Confront white supremacy.

Happy Thursday, and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. Yesterday was a lot, and I'm still processing. But I tried to unpack some of the misconceptions of the events, and cited newsletters where we've touched on these issues in the past. I hope it helps to illuminate the real issue here. This isn't just about Trump or inadequate law enforcement, but a persistent defense of white supremacy. It makes me tired but hopeful. A new future is emerging, regardless of who likes it or not. And we can't stop fighting for it.

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

We also recently created a virtual digital community where you can engage in movement work with members near you. It may offer some space for processing what's unfolding.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

If you identify as white, call a white friend today and discuss your complicity in a system of white supremacy. How do you benefit? What more can you do to dismantle it?
If you identify as BIPOC, carve out some time to rest this week.
Donate to DC organizers on the ground, including The Palm Collective, Medics4Justice, and FrontLine Women DC.
Review the resources for creating an election safety plan with your community.
Use the correct terminology when referring to these events. These were armed terrorists [not protestors] staging an attempted coup [not demonstration].

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Yesterday a group of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, disrupting the certification of the Electoral College vote. Earlier in the day, President Trump spoke at the rally, citing that "we will never concede" after losing the election to President-elect Biden (NYTimes). From there, protestors overtook the Capitol, breaking windows and scaling walls before taking artifacts and rioting inside (more via The Atlantic). Although few media outlets go so far as to use the words, this can be considered an attempted coup, an unconstitutional seize of political power (The Atlantic).

Instead of condemning the act, President Trump turned to social media to double-down on baseless allegations that the election was rigged and emphasized that these terrorists are "patriots" and are "very special." This response is unsurprising considering his consistent coddling of white supremacists throughout his presidency. This video was removed from social media, and Twitter temporarily blocked him from the account (NPR). After a curfew was set and police cleared the building and secured its perimeter, Senate returned to resume their work.

Many were quick to express the juxtaposition of treatment of these terrorists compared to protestors of color. In videos and testimonies from the day's events, it's evident that law enforcement acted insufficiently to defend the Capitol, with one video even implying that they let some in (Politico has details). In contrast, demonstrations by people of color, even the peaceful ones, are met with violence by law enforcement (ProPublica). For example, in the evening of peaceful protests for George Floyd in DC last June, the Army National Guard sent two helicopters to fly dangerously low over protestors, creating winds equivalent to a tropical storm (The Washington Post). Hours before, federal police in riot gear fired gas canisters and used grenades containing rubber pellets to disperse peaceful protestors so that Trump could host a photo-op (The Washington Post).

The disproportionate response of law enforcement against white and non-white communities has been steadily documented. More recently, the FBI has repeatedly warned of the potential consequences of white supremacist groups infiltrating local and state law enforcement, indicating it was a significant threat to national security (PBS). But how can we be surprised when the roots of our nation's law enforcement – and in DC – stem from slavery (W hite House History)?

Furthermore, this behavior is supported by how our country historically has labeled terrorism in the U.S. Because these were not protestors. They were terrorists: individuals using unlawful force to intimidate or coerce a government. As we've discussed previously, white terrorists are rarely named as such. Terrorism is colloquially used to insinuate an act of foreign terrorism inflicted by non-white communities, threatening both the safety of the U.S. and the whiteness it centers. It's why stereotypes of terrorists tend to be of the SWANA (Southwest Asian/North Africa) community, as Ida highlighted in a previous newsletter. In contrast, white male terrorism happens most frequently in the U.S. and is rarely considered with the same gravitas (Teen Vogue).

Some people have called this an example of white privilege. But I'd go further to state that this was a demonstration of white power, the act of intentionally wielding white privilege and whiteness to maintain dominance above all else. The Democratic wins in both the presidential election and the Georgia run-off are largely attributed to communities of color (PBS). So this was an intentional and violent response, an action that tried to demonstrate what will happen when white power is challenged. And it wouldn't have been possible without the support of the President, and other political leaders and law enforcement cheering it on from the sidelines.

And, more broadly, it wouldn't be possible if we didn't live in a world of white supremacy. There is no other group of people in the U.S. that would have the opportunity to carry out such a blatant form of disrespect against its own government in full support of its President and in full view of its people. Terrorists were posting on social media from inside the U.S. Capitol. They were interviewed by media outside. And afterward, many returned to their hotels to chat about the day's event. Having white privilege means inheriting advantages in a system. But having white power means that you can use and abuse these systems without consequences because they were designed to protect you and your conservative values and beliefs. That's not just reinforced by the same values being shared by politicians and lawmakers, media and culture. It's also reinforced by how non-white people and more liberal views are oppressed in the same spaces. The violence by law enforcement at a Black Lives Matter rally, for example, insinuates that "if you rally for a cause that aligns with white supremacy, there'd be no issue".

Update: You'll also watch white power be celebrated, like in this NYTimes article featuring the person that occupied Speaker Pelosi's office and stole some of her mail.

So although President-elect Biden and other leaders are adamant that "this is not who America is," I disagree. This is exactly who America is. America was built on white supremacy. It consistently protects white terrorism, enables a racist criminal justice system, and elects Presidents who speak to these ideals. What's more accurate is "this is not the America we're fighting for". Because that one is emerging. And the more we create new systems and practices center these values and ideals, the more the "America we have" will fight to return to its roots – even if it kills itself in the process. Because the same people that sieged the Capitol yesterday admonish Black Lives Matter protestors for violence, rioting, and destroying our democracy. But the only person they have to worry about is themselves.

The most important thing to remember is that this didn't happen four years ago. And it won't end in two weeks. We're going to keep facing the violence of white supremacy until it's gone. And we've got a lot more work to do. We're unlikely to see it end in our lifetime. So as you move forward, remember that we have to keep doing the work. Admonish the terrorists – and also address the racist sentiment in your workplace. Continue to unpack your own biases and privileges. It's clear our future depends on it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Yesterday's event was an intentional demonstration of white power in response to the changing political and socioeconomic landscape
There's a wide disparity in how law enforcement responds to unrest
Our nation will continue to experience tension as a new, more radical future emerges

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you for all your financial contributions! If you haven't already, consider making a monthly donation to this work. These funds will help me operationalize this work for greatest impact.

Subscribe on Patreon | Give one-time on PayPal | Venmo @nicoleacardoza

Nicole Cardoza 1/5/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/5/21

(Re)commit to your role.

Each new calendar year, many feel inspired to recommit to solving the causes and challenges we face. And for many, this year is no exception. 2021 may feel like a fresh start after a devastating year, and it’s important to channel those intentions into action. But I propose using the beginning of this year to gain awareness on how your investment can be most sustainable, because new year resolutions are more likely to be broken than executed. And movement work is no exception. My recommendation is to spend some time this week reflecting on your role in the work ahead.

Welcome back and Happy Tuesday! Today's post is a personal one for me. I was blessed to have some time off from this newsletter. Although we haven't missed a day since its start in June, this holiday we intentionally queued up reviews so we could rest. And the relief I felt was overwhelming. So I spent some time reflecting on how I can stay committed to this role in 2021. Part of that includes hiring a Managing Editor, who will help support the day-to-day operations. (Feel free to share!)

We rarely give ourselves time to reflect on our roles. What is our role to play, and how can we hold ourselves accountable to it? How can we show up more effectively? How can we stay sustainable? I offer this newsletter as an opportunity for you to do the same.

Thank you for all your support! You can financially contribute to sustain 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

Define your role in the work ahead, using the points in the article below.
Discuss your role with a friend.
Identify a local mutual aid network or another community initiative. Research how your role may or may not be necessary to support their efforts.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

A role, to me, isn’t a job title. It’s a way of being that you choose to hold yourself accountable to, regardless of the challenges you face. This isn’t always easy, and it may mean facing and addressing discomfort along the way. But necessary work is rarely easeful.

And if we expect accountability from our community, we have to stay accountable to ourself, and the space we take up in the work. If we’re not willing to be in relationship with our role, how can we hold ourselves accountable in our communities? Understanding our individual contributions only strengthens the whole, and resources everyone collectively.

“Each person has a unique role to play to shift any situation – some might be in a good position to support the person harmed, whereas others might be in a better position to cultivate accountability with the person causing the harm. Some might have material resources to offer, others might organize community support, and still others might offer perspectives on the underlying roots of the violence. With more people, any situation can shift toward healing, accountability, and transformation.”

Ann Russo in Guest Post: Strategies for Cultivating Community Accountability by Ann Russo via Prison Culture

There are many ways to define your role, and I encourage you to look closely at the language used by local organizers and community leaders to guide you. But I appreciate this framework created by Deepa Iyer from Building Movement Project. Learn more about the map and definitions for each role (both PDFs linked are via the website).

Of course, you don’t have to follow a framework to identify your space. In fact, you may already have a definition, perhaps based on your occupation or volunteer efforts. Or maybe it’s not explicit, but a role you’ve already assumed in how you show up for your community. Either way, start by analyzing what you’re already doing. How have you contributed to this work? Where have you contributed: Politically? Socially? Economically? What has felt most generative to you? What has caused the most burnout?

Also, analyze your privilege. And think beyond racial privilege (although that may offer significant leverage in anti-racism work). Do you have the privilege of having a wide audience on social media? Seniority at your job? Are you the friend and family member people go to when they have questions? How does your social location influence your capacity to make an impact in each of these roles? How may it detract?

In addition to selecting a space to lead from, consider how you can “grow into” some of the other spaces that feel less familiar. The goal isn’t to become an expert in all things; that’s more likely to lead to fatigue and burnout than making an impact. But identifying micro ways to lean into these spaces may help you resource yourself as the work continues. It will also help you connect more deeply with others leading from that space and perhaps even add context when you’re looking to bring more people in with those skills.

For example, you might not be a healer, but you can identify ways to ensure you’re still healing as the work progresses. You might not consider yourself a visionary, but perhaps vision mapping is a powerful way to stay connected to your dreams.

Remember, you may find that your role evolves. You might find yourself with access to new power or privilege, or in a different community that calls for different skills. You might also evolve into another as your journey progresses. Welcome these shifts if they help you stay accountable to the work.

As you define your role, consider who else you can recruit to be a part of your efforts. Who are the storytellers around you, and what resources do they need to advocate for equity and solidarity? What experimenters do you know that apply their skills to the tasks at hand? And how can you lead from your strength to help activate them? If you’re struggling to identify where to start, consult your physical or virtual pod. Don’t have one, or unfamiliar with the term? Here’s a helpful overview – we’ll dive deeper in an article next week. Otherwise, you can start a dialogue with your coworkers, family members, or classmates!

We’ve got a whole new year ahead of us and much to be dismantled and reimagined. Although we can’t possibly prepare for the unexpected, we can certainly start with what we know – and who we know – and strive to make an impact, one day at a time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Identifying your role in social justice work is critical to individual and collective accountability
Your role may already be defined for you, and you should analyze what feels generative and what is available to you based on your privilege and power
Use this commitment as an opportunity to invite others to join the work with you

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 12/21/20 Nicole Cardoza 12/21/20

Have tough conversations.

The holidays can be both magical and fraught with interpersonal tension. And, with the compounded impact of all things 2020, these relationships may be even more strained. If you're heading into the holidays expecting some tough conversations, here are some resources to help you through. Remember, all of these are only suggestions; relationships are unique and complex, and these best practices might not be best for you. Share your thoughts on today's conversation in our digital community.

Happy Monday! And welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. Our community is heading into the holiday season, so over the next few days, we'll be curating some of the most impactful posts from the past six months to help you refresh and re-examine this work in all aspects of your life.

To help with that, we've officially launched our virtual community! This space is designed for you to connect with others, share resources, hold conversations around our newsletters, and sign up for events. All proceeds support our work. Flexible payment options are available. Patreon subscribers: check Patreon for an access link using your existing subscription.

I really hope to see you there! If you're more of an email reader, no worries. Nothing is changing here. As always, 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

Consider if you have the capacity to hold a conversation this holiday season.
Make your plan beforehand if you can, using the resources in the last section of the newsletter.
Reflect: how has someone called you into a tough conversation recently? What did you learn from it? What did you appreciate about it?

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Call in, not call out.

Often, confrontation isn’t as effective as a nuanced conversation about a tricky topic. Consider leading a generative conversation by leading with your feelings, using “I” statements, and being vulnerable about your own journey with the topic(s) at hand. Please note: if calling someone out is a more direct and straightforward way to start the conversation and feels more generative to you, please do so.

