faithless electors, but it does leave the ambiguity. You can check the status of the National Popular Vote Bill in your state here >

Important to note: each state usually aligns all their electoral college votes to one candidate. But Nebraska and Maine are the only two states as of now that split them across candidates (Electoral Vote Map). One electoral vote in Nebraska has already been pledged to Biden*, despite the fact that Trump won the popular vote in the state. Learn more about its significance in the NYTimes.

Because of this, it’s likely no surprise that conversations on abolishing the electoral college are not new. Americans have overall supported abolishing the electoral college more and more as the years progress. As of 2020, 61% of Americans are in favor – although significantly more Democrats support than Republicans (Gallup). To abolish the Electoral College, at least two-thirds of both the House and Senate would have to vote in favor, in addition to 38 out of 50 states. Over the last two centuries, there have been over 700 proposals to overturn it. And although we’ve come close in the past, most recently in 1934, the practice still remains (Brookings). We might not be able to abolish it today, but we can take action as recommended above – and fight for this issue to be a part of future political decisions.

Note: abolishing the electoral college doesn’t eradicate the racist mindset that supported it. Even if we change the electoral college, that bias, which is evident in the popular vote this year, will remain. What also remains? The rampant voter suppression, disenfranchisement, and disillusionment that has plagued both this election season – and elections throughout history. If you want to see the electoral college abolished, be sure you’re also committed to ensuring that every voice is heard, and that our government isn’t using oppression as a tool for political gain.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Electoral College was designed for a different democracy than we live in today
The process doesn't accurately reflect the perspectives of all people
It's important to advocate against the electoral college while advocating for a more fair and equitable election

7/6/2020 | Abolish qualified immunity.

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