Don’t wait for something to react to.

Most of the work regarding dismantling white supremacy happens as a reaction to a single incident. But for this work to be sustainable, we – especially those with privilege – need to get comfortable with the discomfort of this work proactively, not just as a reaction. Bring it up directly, perhaps by naming how a recent interaction made you feel.

There is no such thing as the “best” time.

Many people are hesitant to get into tough conversations during the holidays, a time that can feel precious and “distanced” from the tension of everyday life. But there’s rarely a “best” time for difficult conversations. Consider instead: how can I host this conversation in the most generative way at this moment? How can I start this conversation now to create more space for it in the future?

Center whiteness, not Blackness (or other marginalized identities).

When discussing race specifically (and in the lens of whiteness), many try to defend or validate marginalized communities. But it’s more critical to acknowledge the harm of whiteness itself. When the focus is deconstructing the harm of dominant culture, it gives those who identify tangible ways to analyze and change their actions. This is a critical act in itself; no community needs to be validated by another to “deserve” respect. We all deserve respect, and we need to adjust our actions and recognize our shortcomings to provide it.

Set consequences.

Hold your loved ones accountable. Ensure that you’re no longer tolerating their statements. Note how their continued racism will affect your relationship, and be prepared to stand firm. Remember that accountability is a practice of love, and so is setting boundaries for you and yours.

Lead by example.

Demonstrate the actions you’ve taken to dismantle white supremacy in your own life. Use examples of what you’ve learned and unlearned in your own education. Be vulnerable about where you’re still growing – because we all have space to improve! And note how else you’re moving forward.

Invite them to join in.

If you feel resourced, you can use this time to invite this person to join in – perhaps by reading a book together, having further discussions, etc. If that’s not available to you at the moment, you can offer to check in with them later to see how they’re progressing.

Resource yourself.

Tough conversations with loved ones are not easy. If you have the opportunity, make a self-care plan for before, during, and after. Beforehand, practice some deep breathing and grounding exercises. Remember to check in with your breath and body during the conversation. And, plan for some time to decompress afterward, whether that’s scheduling time to decompress with a friend or therapist, taking a long walk later, journaling, etc. It might also be helpful to write some talking points and goals beforehand to help you feel more comfortable.

Additional Resources

Want To Have Better Conversations About Racism With Your Parents? Here's How (NPR)
Let's Talk! Discussing race and other difficult topics with students. (Tolerance)
The Anti-Racist Educator
The Courage to Not Know (Brené Brown)
How White People Can Talk To Each Other About Disrupting Racism (DoSomething)
How White People Can Hold Each Other Accountable to Stop Institutional Racism (Teen Vogue)

RELATED ISSUES

10/8/2020 | Condemn QAnon.

11/15/2020 | Learn the key terminology.

12/8/2020 | Learn how to apologize.

7/14/2020 | Embrace your race privilege.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 12/15/20 Nicole Cardoza 12/15/20

Repeal stand your ground laws.

This past June, William Marcus (Marc) Wilson, a 21-year-old Black student from Sharpsburg, Georgia, was driving with his girlfriend when a truckload of angry white people accosted them, calling them racial slurs and attempting to run them off the road. Terrified, Wilson fired warning shots from a gun he legally carried, one of which struck the car and killed a 17-year-old white woman sitting inside (Washington Post). Wilson fully cooperated with law enforcement and told them he fired his gun, fearing for his life, and surveillance footage demonstrated aggression from the driver. But the next day, Wilson was arrested and charged with one count of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault. He was denied bond in a hearing in August and is scheduled for a bond reconsideration hearing today, Tuesday, December 15, 2020 (Wilson’s lawyers’ website).

Happy Tuesday, everyone. How are you holding up today? Today we're analyzing the racial disparities of the enforcement of stand your ground, a controversial law that doesn't live up to its name. Read Marc Wilson's story and take action, and thanks to JustGeorgia and Tamika Middleton for helping to educate me on this topic.

Our newsletter is free and made possible by generous contributions from our community – no advertising or sponsorships. Join in by making a one-time gift on ourwebsiteorPayPal, orsubscribe for $7/monthon Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza).

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Join a live, virtual teach-in during the hearing on the case via Zoom today (12/15/2020) at 3:30p EST. If you live in Southeast Georgia, you can attend live.
Spread the word on this case using the hashtags #JusticeForMarcWilson #AllEyesOnStatesboro and #AllEyesOnGeorgia. Sharing assets available on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
To get more involved, contact JustGeorgia via their website: just-georgia.org
Research the self-defense and/or “stand your ground” laws in your state, and recent examples of its enforcement.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Technically, Wilson’s actions may have been protected under Georgia’s “stand your ground” law, a law that protects an individual’s right to use reasonable force, including deadly force, in self-defense without fear of criminal prosecution. Most states in the U.S. have some type of law like this but emphasize that civilians have a “duty to retreat” from the situation before responding with force. But at least 25 states allow “no duty to retreat,” and ten, including Georgia, specifically say individuals can “stand your ground,” hence the term (NCSL). These laws are all worded differently state-by-state, and some can be more lenient than others. Unsurprisingly, the NRA has helped push the implementation of “stand your ground” laws in several states (Mother Jones).

Florida is notorious for having an aggressive “stand your ground” law. Unlike other states, the state has to legally prove that the shooter did not act in self-defense, marking them innocent at default. In addition, those established to have “stood their ground” are granted immunity from both criminal prosecution and civil actions (CNN).

It’s no wonder that some of the most controversial stories of “stand your ground” stem from Florida. Markeis McGlockton was shot and killed by Michael Drejka after an argument about a parking spot. Drejka was initially not arrested for the crime until a month later, influenced by surveillance video showing McGlockton backing away from the altercation. Drejka was ultimately charged with manslaughter (Vox). More prominently, stand your ground laws in Florida were hotly contested after the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, which, in part, made it difficult to argue against self-defense and lead to George Zimmerman’s acquittal (The Atlantic).

But Georgia, too, has had its own share of challenges against these laws. In February 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year old Black man, was out running for a jog when he was shot and killed by two men. Initially, no arrests were made based on the “stand your ground” defense. It took public outcry and released video footage of the altercation for an investigation, and the two suspects now face life sentences without parole (NYTimes).

The handling of these cases – no arrests, perceived innocence until proven guilty – are very different from how Marc Wilson’s case was handled. But according to studies, this is unsurprising: there are clear racial disparities in how “stand your ground” laws are enforced. Defendants are twice as likely to walk free if their victims are non-white. And race is considered a “significant predictor” of whether a “stand your ground” defense will be sufficient. In states with “stand your ground” laws, white people that shot someone who was Black were 11x more likely to be protected than the reverse (Bloomberg).

This notion has been reinforced throughout history beyond the “stand your ground” laws. In 1967, members of the Black Panthers Party protested on the steps of the California statehouse armed with loaded guns, urging Black people to arm themselves. At the time, this was legal due to the state’s open-carry laws. But this demonstration scared politicians, who quickly pass the Mulford Act, a state bill prohibiting the open carry of loaded firearms – and prohibiting loaded firearms in the state Capitol (History). Strict gun regulation laws passed across the U.S. shortly thereafter.

And even before this, the notion of stand your ground was reserved for white, male property owners. Native Americans who wanted to defend their homes from colonization had no legal grounds to do so, and many former Confederate states did not allow Black people to own guns for decades (NPR).

But this polarized time shows that, regardless of our history, more people are compelled to buy guns to protect themselves. Self-defense is the leading reason for individuals to purchase a gun. And the biggest increase of firearm sales in 2020 was from Black men and women, who demonstrated a 58.2% increase in purchases during the first six months of 2020 versus the same period last year (NPR). Bruce Tomlin, a 63-year-old truck driver from New Mexico, was inspired to buy a gun after seeing the video of Ahmaud Arbery being shot, stating that he’d “rather go to trial than go to the cemetery” (NPR).

Generally, I don’t think that we should rely on carceral punishment for anyone’s protection. A more comprehensive re-imagination of our criminal justice system is necessary for an inclusive future. And this case only exacerbates that point. If a law designed to promote self-defense can be used to protect those perpetuating the harm, it merely protects violence. And as we re-imagine criminal justice, it’s up to us to advocate justice wherever necessary.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Marc Wilson was charged with murder and aggravated assault for attempting to defend himself after being accosted while driving.
Stand your ground laws are racially inequitable; defendants of color are less likely to be deemed innocent, and violence against Black people is more likely to be protected.
Throughout history, the law has prioritized the protection of self-defense for white, male property owners.

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

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

9/24/2020 | Demand justice for Breonna Taylor.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 12/11/20 Nicole Cardoza 12/11/20

Rally for representation in AI.

Dr. Timnit Gebru is a well-respected leader in the field of ethical A.I., an industry that’s committed to making artificial intelligence more inclusive and representative of our diverse population. She co-authored a groundbreaking paper that showed facial recognition to be less accurate at identifying women and people of color. She co-founded the Black in AI affinity group. And she was the co-leader of Google’s Ethical A.I. team – that is, until they abruptly forced her out of the company (Dr. Timnit Gebru’s Twitter).

Happy Friday, and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily! I’ve watched this story unfold over the past week and see so many topics that we’ve touched on in this newsletter into one story. Read the injustices against Dr. Timnit Gebru and its implications in tech, and consider how you can protect critical voices in your own industry or area of passion.

Tomorrow's newsletter is our weekly Study Hall, where I answer questions and share insights from the community. Reply to this email to ask yours.

And thank you all for your generous support! Because of you, we can offer this newsletter free of charge and also pay our staff of writers and editors. Join in by making a one-time gift on ourwebsiteorPayPal, orsubscribe for $7/monthon Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go toantiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

If you consider yourself an “academic, civil society, or industry supporter,” sign the petition and stand with Dr. Timnit Gebru. If you identify as a Black woman, you can also sign this petition.
Read the apology written by Google’s CEO and compare it to our previous newsletter on apologies. Reflect on how it could have been approved. We’ll compare notes in tomorrow’s Study Hall.
If you identify as white, consider: how can you be a stronger advocate for the underestimated communities working in your field?

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Many leaders in the field indicate that her termination may be because of a research paper she was writing with her colleagues that outlined some of the inequities of large language models – or the body of data used to train A.I. software. As a result, more than 2,000 Googlers and over 3,700 supporters in academia and industry have signed a petition supporting Gebru and calling what happened to her “a retaliatory firing” and a case of “unprecedented research censorship.”

MIT Technology Review was allowed to publish some of the core findings, and they all are critical insights to making A.I. more inclusive. It notes the environmental and financial costs of running large data systems and how large databases are difficult to audit for embedded biases. It warns that these language models might not understand the context of words when wielded for racist or sexist purposes. It emphasizes that communities with less of a public lexicon than dominant culture won’t have an equal share of voice, meaning that their perspectives will be lost in the algorithms. And it warns how A.I. can be wielded to cause harm by impersonating real people or misconstruing their words. Read the full overview in MIT Technology Review.

Although the company may have viewed these topics as controversial, they’re certainly not new. Many researchers – including Gebru – have been advocating for the development and implementation of A.I. to be more inclusive, equitable, and accountable. Dr. Safiya U. Noble, author and assistant professor at the University of Southern California, has penned several pieces on the bias of algorithms, including this piece on how horribly “Black girls” are depicted when typed into Google (Time). Author Rashida Richardson published a study on how police precincts that have engaged in “corrupt, racially biased, or otherwise illegal” practices contribute their data to predictive models that are taught to perpetuate the same harm (SSRN). We’ve covered the inequities in facial recognition software in a previous newsletter. As Deborah Raji notes in her article in MIT Technology Review, many people like to say that the “data doesn’t lie.” But it does, often centering a white, male perspective on issues that should reflect all of us – and disproportionately harm marginalized communities.

"
The fact is that AI doesn’t work until it works for all of us.

Deborah Raji, a Mozilla fellow interested in algorithmic auditing and evaluation, for MIT Technology Review

But how are we expected to hold the industry accountable if they won’t make that commitment themselves? The controversy surrounding Gebru’s termination isn’t isolated, but one of many calls for Google’s accountability. And just a few weeks ago, the National Labor Relations Board found Google guilty of violating workplace rights for spying on, interrogating, and firing workers (Ars Technica). According to its 2020 Diversity and Inclusion report, only 24.7% of its technical workforce are women, and 2.4% are Black.

And similar stories are heard across Big Tech. Facebook has been pushed repeatedly to account for racial bias, hateful rhetoric, and election misinformation on its platform, and has recently announced new efforts that still fall short. Employees have rallied for accountability, staging walkouts and other protests (CBS News).

The unfair treatment that Gebru has experienced only further exemplifies the point. It doesn’t just deflect from the facts that she and her team have been working on. It’s a direct statement on the value of Black women and their worth in technology; indeed, a clear demonstration of some of the systemic barriers that got us to this point. And I want to underline this because it’s indicative of many conversations we have in this newsletter – the challenges that people of color, particularly Black people, experience when they are actively working to reshape oppressive systems.

"
We’re not creating technology in our own imagination. They create technology in their imagination to serve their interest, it harms our communities, and then we have to perform cleanup. Then while we’re performing cleanup, we get retaliated against.

Timnit Gebru, in an interview with VentureBeat written by Khari Johnson

Google CEO Sundar Pichai apologized for the situation (Axios). I highly recommend reading the apology and Gebru’s response to it, using some of the points made in our newsletter on apologies. Gebru also references gaslighting, which we’ve broken down in another newsletter. But the damage is already done. Google has lost a prolific leader in AI ethics, and many have lost their faith in them. It also casts a disturbing picture of how major corporations can attempt to silence individuals whose voices are necessary for us to move into a more equitable future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dr. Timnit Gebru, a leading researcher in ethical A.I. was unfairly terminated in her position at Google.
A.I. has been known for misrepresenting or harming, marginalized communities because of lack of representation and accountability from Big Tech
It's important that we protect those trying to reshape inequitable systems, especially when they represent marginalized communities

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 12/8/20 Nicole Cardoza 12/8/20

Learn how to apologize.

As we become more aware and attuned, we are bound to make mistakes – which means in various scenarios we may cause harm or be harmed. Our fear of this can force us to retreat from tough conversations or important moments of learning. But suppose we can equip ourselves with tools for navigating challenging situations. In that case, we can more effectively practice harm reduction if and when it occurs – and feel more confident when engaging in uncomfortable situations. This act may allow us to stay in relationship – not run and flee.

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily! I'm celebrating the small joys this week, so I'm looking forward to a nice cup of coffee and the sunshine the day will bring. Today we're diving into the act of apologizing and how essential it is to this work. It was inspired by rich conversation with our first cohort of our Anti-Racism for DEI course that wrapped this week. I'd love to hear how you're moving through apologies this year.

Thank you all for your generous support of our newsletter. Because of you, we can offer this newsletter free of charge and pay our staff of writers and editors. Join in by making a one-time gift on ourwebsiteorPayPal, orsubscribe for $7/monthon Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go toantiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Reflect on the apologies you've experienced in your life. How did they feel? What resonated with you? What left you feeling unfulfilled?
Practice an apology by yourself some time today. You can apologize for something you've actually done to someone else, or apologize for how you might have treated yourself at some point.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

One of these tools is the act of apologizing. And apologizing isn’t embedded in U.S. culture. Generally, people in the U.S. are wary of admitting that they are wrong. A personal admission of guilt can lead to consequences – a loss of respect, friends, and community, and complicated emotions to process individually. A study found that, on average, politicians who apologized were more likely to lose support than gain it afterward, which some use as a rationale for why President Trump doesn’t apologize (NYTimes). Legally, apologies can be weaponized for punishment, which is why lawyers and insurance agents may recommend against it (The Daily Beast).

This perspective is quite different than how other countries embrace apologies as part of their culture, as explained in Harvard Business Review. And here, it seems our aversion to apologizing is part of our relationship with power. An offender will often choose not to apologize because they “maintain a greater sense of control and often feel better about themselves” (Scientific American). This perceived sense of power may feel like protection against external shame, blame, and consequence.

But it also blocks us from accountability – a critical skill needed when we’re doing this work. Not just when we engage in conversations on a one-on-one basis, but when we envision how we want communities to thrive. We can’t continue to rely on punitive practices when we work to change systems: like re-imagining public safety and collective care. And we can’t keep shaming our leaders for admitting mistakes until we are ultimately left with those too proud to do so.

Luckily, we can practice apologies on our own and bring them into our next conversation. And a wholesome apology is more than just saying, “I’m sorry.” There are many spaces for inspiration you can go to for apologies, including your own spiritual, religious, or cultural backgrounds. I have learned a lot from resources created by Mia Mingus and Brené Brown and recommend their work in full. Here are some important points I’ve learned:

Invest in self-reflection.

The apologies we’re focusing on aren’t the compulsive “OMG, I’m SO sorry” ones you might squawk out if you bump into someone on the street. We’re looking for thoughtful and sincere apologies, and those often take some deep self-refection. To complete the following steps, you must be willing to understand your role in what happened. That may include journaling and processing individually, talking with a friend, or learning from books, podcasts, etc. Start here so you can do your best moving forward. Learn more via Mia Mingus.

Note: Reflect on what is yours to own.

I think it’s worth including from my perspective as a Black woman born and raised in the U.S. Women, women of color particularly, are often burdened to take responsibility for the wrongdoings around them. I often find myself wanting to apologize for something that was done to me, not by me. I encourage all of us, but particularly those most marginalized, to reflect on whether or not that’s actually our burden to carry, especially if we’re the ones receiving the harm.

Say you’re sorry.

Naming that your sorry – without any “ifs, ands, or buts” is critical. Changing, or removing this phrase entirely, is a common way people try to eschew responsibility. Using phrases like “I’m sorry you felt that way” or “I didn’t realize you’re so sensitive” puts the focus on the other person’s feelings, not your actions. Phrases like these can be wielded to manipulate or even gaslight others, too, so you want to avoid that regardless of intention. Instead, stick to the action that you can apologize for, like, “I’m sorry I said what I said last night.” More on this from Brene Brown in conversation with Harriet Lerner.

Acknowledge the impact.

We reference intention v. impact often in this newsletter because it’s an essential act of accountability (learn more here). And that’s no difference when it comes to apologizing. Instead of emphasizing that you “didn’t mean” or “never intended” to do something, name and acknowledge the impact. That can look like “I realize my behavior last night made you upset” or “I now understand that my actions are incredibly condescending. I appreciate how Franchesca Ramsey breaks this down in this video.

Change your behavior.

An apology is something we do, not something we say. And we carry it forward by changing our behavior to minimize opportunities for future harm. This action might be something you name in your apology, like “moving forward, I will not talk to you that way again.” It may also be something you commit to learning more about so you can grow, “I’m going to take a course so I can better understand how to engage properly.” But neither you, the recipient, or society gain anything until you put it into practice. This might be difficult, and burdensome, and tiring, and overwhelming – yet if you’re going to apologize, you have to be committed to this step. Learn more via Mia Mingus.

----

Remember that after you apologize, regardless of how well-rehearsed and well-practiced, you have to detach yourself from the outcome. No one owes you their forgiveness, no matter how deeply you may desire it. Respect the recipient’s boundaries and ensure your apology is consensual. And, note that an apology is not a replacement with other forms of accountability, like giving reparations or removing yourself from a position of power. But sometimes, an apology can be an excellent start to transforming our relationships – with ourselves, each other, and society as a whole. And we have to start somewhere.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Apologizing is a form of accountability.
U.S. culture tends to prioritize punishment over accountability. To disrupt these systems, we must disrupt how we relate to apologies.
Apologies can be well-crafted and practiced, but that still doesn't mean that they need to be accepted.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

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.

GET EDUCATED

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).

“
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.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/27/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/27/20

Support Black-owned businesses: Bookstores

Each Friday for the rest of the year, we’ll be featuring Black-owned businesses to support this holiday season. Today, we’re centering books written by people of color that you can order from Black-owned bookstores from across the U.S. We always recommend supporting a local business near you before using this list, so these are just suggestions! Read why supporting Black-owned businesses is so critical, especially with the economic challenges we're experiencing. Key takeaways in today's newsletter reference some of these stats.

Happy BLACK Friday!

Each Friday for the rest of the year, we’ll be featuring Black-owned businesses to support this holiday season. Today, we’re centering books written by people of color that you can order from Black-owned bookstores from across the U.S. We always recommend supporting a local business near you before using this list, so these are just suggestions! Read why supporting Black-owned businesses is so critical, especially with the economic challenges we're experiencing. Key takeaways in today's newsletter reference some of these stats.

This list is designed around the recommendations we centered in last week’s newsletter on diversifying your bookshelf. Let me know if you get one of these book!

Thank you to everyone that makes this newsletter possible! Support our work by making a one-time contribution 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. I'm grateful for each one of you that's with me on this journey.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Commit to buying one gift this holiday season (for yourself or others) from a Black-owned business
Identify something you're looking to purchase before the end of the year, and search for three Black-owned alternatives

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Matter

Denver, CO

Find books, stationery, home goods and other curated gifts from independent, Black & woman-owned retail space for designers, activists & other thinking persons.

Elatsoe
Darcie Little Badger
$19
Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family. Illustrated by Rovina Cai.
SHOP >

Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña
$19 "This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.
SHOP >

Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing Centre

Denver, CO

Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing Centre is an innovative literacy center based in Akron, OH. Their catalog highlights the work of writers who are often excluded from traditional cultural, social and academic canons. This was created by Rachel Cargle, a renowned academic and educator whose work we feature frequently in this newsletter. A percentage of all sales go to The Loveland Foundation to support their mission of making mental healthcare accessible for Black women and girls.

Here The Whole Time
Vitor Martins
$17.47
"The charm and humor of To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets Dumplin' in this body-positive YA love story between two boys who must spend 15 days living with each other over school break."
SHOP >

With the Fire on High
Elizabeth Acevedo
$17
"Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago's life has been about making the tough decisions--doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness."
SHOP >

People Get Ready

New Haven, CT

People Get Ready is a neighborhood bookspace that is grounded in respect for the dignity of all beings, the importance of reciprocal relations, and the transformative power of radical love.

King and the Dragonflies
Kacen Callender
$18 "In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself."
SHOP >

The Vanishing Half
Brit Bennett
$27
"From The New York Times-bestselling author of The Mothers, a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white."
SHOP >

Black Garnet Books

Twin Cities, MN

Black Garnet Books is a Black, woman-owned bookstore located in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, primarily stocking Adult and YA contemporary literature by Black and racially-diverse authors.

Transcendent Kingdom [Audiobook]
Yaa Gyasi
$28
"Yaa Gyasi's stunning follow-up to her acclaimed national best seller Homegoing is a powerful, raw, intimate, deeply layered novel about a Ghanaian family in Alabama. Narrated by Bahni Turpin."
SHOP >

Leave The World Behind
Rumaan Alam
$24.14
"A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong."
SHOP >

The Lit. Bar

Bronx, NY

“Once upon a time, a girl from the Bronx had big dreams of opening an independent bookstore/wine bar right here at home. It would be the only indie bookstore in the entire borough–home to 1.4 million people and 10 colleges and it would be called The Lit. Bar…”

God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx
Desus & Mero
$24
Desus Nice and The Kid Mero are multitalented comedians, writers, and podcasters who currently co-host Showtime's first-ever late-night talk show, Desus & Mero, as well as the long-running Bodega Boys podcast. Their book reflects on their life experiences.
SHOP >

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
Mikki Kendall
$23.92
"A potent and electrifying critique of today's feminist movement announcing a fresh new voice in Black feminism."
SHOP >

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A recent report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that “the number of African-American business owners plummeted from 1.1 million in February 2020 to 640,000 in April," a 41% decrease.
Black people are twice as likely to be turned down for business loans than their White counterparts.
Although Black people account for 15% of the population, there are few Black-owned brands carried by major retailers.

RELATED ISSUES

6/11/2020 | Support black-owned businesses.

9/30/2020 | Close the racial wealth gap.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/26/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/26/20

Support the land back movement.

From 1778 to 1871, the United States signed some 368 treaties with various Indigenous people across the North American continent. The treaties were based on the fundamental notion that each tribe was an independent nation. But as white settlers began moving onto Native American lands, these treaties were abandoned, replaced by greed, dominance, and oppression (History).

Happy Thursday. Many of you asked if I could help provide ways to celebrate Thanksgiving better, but I don’t think that’s the right approach. When it comes to this work, we need to center marginalized communities outside of the lens of whiteness and oppression. So instead, I urge you to celebrate Indigenous resistance and resilience, and commit both today and each day to reparations. Today we’re analyzing the importance of the land back movement and how we can do our part to advocate for the return of stolen lands.

You may also benefit from reading about the myth of Columbus and the importance of Indigenous People’s Day.

Thank you to everyone that makes this newsletter possible! Support our work by making a one-time contribution on ourwebsiteorPayPal, or giving monthly onPatreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go toantiracismdaily.com. You can share this newsletter and unlock some fun rewards bysigning up here. I'm grateful for each one of you that's with me on this journey.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Practice a land acknowledgment with your loved ones today. Use the Native Land app to identify to whom the land belongs, and follow these steps before participating.
Then, research how you can support the Indigenous community closest to you. Donate to a mutual aid fund, advocate for a local land back initiative, etc. Here is a broader mutual aid fund to support as an alternative.
Sign the petition to close Mt. Rushmore and return all public Lands in the Black Hills to the Oceti Sakowin,

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Another major contributor was the Indian Relocation Act of 1830, which forced around 100,000 Indigenous people from five tribal nations out of their homelands. Indigenous communities not only were forcefully separated from their land, and an estimated 15,000 Indigenous people from various nations died of disease and other causes during these forced marches (Atlas Obscura).

One of many of these broken treaties is The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, where the U.S. signed an agreement with Native communities historically known as the Sioux (Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota) and Arapaho. It established the Great Sioux Reservation, a large swath of lands west of the Missouri River, and designated the Black Hills as “unceded Indian Territory” (Smithsonian Magazine). But when gold was found on that land, the U.S. changed their minds – and redrew the boundaries of the treaty to work in their favor, stripping the people of their own land.

In the five generations since the treaty was signed and broken, the Sioux Nations have steadily lost reservation lands to white development. They now live in small reservations scattered throughout the region. Meanwhile, the U.S. grew this region of South Dakota into a national tourist attraction by creating Mt. Rushmore, designed to be a “testament to American exceptionalism,” and centering presidents who themselves contributed to the violence and disenfranchisement of Indigenous communities (National Geographic). Protests at Mt. Rushmore during 4th of July weekend amplified the modern-day land back movement. Local tribes are still demanding the closure of this monument, in addition to the return of the stolen lands it occupies (NDN Collective).

Efforts to reclaim these lands – both in the U.S. and abroad – have been happening for generations. The magazine Briarpatch recently published a 100-year history of the land struggle with key wins in both the U.S. and Canada. And there’s been some progress this year. The Esselen tribe of Northern California reclaimed 1,200 acres of ancestral land after 250 years (The Guardian). And just this month, four dams on the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California were scheduled for removal, restoring river health and declining salmon runs (Oregon Public Broadcasting).

"
The only reparation for land is land.
Madonna Thunder Hawk, Lakota matriarch and Lakota People's Law Project organizer

Giving land back is a clear and obvious way to repair the legacy of violence and harm against Indigenous communities. But it’s also a way to repair our relationship with the environment. Indigenous communities have been stewarding this earth sustainably for generations, and never produced the amount of emissions and toxins we’re dealing with today. They also have an innate knowledge of how to encourage reforestation, preserve our waters, manage fires, and preserve biological diversity. In this way, land back is more than returning territory, but expanding tribal management, and centers Indigenous communities in the heart of climate justice. Read more in Lakota People’s Law Project.

In the absence of land return, other initiatives are focused on the return – or “rematriation” – of seeds from native lands. European settlers, and later, U.S. government officials, would attack the food supplies of Indigenous communities as a way to force them to move. Some would leave without these precious seeds, and others would relocate only to discover their seeds couldn’t grow in new terrains. For many Indigenous people, seeds represent the connection to the land and the ancestors that stewarded them. Efforts like The Indigenous Seed Keepers Network are working to bring those seeds back to the people and their lands, and cultivate the Indigenous food movement (Atlas Obscura).

Once realized, comprehensive land back can transform modern-day Indigenous communities. It has the opportunity to untether these lands from a history of white supremacy and systemic oppression, including the local law enforcement. It has the potential to re-establish access to basic utilities like clean water and air, and redefine what leadership looks like. But more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. I can’t imagine what it’s like to watch a nation celebrate erasure and land theft each year, but I can commit to advocating for reparations. This is work we can rally for today and throughout the year.

"
Land is more than the diaphanousness of inhabited memories; Land is spiritual, emotional, and relational; Land is experiential, (re)membered, and storied; Land is consciousness—Land is sentient. Land refers to the ways we honor and respect her as a sentient and conscious being. Therefore, in acknowledgment of the fundamental being of Land I always capitalize Land. I have come to know Land both as a fundamental sentient being and as a philosophical construct.

Sandra Styres (Kanien’kehá:ka) from Literacies of Land

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The federal government offered a series of treaties to Indigenous communities across the U.S., but broke nearly all of the agreements
The forceable removal of Native communities from their lands has stripped people of their culture and connection to their ancestors
Initiatives to return stolen lands aren't just reparations, but a clear way to disamantle white supremacy and center Indigenous communities in climate justice

11/15/2020 | Learn the key terminology.

10/21/2020 | Change racist sports team names.

10/12/2020 | Honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

7/5/2020 | Support the Navajo Nation through COVID-19.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/24/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/24/20

Stop violence against Native women.

Native women are facing a crisis of violence. Homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native girls and women aged 10 to 24, and the fifth leading cause of death for Native women aged 25 to 34. In the United States today, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are nearly 2.5x more likely to be sexually assaulted than women in the general population. 70% of these violent victimizations are committed by persons of a different race (Department of Justice).

Happy Tuesday and welcome back. Today we're focusing on the violence that Native women, girls and Two-Spirit people experience in the U.S. and Canada through my conversation with Lauren Schad. This continues our focus on those missing and murdered, in part, because of longstanding bias and discrimination.

Thank you for making this newsletter possible! Support our work by making a one-time contribution on our website or PayPal, or giving monthly on Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go to antiracismdaily.com. New! You can share this newsletter and unlock some fun rewards by signing up here.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Amplify the voices of MMIWG2 families and survivors of violence using the hashtags #MMIW, #MMIWG and #MMIWG2S on social media.
Donate to the Red Ribbon Skirt Society, which memorializes those lost to violence and supports their loved ones.
Consider: What local resources are available for missing, runaway, and exploited Indigenous youth? How can you help create more resources or raise awareness of the existing resources?

Action items inspired by the MMIWG2S & MMIP Organizing Toolkit, created by the Sovereign Bodies Institute. Read the full study to find more.

GET EDUCATED

Lauren Schad. Photo taken by Jean (@blstrt_) — *Lauren Schad. Photo taken by Jean (@blstrt_*)

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Native women are facing a crisis of violence.

Homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native girls and women aged 10 to 24, and the fifth leading cause of death for Native women aged 25 to 34. In the United States today, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are nearly 2.5x more likely to be sexually assaulted than women in the general population. 70% of these violent victimizations are committed by persons of a different race (Department of Justice).

As we’ve reported in the past, lack of media attention and misreporting has minimized this issue. According to a study by the Urban Indian Health Institute, many victims are often racially misclassified, skewing the data. In addition, there are tense relationships between law enforcement and American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This, paired with media bias in reporting missing and murdered persons cases, leads to a wide discrepancy in data. In 2016, there were 5,712 reported cases of MMIWG2S, but only 116 of them were logged in the Department of Justice website (Urban Indian Health Institute). However, community leaders and activists emphasize that this data doesn’t accurately represent the true number of the population that goes missing.

So, advocates are rallying for justice. Conversations with the hashtags #MMIW, #MMIWG and #MMIWG2S are garnering intention both in the United States and abroad. (The abbreviations stand for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; and Missing and Murdered Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people, respectively) (APA). This organizing is holding federal and local governments accountable; Savanna's Act, passed earlier this year, aims to increase data coordination and collection and improve protocol between law enforcement and Native communities (Teen Vogue).

It’s critical that we amplify efforts to raise awareness and take action. To learn more about this injustice and how we can support, I interviewed my friend Lauren Schad, athlete and activist, on her work advocating for MMIW.

How does being a professional athlete influence your advocacy efforts?

In my experience as a professional athlete, I have found that there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about us as Native peoples – not just in my homelands of the United States, but in Europe as well. Therefore, having the opportunity to live overseas for my career now allows me to reach an audience on an international level. The networking system that is naturally embedded within the sports community allows for information to travel quickly. Meaning, the work of others and myself regarding our advocacy for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn now become an open dialogue for people on a global spectrum.

You’ve been vocal about supporting MMIW throughout your career – on and off the court. Do you experience any pushback?

There is always going to be pushback or denial when you are fighting against a system inherently prejudiced against BIPOC womxn. People are often unaware of this decimation against Indigenous womxn and the staggering statistics we face, solely because of the lack of coverage, documentation, legislation, representation, and resources outside of Indigenous communities. Our people are fighting this daily, but when there is a systemic structure already in place to silence us, the battle for justice becomes that much harder.

On more than one occasion, I have had strangers come up to me and try to validate actions blatantly harmful to Native Womxn by telling me how I should have felt about the situation. I have been questioned about the authenticity of my testimony simply because people cannot believe that “In this day and age, this still happens?” I have even heard that MMIWG2S is not, in fact, a motion of people demanding justice, protection, and resources for our womxn and children, but a political movement. No matter how much you progress, there will always be people, governments, and corporations who choose to ignore and diminish the endless work our people have endured since the beginning of colonization – including the ongoing work and efforts by the community for our stolen sisters.

“
The way I overcome this is by remembering and honoring all of our stolen sisters. Reminding ourselves that this is not about us. It is about them – and giving them a voice when theirs has been silenced. It is our innate responsibility as Indigenous people to protect one another, to honor these lives and do right by them.

I look to other advocates and strong womxn fighting for the same objective. The Red Ribbon Skirt Society and Lily Mendoza in my hometown, Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel, Rosalie Fish, Sunny Red Bear-Whitcombe, Ashley Callingbull, to name a few, alongside many many other phenomenal womxn, all show the power that one voice can hold. Now imagine if there is enough of us speaking up. The change we are looking for is inevitable. Protection for our womxn is inevitable. So choosing to give up, or stop, is not an option.

How do you feel social media plays a role in advocating for MMIW?

Social media can be a critical tool in relaying knowledge, especially for a motion like MMIW. When you have a group of people severely lacking representation in mass media, those people must find ways to spread that information across large platforms to larger audience to make an impact. For a cause as large-scale as MMIW, social media plays a key role in educating those who are unaware of this genocide happening to Indigenous womxn. On various platforms, you are confronted by many Indigenous advocates speaking up about what they believe in and find important. And because of this, this idea of harmless ignorance can no longer be used as an excuse. It has the ability to give us as Native peoples a voice on platforms you wouldn’t often see elsewhere. We can now create the content and narrative of our own stories and peoples without a go-between. It’s just us and our voices. There is something extremely powerful in that.

How do you wish other people, particularly those that are not a part of the Indigenous community, would take action?

For those not a part of the Indigenous community, I hope they take the time to educate themselves further – not only about MMIW, but the ongoing persecution Indigenous peoples have faced throughout history. Then, once they have listened to the attestation of Native peoples, open that dialect to the people in their circle. Become an ally and help champion an important cause. If I have learned anything by speaking up about MMIW, it is that the oppression we have faced is an ongoing effort to dehumanize and silence Native peoples as a whole.

Everything is interconnected with one another: the exploitation of the land, our stolen sisters, the hypersexualization and caricaturing of our people (read more)...each are a cause and effect of one another. Our voices are powerful entities, and if we use them, we can create intentional and impactful change.

Lauren Schad (she/her) is the youngest of three daughters born and raised in Paha Sapa (Black Hills) in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is currently a professional starter for Volleyball Nantes. Inspired by Rosalie Fish, Lauren dedicates each match to a woman/child on the ongoing list of Missing Murdered and Indigenous women, baring their name on her hand. With the amount of spectators that attend matches, she believes this movement plays an instrumental part in opening the dialogue on an international scale; that in order to educate and bring awareness to this epidemic, one must first get people to ask the question. Read her full bio >

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Native women are facing a crisis of violence.
Over 5,000 Native women are marked as missing persons, but a small percentage are recognized by the federal government
Media bias, misreporting, and distrust with law enforcement all causes discrepancies in reported cases, making it difficult to gather accurate data
Raising awareness about this issue helps drive action by local and federal government

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/23/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/23/20

Fight food insecurity.

A new report found that one in five people in the U.S. have turned to a food pantry, food bank, or community food distribution at some point since the pandemic began, a 50% increase than before (Consumer Report). And Household Pulse survey found that nearly 11 % of American adults “sometimes or often” did not have enough to eat in the previous seven days, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau from Oct. 14 to 26, a stark increase from 3.7% increase in 2019 (Washington Post). And the people most likely to need support are people of color. Over a third of Black Americans have used a food pantry, food bank, or community food distribution during the pandemic, and 22% of Hispanics (Consumer Report).

Happy Monday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. We've been reporting on COVID-19 regularly since the start of this newsletter, and haven't tackled the issue of hunger head-on until today. Food is often the center of many people's celebrations this month and next. As we head into the holiday season, do what you can to center food access, too.

I know things may feel overwhelming right now. But I'm confident we can get through anything together. Remember that no matter where you are, you're not going through this alone. I'm rooting for you.

TAKE ACTION

If you need assistance, check to see if you are eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP). In addition, reach out to food banks near you and explore other resources that may help.

Donate to a local food bank, food pantry, or food-related mutual aid network. Ask before you give: some may prefer canned goods, and others may ask for monetary donations, which can help them buy what’s needed tax-free at a local grocer. Here is a list of food banks by location. If you can, make it a monthly donation.
Sign up to volunteer at your local food bank or mutual aid fund to distribute food on Thanksgiving and throughout the weekend.
Contact your senators and demand they pass the HEROES Act.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Our nation – and countries around the world – are facing an unprecedented hunger crisis.

The growing hunger crisis is a heartbreaking outcome of various aspects of the impact of COVID-19. Unemployment and the lack of fiscal stimulus from the federal government make buying food difficult. But with millions of kids temporarily or permanently out of school, many families have lost their relationship with free-and-reduced food programs that these schools provide. This creates added strains for families to feed everyone at home (The 74). Even the rising cost of utility bills are draining limited funds at home (Washington Post).

And this issue is exacerbated by the rising cost of food. Globally, food costs are rising as countries begin to stockpile. Individuals, too, are hoarding the staples as they stay indoors, clearing shelves at local grocery stores (Marketplace). Although they’ve dipped slightly since their peak in August, prices now are still 4.1% higher than September 2019, and the forecasted outbreak leaves projections looking grim (USDA). The increase in costs makes food more inaccessible for consumers – and food banks, too.

Food banks have been overwhelmed since the first wave of COVID-19 in the U.S (The Atlantic). And many were struggling to support the local community before the pandemic even started. On average, 35 million people face hunger in the United States – which is approximately the entire population of Canada. And, despite the misconception, many of those people are families with at least one working adult (Feeding America). Our nation is inherently inequitable, and access to food is no exception. Food banks were never designed to be a sustainable long-term solution to a growing hunger crisis, and considerable support is necessary for them to continue.

As many local food banks and pantries struggle with the strain, mutual aid organizations have mobilized quickly to help support. As we’ve discussed in a previous newsletter, mutual aid networks can often offer fast and immediate support to a hyper-local community in need. And food is no exception. Although they may feel less organized and official than the places you’re familiar with donating, they are often making immediate, on-the-ground that larger organizations can’t. Do your research and support wherever possible.

Charitable endeavors can’t do this work alone, and many are calling for the federal government to take action. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, is a national response to food inequity that supports nearly 38 million people (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities). In the Consumer Reports article, Luis Guardia, president of the Food Research and Action Center notes that for every meal that charities provide, the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nine (Consumer Reports).

A 15 % increase in SNAP funding was proposed by House Democrats in the HEROES Act 2.0 stimulus bill, which is projected to help 16 million people – including 7 million children – who live in households that participate in SNAP and have not received extra SNAP pandemic-emergency benefits (Washington Post). This stimulus bill is still (still!) awaiting a decision in the Senate. Many expect the Biden administration to move quickly on this upon inauguration.

But January 20, 2021 is a long way away, and people are in need now. Not just in the U.S., but around the world. U.N. agencies believe that 250 million people in 20 countries will be impacted by severe malnutrition or even famine in the coming months (AP News). As a community, we must do our best to support each other right now. In addition, we have to commit long-term to see each other through this crisis and advocate for food security for all.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Hunger is a growing crisis in both the U.S. and around the world, with a disproportionate amount of people of color relying on food banks than ever before
An investment in SNAP benefits could help 16 million people access food
Food banks are struggling to meet demand as the pandemic worsens with no end in sight

10/13/2020 | Support Chinatown during COVID-19.

10/6/2020 | Be afraid of COVID-19.

9/16/2020 | Fight for paid sick leave.

9/6/2020 | Protect the aging population from COVID-19.

8/30/2020 | Protect housing rights during COVID-19.

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

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/21/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/21/20

Study Hall: Recognizing complicity and making investments.

Happy Saturday! Welcome to our weekly Study Hall. Each week I answer questions and share insights from each of you in our community. I hope this week's content illuminates more on the topics we unpacked this week.

If you subscribe to just the weekly digest, this is the only email you will receive (hi Saturday readers 👋🏾) You can click through to read all original pieces on the archives and get this recap, too. Change your email preferences by updating your profile information here.

As always, your support is greatly appreciated. You can give one-time on our website, PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza), or subscribe for $7/mo on our Patreon. Thank you to everyone that shares, donates, and puts this content into action, and sends well-wishes.

Nicole

If this email was forwarded to you, welcome to the Anti-Racism Daily. You can subscribe on our website at antiracismdaily.com.

TAKE ACTION

1. Reflect on the questions prompted by our community.

2. Discuss with a friend: what did you uncover this week that you never heard of before? What power and privilege may have protected you from unpacking this concept? Or, which trauma(s) may have shielded you from learning more?

GET EDUCATED

We've published 170 newsletters on racism over the past 170 days. Here are the newsletters we published this week.

11/20/2020 | Honor Transgender Day of Remembrance.

11/19/2020 | Decolonize your reading habits.

11/18/2020 | Advocate for missing Black women.

11/17/2020 | Cancel student debt.

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

11/15/2020 | Learn the key terminology.

Read all previously published newsletters on our archives >

Q+A

Would you be in favor of canceling student loan debts incurred by a wealthy family whose student will be a high earning professional after graduating? I’m more in favor of canceling student loan debt for those who are struggling with repayment. If someone took hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans to get a high paying job, why should that be forgiven? We could help many people with smaller debts or bail out a few of the top 5%. Which would you choose?

From Cancel student debt, published 11/17/2020.

This is a common narrative when talking about this work and, quite frankly, a bit exhausting. Many people feel that equitable initiatives may support people that "don't deserve it as much." But we have to remember that solving an inequitable system isn't perfect. If some people gain that already have wealth, sure, it's not ideal. But pausing an initiative that could help thousands that could really need it, just because a few lucky others may benefit, is far worse. I think it's also important to note that Biden's proposed plan caps forgiveness for undergraduate tuition and people making up to $125,000. Learn more >

And that kind of zero-sum thinking is how we got here in the first place. Remember that, generally speaking, a privileged few almost always benefitted at the cost of many others. Applying the same logic with the players in different positions doesn't change the game. It just rearranges the pawns and protects the status quo in the process.

We need to change the game entirely – in this case, reimagining an inequitable education system. And that can start with (but certainly doesn't end with) eliminating debt for all people, regardless of where they're positioned on the board.

Lastly, I don't think anyone should be penalized for trying to become a high-earning professional. There are many reasons why someone would take hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a high-paying job: maybe because they will be the main breadwinner of their family. Or maybe their family sacrificed everything to bring them to this country to be successful. And maybe they did ALL of that and still found themselves out of a job because of COVID-19, or had to leave the profession because of an illness, or were wrongly terminated and can't find a job again. I went to school to study finance because I knew how much it meant for my family to go to college. I didn't end up working there, but does that make my debt unforgivable?

When you're thinking about issues like this, consider: what part of my decision-making process supports how we got here? How am I protecting an inequitable system? Am I looking for equality or equity? What is the difference between fairness and justice?

Q+A

I try buying from Black-owned bookstores, but they're not as fast, cheap, or reliable or Amazon. How do I find a Black-owned business that I can depend on?

From Decolonize your reading habits, published 11/19/2020.

Oftentimes, shopping at local businesses, small businesses etc, means unlearning the unrealistic expectations these big box businesses have created when it comes to commerce. Since when did we need everything delivered in less than 24 hours? Unlimited access to every product on the planet at our fingertips? Prices that are cheap only because they exploit the people that make it possible?

Doing this work sometimes means taking our comfort out of the equation. And if that means investing time to make a purchase, doing research, waiting longer, and paying more, then so be it. I know it may not be possible to do this for every purchase, but I think we can when we're talking about buying a book.

Also, the only way that a Black-owned business could compete with Amazon is if more people committed to buying there, especially when it's hard. If you want to see stronger locally-owned businesses, invest in them.

Q+A

What are your thoughts on bringing yoga to law enforcement and police?

I've grappled a lot with this as a yoga teacher, and was contacted by my local police department to offer yoga to officers (due to scheduling it never happened) because it's obviously not a be all, end all, measure.

But I'm struggling with the idea of whether this helps officers cope with and manage stress (thereby theoretically reducing the use of force), or whether it falls into the category of "more training" and thereby doesn't actually work to deconstruct the current system as it looks now.

I worry that this will become an acceptable "solution" to the issue of police brutality and excessive use of force, when in reality, it may do more harm than good?

From Understand your local law enforcement, published 11/16/2020.

I think that's a call you have to make for yourself. I think you're trying to decide which of your two points is the "right" one, but I think the real answer is both: you could both help officers reduce and manage stress and add "more training" that doesn't deconstruct the current system.

There's a lot of "boths" in this work when you're operating within a system and trying to dismantle it. I'm not the right person to tell you which to do, but I think it's important that we all recognize where we may be complicit, even as we do work we deem as necessary and productive.

Q+A

I read a LOT but find it difficult to travel with physical books for lack of space. Enter >> my Kindle. This year I've made it a point to buy books written by Black authors no matter the genre but I'm still buying from Amazon because that's what the Kindle is linked to. Are there other alternatives or recommendations for me? How can I avoid Amazon in this scenario or are the authors still benefiting from my purchase?

From Decolonize your reading habits, published 11/19/2020.

This is a match-making Q+A! I'm copying/pasting a helpful recommendation from another newsletter reader below as a response:

I just wanted to share a reading resource (at least for those living in the U.S); Libby and OverDrive are both free apps offered by the public library.

They are essentially digital libraries where you can check out audiobooks and ebooks straight to your phone/tablet, and all you need is a library card to access them. (perfect for social distancing—no human contact woo!)

Unfortunately, the selections are very limited, especially when it comes to diverse authors (at least in my county. The selections offered vary from county to county, as the apps link up directly with your local library branch)

But, you can recommend titles for your library to purchase that will become part of your library’s circulation. (Recommendations can be made both in physical libraries and on OverDrive, Libby doesn't have a place to make recommendations yet, but apparently, they are working towards making it a feature) And I figure, the more people who use these apps and make recommendations for more diverse books, the better access readers will have in the future.

You can find both apps on OverDrive.com. Also, in looking through OverDrive.com to make sure I had all my information straight, I found out that they also offer an app for public-school students that can be accessed with a student ID.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The federal government offered a series of treaties to Indigenous communities across the U.S., but broke nearly all of the agreements
The forceable removal of Native communities from their lands has stripped people of their culture and connection to their ancestors
Initiatives to return stolen lands aren't just reparations, but a clear way to disamantle white supremacy and center Indigenous communities in climate justice

11/15/2020 | Learn the key terminology.

10/21/2020 | Change racist sports team names.

10/12/2020 | Honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

7/5/2020 | Support the Navajo Nation through COVID-19.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

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

Honor Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance on November 20 that honors transgender people. The observance was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman who was killed in 1998 (GLAAD). The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester's death, sparking an important tradition that especially resonates in 2020, when COVID-19, police brutality, and discrimination politically has all exacerbated the violence and oppression this community experiences. To this day, Rita Hester’s murder hasn’t been solved. Read more in NBC News.

Happy Friday! Welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. Today we're honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance, and hope you are too. Learn about the historical significance of this date, more information on those murdered and missing, and commit to taking daily action to support the LGBTQ+ community.

Tomorrow is Study Hall, our weekly newsletter where – instead of introducing a new topic – I answer questions and share insights from the community. Reply to this email with any thoughts.

This is the Anti-Racism Daily, a daily newsletter with tangible ways to dismantle racism and white supremacy. Support our work by making a one-time contribution on ourwebsiteorPayPal, or giving monthly onPatreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go toantiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

If you are employed, learn how your company specifically stands for transgender rights, both within your company itself and in relationship to the broader community.
Share your pronouns everywhere you can to normalize using the right pronouns. This includes your email signature and your Zoom name when joining virtual calls. Learn more >
Do research to support organizations centering trans people in your community, like Black Trans Travel Fund in NY/NJ, Brave Space Alliance in Chicago, and Solutions Not Punishment Co. in Atlanta.
If you identify as cisgender, consider: what privilege(s) does that come with? How does that influence my worldview? What can I actively do with my power and privilege to dismantle the norms?

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

"
Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people -- sometimes in the most brutal ways possible -- it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.
Gwendolyn Ann Smith, founder of Transgender Day of Remembrance, via GLAAD.

In NCTE’s U.S. Transgender Survey, which included more than 28,000 respondents, nearly half (47%) of all Black respondents and 30% of all Latino respondents reported being denied equal treatment, verbally harassed, and/or physically attacked in the previous year because of being transgender. Nearly one in ten (9%) were physically attacked in the past year because of being transgender. Transgender women of color were more likely to be physically attacked in the previous year because of being transgender, compared to non-binary people of color and transgender men of color (Trans Equality).

And these attacks are often perpetrated or tolerated by law enforcement, emphasizing the need to reimagine our notion of safety in the U.S. Nearly 57% of all respondents said they were afraid to go to the police when they needed help. And 58% of transgender people who interacted with law enforcement reported experiences of harassment, abuse, or other mistreatment. More than 60% reported being physically assaulted, and 64% reporting being sexually assaulted. We discussed police violence against the Trans community in a previous newsletter >

Because of the deep distrust in law enforcement, paired with frequent misreporting and unreporting by local law enforcement, it’s incredibly difficult to discern how many transgender or gender non-conforming people are murdered in the U.S. The racial and gender bias in missing persons cases also exists in the LGBTQ community. According to Kylar Broadus, executive director of the Trans People of Color Coalition, a non-profit social justice organization, “A white trans* person is far more likely to get press than a trans* person of color” (The Missing). He explains that transgender people of color experience the most pervasive forms of discrimination because they are both people of color and identify as transgender.

"
Transgender people – and particularly Black and Latina transgender women – are marginalized, stigmatized and criminalized in our country. They face violence every day, and they fear turning to the police for help.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, deputy executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality

Nevertheless, reported cases are higher than ever before. The HRC has a list of 37 individuals in the U.S., and Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide has names of 350 individuals from all around the world (The Trans Murder Monitoring Report). This is a national and global issue; the stigma and bias against transgender people cause violence worldwide. It is still illegal to be transgender in 14 countries (them).

Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance, of course, isn’t the only way to support the transgender community. We must do more to dismantle our own biases and advocate for this community’s safety and security. In the U.S., a significant focus will be on the political landscape; Trump’s administration persistently attacked the rights of LGBTQ+ people, and although many were challenged in court, those efforts made a lasting adverse impact, both politically and socially (The Guardian). We need to keep issues related to LGBTQ+ people – housing, employment, education, healthcare – centered when we show up in future elections and stand adamant that the Biden administration holds up to its promises.

It’s also one of many reasons to acknowledge, honor, and uplift the contributions of the transgender community in our everyday lives that we – particularly those of us that benefit from the gender binary – take for granted. Recognize how the transgender community shapes our history, politics and culture. Listen to transgender advocates, particularly the youth, on how to support the future they envision. And, as we discussed in yesterday’s newsletter, diversify the books you read and the media you consume. Remember to center the transgender community every day, not just today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of transgender people.
Transgender people, particularly those of color, disproportionately experience violence – including police brutality.
Beyond honoring today, it's critical to center the needs of the transgender and gender non conforming community in all of your efforts.

RELATED ISSUES

6/13/2020 | Center Black trans lives.

9/25/2020 | Decriminalize sex work.

8/26/2020 | Be an active bystander.

9/17/2020 | Abolish ICE.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/17/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/17/20

Cancel student debt.

Conversations on student loan forgiveness sparked again Monday when President-elect Joe Biden mentioned he has plans to cancel student debt when he takes office (NYTimes). During a Q&A post-speech, Biden acknowledged how many people struggle with student loans’ burden but didn’t give specifics on his political agenda. Hopeful citizens are referencing an interview where Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, stated that Biden could cancel $50,000 in student loan debt in his first 100 days (The Ink).

This topic hits home for me, as I just paid off the last of my student loans after struggling with defaults and delinquencies. It’s heartbreaking to feel policed for trying to get a good education, but that’s part of the system we live in. Today we’re looking at the opportunities that cancel student debt can have on the immediate future and generations to come.

This is the Anti-Racism Daily, a daily newsletter with tangible ways to dismantle racism and white supremacy. You can support our work by making a one-time contribution on ourwebsiteorPayPal, or giving monthly onPatreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go to antiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Tell Congress to cancel student debt and stimulate the economy.
Donate to the #BuyBackBlackDebt initiative, a way to help Black people pay off debt, started by Sonya Renee Taylor.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Although there’s likely a lot of stipulations on the exact number and no promises, it’s no surprise that many people are excited. There’s a record number of 45 million borrowers who collectively owe nearly $1.6 trillion in student loan debt in the U.S. (Forbes). Before COVID-19, one in five federal student loan accounts were in default (Pew Trust). And although many student loan accounts are in forbearance until December 31, there’s no indication that an extension will be granted by the current administration (Washington Post).

And the burden of student debt isn’t equally distributed. Student loans weigh more heavily, on average, on communities of color. According to a 2016 analysis, over 90% of African American and 72% of Latino students take out loans to attend college compared to 66% of white students. Asian-American students who need to borrow more than $30,000 may be more likely to rely on private student loans that offer fewer consumer protections for borrowers (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). Payback is also an issue: borrowers that identify as white pay down almost 95% of their loans 20 years after starting college. But their Black peers will still owe 95% of their original balance after the same period. Within six years of beginning college, one-third of all Black or African American borrowers who had entered repayment defaulted on their loans, compared to just 13 percent of their white peers (American Progress).

Under-regulated loan servicing makes it more difficult for anyone to pay back student loans, making it easier for people to fall into debt than a basic credit card or mortgage (CNBC). But we can’t blame this disparity on student loans alone. Like many that we cover in our newsletter, this issue is exacerbated by the myriad of systemic inequities that impact communities of color: the wealth gap between white and non-white communities, employment discrimination, and the challenges students of color face to receive scholarships. We also have to account that tuition costs are steadily rising, outpacing the average family income (CNBC).

And consequently, student loans also contribute to the same inequities, fueling a never-ending cycle. About 13%- 23% of the wealth gap between Black and white Americans is attributed to student loan debt. Because white people with student loan debt can statistically pay it off more quickly, they can start saving and spending while communities of color are still paying down debt (EdTrust). Plus, defaulting on a student loan payment can ruin credit scores and make future financial decisions more difficult, only exacerbating the difference.

I don’t want to speculate for everyone how their lives would be different if they didn’t have student loans. But for me, it would’ve been transformative. I paid $800 – $1000/mo to pay down student loan debt and defaulted multiple times while juggling several jobs and a meager salary after college. It prevented me from getting an apartment and often forced me to overdraft my bank account to keep up. Until I paid them off, I couldn’t fathom having my own space or even considering having children of my own. And I felt the constant shame of not making enough or doing enough to pay it down. While also feeling so grateful and lucky to be the first kid in my family to graduate with a degree. Now that I don’t have that burden, I feel like I can actually invest – financially and emotionally – into the future I want.

And there’s a similar sentiment among other people, and economists, too. Many believe it can boost our GPD, rally the housing market, and bolster entrepreneurship (NPR). Others center student loan debt as a reproductive rights issue, noting that more people would feel more empowered to start families without this looming debt. Of course, there’s also challenges, too – who will pay for this broad deficit, and how could it impact taxes in the future (NPR). But amid a global pandemic and a grim economic forecast, others believe this could be the infusion of capital our country needs.

You could argue that if I had waited (instead of reshuffling my debt payments because of COVID-19 so I could drive down this debt), my student loans could have been forgiven next year. But I don’t regret paying them off for a single second. I think I breathe easier each moment. And that is a gift I’d grant to anyone and everyone I can, as soon as possible, without an ounce of hesitation.

Canceling student debt needs to be the start of a broader conversation – on reforming higher education, creating more tuition-free public colleges, and disrupting the notion that college is the only path to success. But it’s a start, one that can be implemented quickly, make an immediate economic impact, and reverberate for generations to come.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Student loan is disproportionately impacting communities of color
Not only does systemic racism cause differences in student loan debt burdens, it contributes to the same issues
Canceling student debt offers more than financial ease, but a way to boost the economy in the short and long term

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/16/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/16/20

Understand your local law enforcement.

As we mentioned back in June, the term “defund the police” became a critical part of this election season. Moderate Democrats argue that it discouraged people from supporting candidates (Time). Progressive Democrats disagree, noting that efforts to change policing were passed in several states (Vox). While reading these conversations, remember that this work needs to persevere far beyond the phrase’s sentiment. Here’s an updated FAQ on the work at hand.

Happy Monday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily! Right now, Democrats are debating how the phrase "defund the police" played out at the polls this month. Today, we're revisiting what defund the police means and how you can take action. Unlike before when we centered takeaways around the national discourse, today we're encouraging you to unpack how it affects your community locally.

This is the Anti-Racism Daily, a daily newsletter with tangible ways to dismantle racism and white supremacy. You can support our work by making a one-time contribution on our website or PayPal, or giving monthly on Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go to antiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Learn the talking points on defunding the police offered by the Movement for Black Lives to host conversations in your community.
Attend your next city council meeting to learn how they invest in local law enforcement (many are hosting virtually). You may also find transcripts or archives of previous meetings online.
Use this toolkit created by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to effectively advocate for divestment.
Tell your Congressperson to support the BREATHE Act, which advocates for divestment in order to reimagine public safety.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

What does “defund the police” even mean?

The rally to defund the police is a call-to-action for communities to change the law enforcement by re-allocating funding spent on police departments to other necessary infrastructure, including violence prevention programs, public housing, health care, mental health care, and education. These efforts challenge longstanding notions that directly correlate police to safety, one that has been proven ineffective for protecting non-white people, particularly Black and queer people in the U.S. (Neighborhood Funders Group).

"
It’s not just about taking away money from the police, it’s about reinvesting those dollars into Black communities. Communities that have been deeply divested from, communities that, some have never felt the impact of having true resources. And so we have to reconsider what we’re resourcing. I've been saying we have an economy of punishment over an economy of care.

― Patrisse Cullors in a conversation on WBUR Here & Now

This terminology was created by abolitionist doing the work. It was not created to be a rallying cry for any political party during an election. The current debate about whether the term was “friendly” enough misses a key point – that the Democratic party was not prepared to take a solid stance on this issue; powerful community organizers have carried this conversation into the spotlight.

What does “abolish the police” mean?

This is a more long-term and radical call for not just divesting from law enforcement but completing re-imagining the entire criminal justice system. For some, defunding the police is a start to transforming the system as a whole (NYTimes).

What is the difference between abolition and reform?

Generally, “reformists” believe that the current system can be changed if there’s more effort in changing it. When it comes to police reform vs. abolition, reformists often argue for more investment into law enforcement to create further accountability, like training, body cameras, etc. You can view a chart of the key differences between the two stances here (Critical Resistance).

Does defunding the police mean getting rid of police officers entirely?

No. Defunding the police means "shrinking the scope of police responsibilities and shifting most of what government does to keep us safe to entities that are better equipped to meet that need,” says Christy E. Lopez, a Georgetown Law professor and co-director of the school’s Innovative Policing Program (Washington Post).

MPD150, a Minneapolis-based initiative by organizers aiming to bring "meaningful structural change" to police in the city, focuses on who responds when someone calls 911. Instead of sending a police officer, they're advocating that we could send social workers, mental health care providers, and victim/survivor advocates, among others.

By doing so, we can decrease the burden placed on police officers, who are currently tasked to respond to a wide range of requests from their community (USA Today).

But not all police are bad! Why change everything over bad apples?

Yes, not every police officer is racist. Not all police officers kill Black people. But this is not the argument. This isn't a conversation about bad apples, but a poisoned orchard. Remember that the police system has systemically hurt Black communities throughout time because it's built on a system of racism and white supremacy. Consider:

1 in every 1,000 black men can expect to be killed by police (PNAS)
The Minneapolis police use force against Black people at 7x the rate of white people (NYTimes)
Policing in southern slave-holding states had roots in slave patrols – groups of white volunteers empowered to use vigilante tactics to enforce laws related to slavery (The Conversation)

The "bad apples" argument is an incredibly harmful refrain. It doesn’t just prevent conversations from moving forward. It protects white supremacy and systemic oppression and completely discredits the pain, suffering, and grief these "bad apples" have caused to individual families and entire communities impacted by their actions.

But won't there be more crime if there's less law enforcement?

Unlikely. Many citizens are concerned that a decrease in law enforcement will increase crime. But by investing in other systems of support, advocates of defunding the police find this unlikely. Also, studies have shown that more police doesn't equal less crime (USA Today). Some police chiefs, including Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham in DC, have warned that decreasing police budgets can create inadequate training resources, which can increase bad policing (read more at DCist). But by re-investing appropriately, this isn’t likely.

How can I help?

The most critical way to move this work forward is to see beyond public perception. Get to know the local community organizers that are pushing for this work in your community. Review conversations your city council has had on this topic. And move past how people feel about “defund the police” generally to how it impacts your community specifically: your local schools, sidewalks, and city centers. It may mean analyzing how your privilege defines your relationship with law enforcement and how your experience differs from those around you. This work is not easeful or comfortable but necessary for creating a more equitable future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Defunding the police allows communities to re-invest in other forms of community support
The police system is inherently inequitable, and deeply rooted in racism and white supremacy
It's important to take this work into your local community, while supporting the community organizers fighting for change

9/3/2020 | Support mental health response services.

8/24/2020 | Demand justice for Jacob Blake.

7/15/2020 | End racial bias in school discipline.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/13/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/13/20

Use emoji respectfully.

Last week, the latest software update on iOS included over 100 new emoji, many of which aimed to make this form of digital communication more inclusive. The collection includes a slew of gender-inclusive symbols, like a male emoji holding babies, the Transgender Pride Flag, and genderfluid wedding emoji (Mashable). It also has a range of "disability-themed" emojis, including a new guide dog, an ear with a hearing aid, wheelchairs, a prosthetic arm, and a prosthetic leg. And, it allows users more options to apply skin color, particularly in emoji that show two or more people and the holding hands emoji 🤝 (Paper Magazine).

Happy Friday! If I could, I’d communicate online only using emoji. It’s short, simple, and to the point. I write about 6,000 words each week, so I could use the break. Besides, all this year, I’ve felt like 🥴– my most frequently used emoji at the moment. That’s much shorter than “overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, happy, exhausted, and kinda hungry?”

But, in all seriousness, emoji is part of our digital lexicon, which means it’s a part of our language. And whether it’s written prose or a poop emoji, language matters. Especially when it comes to race. Today we’re looking at why it’s essential to respect the racial and cultural significance of using emoji. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading our post on digital blackface for more context.

TAKE ACTION

Consider how you use emoji and other forms of visual communication online. How may it uphold racial stereotypes?
Have a conversation with a friend, colleague, brand, etc. who uses emoji out of context.

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

Surprisingly, the diversity of emoji has come a long way in a relatively short period. Emoji are a modern interpretation of emoticons, a pictorial representation of facial expressions using characters typed on a digital device. These are part of Unicode, a standardized set of symbols used across nearly all modern computing systems (The Atlantic). Although emoji were popularized in 2010 with the rise of smartphones, it wasn’t until 2015 when users were allowed to toggle to chose from a set of five skin tones. Despite the push for racial and ethnic representation, these tones weren’t designed around specific people. Instead, Unicode used the “Fitzpatrick scale,” a framework developed in the ’70s to describe how different skin tones respond to ultraviolet light (Washington Post). Since then, emoji representation has grown quickly to represent a wide range of religions, countries, sexual orientation, etc.

And it’s important to note that even with this rapid pace of development, emoji still have a long way to go to be equitable. Miriam Sweeney, an assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama, emphasizes that many emoji still have European phenotypic features, even with darker skin (WBHM).

This rapid addition of skin color offers more representation and opportunities for self-expression. But it also brings our history of racism into a new communication format. But some people choose to use emoji that don’t reflect their actual racial identity. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that lighter-skinned people were less likely to use their own skin color than the default yellow (Daily Dot). And beyond this, in 2016, just months after skin color emoji launched, most people on Twitter were using darker skin emoji – even though the demographics of the platform would indicate otherwise (The Atlantic).

For many people of color, it feels like an act of digital blackface, a way for people to adopt the skin of someone else’s race and use that position for their gain – and/or to oppress Black people (Anti-Racism Daily). Because Blackness in particular is often used when people want to express exaggerated emotions, consider if you’re using stereotypes about race when shifting to different skin colors. More on this in Lauren Michele Jackson’s article on Teen Vogue.

Some white people will defend using darker-skinned emoji because they don’t want to make their whiteness so “visible,” particularly in these times. Read specific examples of this in The Atlantic and Refinery29. And although the intention is understandable, the impact doesn’t align. Considering that skin color diversity was something people of color specifically rallied to be seen and heard, it feels insincere to have white people use it to obscure their own identity. And remember that it’s a privilege for white people to distance themselves from their whiteness, considering that people of color are marginalized and homogenized based on their identity.

Besides, people often use emoji to bring some intimacy to an otherwise distanced form of engagement – especially those that use digital tools as their primary form of communication. If we’re not representing ourselves, then are we actually connecting?

"
People connect with emoji on a personal level—they use them to show their smiles and their hearts...it can be a pretty intimate connection, which is why people want to look at emoji and see the things that are meaningful in their lives.
Tyler Schnoebelen, founder of Idibon, a text analytics company, for WIRED

It’s important to respect emoji, even if one may think it’s “harmless.” Language matters. And emoji has become a distinct part of our lexicon – alongside gifs and Tiktoks and memes and the written word, ASL, and all the other ways we communicate. This work isn’t about just one instance, but the practices that create them. And we must analyze how we can use language, in all forms, to hurt or heal. When using emoji, use them to express yourself without relying on someone else’s culture or identity. As Samantha Kemp-Jackson, a parenting expert and writer, explains in NPR, "what are you trying to say that you can't say in the color of your own skin?"

Fun fact: you can adopt a Unicode certificate if you forever want to associate yourself or someone else with an emoji 👩🏾‍🏫

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The latest iOS update broadened the range of diversity available in emoji
Emoji are a part of our lexicon, and we should use them respectfully
Emoji can be used in a way that appropriates other cultures, identities, backgrounds and beliefs

8/28/2020 | Start seeing color.

7/14/2020 | Embrace your race privilege.

7/13/2020 | Respect the roots of Black hair.

6/15/2020 | Diversify your media consumption.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

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

Support the disability community through COVID-19.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court met to determine whether or not the Affordable Care Act should be invalidated. And although we can’t expect a decision anytime soon, early conversations indicate that the Affordable Care Act is likely to stay, which should protect the coverage of millions of people in the months ahead (NPR). The ACA supports tens of millions of people in the U.S. but particularly provides access to coverage for people with disabilities that might not be able to receive it otherwise (KFF).

But the concept of mutual aid is much more deeply rooted than the simple act of Venmo-ing $15 to a stranger on Twitter.

Happy Wednesday, and welcome back! Thank you to our veterans – today and every day. As COVID-19 cases skyrocket, it's critically important that we center the needs of the disability community, particularly those that are also people of color. Today we're joined by disability advocate and non-profit founder Ola Ojewumi to learn how we can support.

This is the Anti-Racism Daily, a daily newsletter with tangible ways to dismantle racism and white supremacy. You can support our work by making a one-time contribution on our website or PayPal, or giving monthly on Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go to antiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Donate to the National Black Disability Coalition, which works to address disability issues for Black people, with an emphasis on people who live in poverty.
Volunteer for Protest Access, a volunteer collective focused on Black Lives Matter and anti-racism related content on social media that provides captioning, transcription, and visual descriptions as requested.
Save the Disability Disaster Hotline number, created, owned and operated by The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies: 1-800-626-4959. (https://disasterstrategies.org/hotline/).
If you see medical malpractice against people of disabilities, report it. Here is a list of contacts for each state in the U.S.

GET EDUCATED

But even with the Affordable Care Act, significant disparities exist for people with disabilities in healthcare, especially those that identify as people of color and/or LGBTQIA+ (Disability Scoop). Also, our nation is in the midst of another severe outbreak of COVID-19 (NYTimes). This not only directly impacts the health of some people with disabilities that can make them at higher risk. It also can create complications with broader medical care – and disrupts everyday life.

What’s more, people experiencing long-term complications from COVID-19 – referred to as long-haulers – are joining the disability community (STAT News). And although new vaccine trial data is promising, the rollout does not prioritize people with disabilities (NYTimes). We must do more to protect people with disabilities during this pandemic.

I interviewed Ola Ojewumi, an activist, journalist, and community organizer, on the intersection of COVID-19 and disability advocacy.

How do you see COVID-19 impacting healthcare moving forward, particularly for people with disabilities?

The healthcare system pre-COVID-19 has mistreated people with disabilities, and I don't foresee much of a future change. People with intellectual disabilities die at higher rates of COVID-19. This reflects a culture that doesn't see value in disabled life, let alone saving disabled lives. (Read more about this in an article from The Atlantic). It is extremely challenging navigating the medical system as a person with a disability. We tend to have more medical comorbidities that exacerbate COVID-19. These include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and we're more likely to smoke.

Income inequality and lack of access to quality healthcare are major problems amongst people with disabilities and marginalized groups. The COVID-19 crisis proved that the healthcare system wasn't equipped to handle a major medical crisis. It was built to meet the needs of those that can afford healthcare.

How do you think COVID-19 will continue to exacerbate these disparities?

The healthcare and hospital systems were already ill-equipped to handle a crisis, but none of this magnitude. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers were already overworked and exhausted. The pandemic will only exacerbate unconscious bias and medical racism (learn more by reading the investigation of Michael Hickson’s death on NPR). The quest for a vaccine is marred with complaints that not enough people of color were not included in testing. Vaccines cannot be effective in patients of color unless they’re included.

A pediatric drug commonly used to treat children with asthma, Albuterol, was proven ineffective in Black children. This was because no Black children were included in the clinical trials (NPR). I used to take that drug. This is what racial bias in medicine looks like. Racism doesn't have to be intentional or hateful. It comes in forms as innocent as failing to include non-white children in clinical trials. (Read more about the importance of representation in vaccine trials in our previous newsletter).

Many people have noted how President Trump and his administration’s stance on COVID-19 aren’t just dismissive, but ableist. How is that harmful? What is its impact on communities with disabilities?

President Trump's rhetoric is more than just harmful. It's outright dangerous and puts the lives of people with disabilities at further risk. He encourages not wearing masks despite being infectious and having [had] COVID-19 himself. This may influence his supporters to view COVID-19 as something minor. It's not because it's killed over 200,000 people. A big chunk of those people were disabled. We are more susceptible to catching COVID-19 due to numerous factors like compromised immune systems and poverty.

His commentary will undoubtedly influence his base, amongst others, to take fewer precautions to prevent this disease's spread. Disabled Americans are most at risk, and the leader of the free world has told us, "Don't be scared of it" (NBC News). How can we not be terrified when it's taken so many of our lives and that of our loved ones? We have every right to be terrified with such poor leadership at the top. Trump continues to downplay the virus as the death toll continues to rise, and we lose more people due to a preventable pandemic. We deserve better and must demand better.

What do you wish people with privilege would do to address systemic inequities in healthcare?

If you see racist behavior, report it. We need people with the privilege to find the courage to call it out instead of remaining silent. Advocate for diversity and inclusion in healthcare systems. Support programs that invest in the education of Black physicians and healthcare workers. Plan an unconscious bias training. There is no limit to what you can do to weed out bias and save countless lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

COVID-19 disproportionately impacts the disability community, particularly those that also have mother marginalized identities
COVID-19 is exacerbating medial bias and making people in the disability community fearful of finding adequate medical care
With COVID-19 cases rising in the U.S. and around the world, we need to center the needs of the disability community in our response

RELATED ISSUES

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

8/12/2020 | Demand justice for Elijah McClain.

9/17/2020 | Abolish ICE.

9/3/2020 | Support mental health response services.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/9/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/9/20

Support the Georgia Senate runoffs.

Happy Monday and welcome back! This weekend, Joe Biden became President, bringing many people an exhale four years overdue. Many of you emailed me the same question: what now?

Now, the work begins again. We may soon be free from Donald Trump's tweets, but we are far from free. "Going back to normal" is still a world where Black people are killed by cops, where rising income inequality is forcing people from our homes, and a global pandemic threatens our way of life. The majority of white people in the U.S. voted for Trump, and it was the turnout of Black, Latinx and Indigenous folx that carried key states blue. Our work is unchanged. There is just one less obstacle in the way.

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.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Volunteer for both Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. Many opportunities available for those outside GA and under the age of 18!
Donate to Fair Fight PAC, a nationwide group founded by Stacey Abrams that combats voter suppression and promotes “free and fair elections” in GA.
Donate to the Black Voters Matter organization, which is focused on voter registration and turnout for the Black community.
Georgia residents: Sign up to be a poll worker for the runoff election. Give those poll workers from the election a break!

GET EDUCATED

By Nicole Cardoza (she/her)

There are two Senate seats up for a runoff election in January. If Democrats win both, we will have a 50/50 Senate split and a Democratic VP making tie-breaking decisions (NPR). This political power could make both a lasting and immediate impact. Some key issues have been stalled in the Senate, like the second round of coronavirus relief (Vox), that could pass more swiftly. To do this, we need to win both seats in the run-off election in Georgia.

The rise of support for the Democratic governors, particularly as mail-in ballots were counted, was energizing. But as the votes trickled in, one thing was clear: both races were so close that neither of the candidates would reach majority-rule (or 50%) for victory (NPR). This means that both races are going into a runoff election, a second election to determine an ultimate winner (Ballotpedia).

The concept of runoff elections may be new to you. Georgia is one of only a few states that require voters in an election to reach a specific threshold before winning. Most of these states are in the South. And "fun" fact, runoff elections were designed specifically for white leaders to maintain power as the voter block diversified.

The runoff system was implemented in Georgia in the 1960s, an effort led by state representative Denmark Groover. Groover was a bit salty from losing an election in 1958 – although he carried the white vote, Black people voted for his opponent by a 5-1 margin. This demonstrated that, as usual throughout history, Black people overall tend to support one progressive candidate, whereas white people split their vote between many (Vox).

Afraid of the power this could give to Black people, Groover pushed for runoffs so that, even if Black people chose one candidate that was counter to the white vote, their majority wouldn't be enough to win (Vox). According to someone on his team, Groover was worried that "the Negroes and the pressure groups and special interests are going to manipulate this State and take charge if we don’t go for the majority vote" (Vox).

But Groover didn't come up with this idea on his own. Runoff elections were implemented in several Southern states to maintain the overwhelmingly Democratic (now Republican) control. At that time, Black people were rallying for their right to vote – despite deep voter suppression through literacy tests, poll taxes, etc. Meanwhile, the Populist Party was growing in popularity, too, and could split voters further. The Populist Party often shared the Democrats' view on race, though, and documents from that time indicate that the fears of Democrats then mirrored those of Groover: racial domination was key (Washington Post).

An important exception: Arkansas implemented runoff voting in the 1930s specifically to keep Klan members from winning primaries (Washington Post).

The DOJ sued to overturn the runoff system in 1900, but the motion was unsuccessful. Although the judges noted that race played a factor in its implementation, it's difficult to discern whether outcomes would be objectively better for Black voters if majority-rule weren't in place (Vox). But, if it weren't in place for this election, David Purdue would have won (with 49.7% of the vote, which is higher than Ossoff's 47.9% but still less than 50%), and we wouldn't have this opportunity to even the Senate.

So, let's take this opportunity and make the most of it. The presidential race results in Georgia were influenced by the outpouring of support from non-white communities and youth (NYTimes). This offers a blueprint for winning this election – doubling-down on those efforts and securing as many new voters as possible.

Winning these elections also prevents the two Republican senators, both with racist values and beliefs, from joining the senate. Kelly Loeffler, running against Rev. Raphael Warnock, has been adamant about her dislike of the Black Lives Matter movement (Washington Post). And David Purdue purposefully mocked Kamala Harris' name at a Trump rally (CNN) and ran an anti-Semitic ad against his opponent, Jon Ossoff (Politico).

The runoff election will be held on January 5, 2021. The deadline for voter registration is December 7, 2020. Early voting starts December 14, 2020. The time to act is now.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The two Senate races in Georgia are moving into a runoff election. If both Democrats win, we could have 50/50 representation in the Senate.
Georgia is one of only a few states that require voters in an election to reach a specific threshold before winning.
Runoff elections have been used throughout history for southern white conservatives to maintain racial power.

RELATED ISSUES

11/3/2020 | Vote.

11/2/2020 | Make an election safety plan.

10/6/2020 | Be afraid of COVID-19.

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

9/27/2020 | Protect the polls.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 11/7/20 Nicole Cardoza 11/7/20

Study Hall! Whiteness voted for Trump.

Happy Saturday! Welcome to our weekly Study Hall. Each week I answer questions and share insights from each of you in our community. This week we're diving into some FAQs from the content this week, mainly the election.

If you subscribe to just the weekly digest, this is the only email you will receive (hi Saturday readers 👋🏾) You can click through to read all original pieces on the archives and get this recap, too. Change your email preferences by updating your profile information here.

As always, your support is greatly appreciated. You can give one-time on our website, PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza), or subscribe for $7/mo on our Patreon. Thank you to everyone that shares, donates, puts this content into action, and sends well-wishes.

Nicole

If this email was forwarded to you, welcome to the Anti-Racism Daily. You can subscribe on our website at antiracismdaily.com.

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

We've published 157 newsletters on racism over the past 157 days. Here are the newsletters we published this week.

11/6/2020 | Don’t homogenize Latinx identity.

11/5/2020 | Abolish the electoral college.

11/4/2020 | Understand intergenerational trauma.

11/3/2020 | Vote.

11/2/2020 | Make an election safety plan.
11/1/2020 | Question billionaire philanthropy.

Read all previously published newsletters on our archives >

Q+A
Bezos does not have $180 Billion dollars in his bank account. Most of his wealth is not actual liquid money, right? I don't think we have public data on how much a guy like him has in liquid assets, but presumably, he doesn't just have billions of dollars lying around ready to be put to better use.

From Question billionaire philanthropy from 11/1/2020.

This is correct, Bezos is not sitting on $180 billion in his bank account. Most billionaires are not billionaires because they have billions of dollars in the bank; it’s because of the wealth they own in assets (like real estate and cars) and the companies they own. However, regardless of how much money is there, Bezos’ historically has given significantly less than others of his stature (Business Insider).

Also, some of Bezos’ charitable acts that receive press are actually donations on behalf of the company itself. Corporate philanthropy is a common way many organizations receive tax write-offs that ultimately save them that money otherwise. Individual donations work this way too. Furthermore, individuals can invest in vehicles like a donor-advised fund which allows them to immediately reduce taxes after a windfall but make donations on their own schedule, which means that tax money isn’t received to re-invest in public social services.

These tactics are publicly available loopholes that many companies and individuals use, regardless of their income – you may have created a tax-deduction yourself by donating to a 501c3. But beyond that, we have the capacity to both celebrate donations to create solutions – and criticize how those same people contribute to problems. There’s plenty he could do to increase working conditions within his company and ensure his employees are adequately paid and protected – at minimum.

Also, the solutions are often short-term stop-gaps to long-term issues. Consider a donation to support homeless shelters in Seattle, a city with a swiftly rising income disparity, partially due to the rapid expansion of tech companies like Amazon. Does the displacement of people feel equitable to displaced people in a homeless shelter? Is that justice?

Once again, the goal of this inquiry isn’t to condemn or admonish, but to stay in inquiry. But asking whether or not the money is “technically” in Bezos’ bank account isn’t the right question for this exercise. It’s how someone has that much power and privilege from an inherently inequitable company, and how their efforts – philanthropically or otherwise – are exacerbating critical issues. I highly recommend reading books like Decolonizing Wealth and Winners Take All to start orienting yourself more on this subject.

Does this explain why Black people voted for Trump too?

From Don’t homogenize Latinx identity on 11/6/2020.

I want to emphasize that it’s whiteness – not Black, Latinx, or other people of color – voting for Trump. When whiteness is dictated as the dominant culture, it forces people to surrender their own cultural background to be accepted by the majority. Being accepted as a part of whiteness is marketed to offer safety and security – education, decent job, protection from law enforcement, etc. And an easy way to show that solidarity is by voting.

This has happened to white people throughout history. Italian Americans and Irish Americans both used political engagement to be accepted into dominant culture (more via Michael Harriot on Twitter).

And what’s worse? Accepting dominant culture requires us to disparage any other cultural or societal norms. That can happen on an individual level; by learning to be ashamed, guilty, judging or hateful of the parts of you that connect you to narratives outside the “norm.” It also happens on a group level by taking public action to diminish people of color. And this is how racism is wielded to maintain dominant culture.

And it’s taught that this assimilation is essential to survival. So many people will choose it – especially when their lives feel threatened. And right now, everything is strained: we’re facing economic uncertainty, a persistent global pandemic, an uncompromising racial reckoning, environmental threats. The current President has consistently referred to people of color as “rapists" and “terrorists,” “thugs” and “criminals.” As a person of color, distancing yourself from the narrative in this environment may feel like the safest thing to do.

And white people vote for white supremacy the same way. Here, it’s a vote for the safety of dominant culture that feels threatened. And we could spend endless time analyzing how other aspects of our identities – like being a woman, or having a disability – may also influence how we feel about participating in dominant culture.

I also want to emphasize that despite a growing number of people of color voting, they still represent the vast minority of non-white voters. And fades in comparison to the number of white people – and the increased number of white women – that voted for Trump.

But white people in particular are absolutely using the decisions of those more marginalized to justify their own actions. But they should be ashamed. Because when white people feed white supremacy, they force everyone else to, too.

Q+A

As I am a junior in high school, I’m concerned I won’t have the time to fulfill tasks listed on the Safety Checklist. Do you have any recommendations for steps I can take to simultaneously balance schoolwork and extracurriculars, as well as the missions that the Checklist outlines?

From Make an election safety plan on 11/2/2020.

I first want to send a BIG hello to all the youth on this list! I know you have been our most vocal and engaged readers, and if you’re based in the U.S., I can’t imagine how it feels to watch this election unfold right now. Thank you for being here and doing the work – I know many of you are doing the work in households that have more conservative views, and that takes strength.

This Safety Checklist should be a practice, not a one-time action. We initially shared this resource on Monday – and the rhetoric of our election has changed significantly since then. Furthermore, most of the action items listed here are best practices for how to be in community anytime, not just during conflict.

I would recommend adding time in your day to check-in with this, and take on one section. It could be to complete it for the first time, or to revisit as it goes. And always start with your own well-being – we must be resourced to resource others.

Q+A

Of COURSE it's unfairly biased, but how in the world will the people who have the outsized power ever give it up? Certainly, with the Senate looking like it does, there is no WAY it will happen.

From Abolish the electoral college on 11/5/2020.

They likely won’t – and this is why many people call not just for reforming policies and practices, but abolishing them overall, and pushing for more radical revolution than expecting our current government to take action. It doesn’t offer a fast or simple solution, but rarely does the most critical work. I know that this doesn’t answer your question, but I want to emphasize how important it is to keep asking.

CLARIFICATIONS

In our 11/3/2020 article, we misspelled the name of the political analyst with a two-minute analysis of Trump. His name is Mehdi Hasan, not Medhi Hasan. This has been updated in our archives.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

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?

GET EDUCATED

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.

ARCHIVES

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

﻿Matter

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

TAKE ACTION

Matter