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How to Be an Anti-Racist in Denver

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How to Be an Anti-Racist in Denver " # (HTTPS://303MAGAZINE.COM) (https://303magazine.com) Black Lives Matter Protest 2016. Photo by Brittany Werges Do This To Fix Car Scratches This car gadget magically removes scratches and scuffs from your car quickly and easily. NanoMagicStore.com How to Be an Anti-Racist in Denver DENBY GARDINER (HTTPS://303MAGAZINE.COM/AUTHOR/DENBY-GARDINER/) ! JUNE 2, 2020 ! LIFESTYLE + CULTURE (HTTPS://303MAGAZINE.COM/CATEGORY/LIFESTYLE-CULTURE/) 16 MIN READ Recent acts of violence in the United States — both those that are being publicized and those we may never recognize nationally — have enraged people all over the country. The result has a lot of us wondering how to move forward and prevent devastating events like the deaths of George Floyd (https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/05/31/george- floyd-police-car-video-vpx.cnn), Breonna Taylor (https://www.nytimes.com/article/breonna-taylor-police.html) and Ahmaud Arbery (https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-shooting-death-of-ahmaud-arbery-in-brunswick-ga/77-d5836433-27f8-47fb-8096- bd7cfeb05007). Thousands have put feet to the pavement for five straight nights to vocalize their frustration, though some have resulted in tension from local law enforcement. On Sunday, May 31, the Denver Police arrested over 170 people (https://303magazine.com/2020/06/denver-curfew-extended-friday/). It is important, now more than ever, to stand up for our neighbors and understand the role that systematic racism plays in our city. In 2019, Ibram X. Kendi (https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an- antiracist-1) wrote How to be an Antiracist, which serves as a comprehensive explanation of what it would look like to live in an anti-racist society. We have put together some ways Denver can help perpetuate long term anti-racism. “In talking to friends to gather this list, we also wanted to emphasize that as white people, you do anti-racism work by DOING IT — don’t get stuck in the learning phase — you MUST take action,” explains Elisabeth Epps, the Pretrial Justice Organizer for ACLU of Colorado (https://aclu-co.org/). “Support black-owned businesses (https://303magazine.com/2020/06/black-owned-businesses-denver/), talk to other white people about racism, raise kids who ‘see color’ and understand the true history of our country, find out what communities of color WANT you to do and do it without needing to get accolades for it. Learn to decenter yourself. Stop calling the cops on people of color, advocate for criminal justice reform. Find a lane and learn and listen and then do the work, because that’s what it is, and it is ours to do.” What Is Anti-Racism? Anti-racism is the ongoing, everyday process of listening, learning and practicing allyship. According to the Anti-racism Digital Library (https://sacred.omeka.net/), “Anti-racism can be defined as some form of focused and sustained action, which includes inter-cultural, inter-faith, multi-lingual and inter-abled (i.e. differently-abled) communities with the intent to change a system or institutional policy, practice, or procedure which has racist effects.” According to Kendi, an anti-racist is one who is supporting an anti-racist policy through their actions or expressing an anti-racist idea. Racial inequality is perpetuated by racist policies. These racist policies are held up by those who believe racial inequality is based on inferior black culture and the fictional biological differences between races. Anti-racism means to consistently identify these ideas and policies, describe them and then deconstruct them through education and persistent discussion. No one is born racist, but racist practices are something we are all born into. Being anti-racist comes from the uncompromising decision to make nondiscriminatory choices, and challenging others who choose to make discriminatory choices. Anti-racism also petitions reflection into our own biases and the continual consideration of why anti-racism is important. We all must understand that racism happens overtly and covertly, and not always with film evidence. “If those that fill the positions in law enforcement, the judicial system, HR departments, and other positions of power treated everyone they encounter with the humanity that they themselves wish to be treated with, we can eliminate many of the inequalities,” explains Denver artist Thomas “Detour” Evans. How to be an Anti-Racist in Denver Tay Anderson. Photo by Brittany Werges. Join the Demonstration Keep the peace and follow organizers – “It’s about how to be a better ally,” says Tay Anderson, (https://www.tayanderson.org/meet-tay)the at-large director on the Denver School Board, of folks showing up to aid in Denver protests. “Allies need to listen to impacted folks when organizers are asking you to remain peaceful instead of escalating into riots. If you are here for the sole purpose of rioting and destroying our city, don’t do it in the name of Black Lives Matter. Follow what black leaders are doing. If you see a bunch of white folks spray-painting Black Lives Matter on a building and you don’t see any black folks or clear direction from an organization to destroy the city in the name of black people, then you probably shouldn’t do it.” Be careful and protect identities from photos of protests – Many have faced discrimination in our county after their photos were published. ACLU Mobile Justice Recording App – Mobile Justice Colorado (https://aclu-co.org/know-your-rights/mobilejustice/? fbclid=IwAR3zbzkWf0d9FJz4tCfmHkGpkGPgrOYCKD74GFbD6yaG2Vf9Hrek7GZ4f1U) is an app that allows protesters to record police in audio and video files that are automatically emailed to the ACLU of Colorado untampered. How to respond (https://soletstalkabout.com/2020/05/28/how-to-respond-to-riots-never-solve-anything/) to “riots never solve anything” – The United States was built on riots and demand to be heard. Property damage never outweighs human life. Health is key – Anderson is encouraging people to show up to protests but also wants people to give it five days and then go get tested for free (https://303magazine.com/2020/05/free-coronavirus-test-drive-up-denver/) at The Pepsi Center for COVID. “Since we are still living in a Pandemic, I want people to know their health is a priority.” Use Physical and Online Resources It is our individual responsibility to educate ourselves and there are unlimited amounts of resources from willing minds to explain what is needed from allies. Denver Resources Regan Byrd Consulting (https://www.reganbyrdconsulting.com/) is a Denver consulting agency run by Regan Byrd offering training for organizations, businesses, community groups, and other entities. Either focused on general anti-oppression/diversity/equity/inclusivity theory and practice or specifically tailored to dive deeper into community- specific issues through the lens of anti-oppression, Byrd is an integral asset to Denver anti-racism. The Equity Project (https://theequityprojectllc.com/index.php/nita-mosby-tyler-diversity-inclusivity-consultant-denver/) is a company with the sole objective to explain the differences between equity and equality and inclusion and diversity to deliver equitable services to all. They work with our government, nonprofits and businesses to help them explore equity in effective ways. SURJ (https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/) stands for Show Up For Racial Justice and the Denver (https://www.facebook.com/SURJDenver/) and Boulder (https://www.facebook.com/SURJBoulder/) chapters work to fight white supremacy and help others get involved. The organization is dedicated to providing inclusive resources to Colorado, including this document that outlines the best way to protesting as a white accomplice (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX- 1vQggusf9oA1Q37m5ROhTi8DDzHoy94nB9g9hh7fhPtrwUkG09OcMuin3RBdkH0wE3Q3qNxS7Lh3UxSr/pub? fbclid=IwAR1KFgmjwtCU4wp4YoHLGsI6sgCcTFosbA4gqjNTPtwbB6bty6FUbfe7EAM)in Denver. Creative Strategies For Change (https://creativestrategiesforchange.com/?fbclid=IwAR1oroEa3LJNnTmUbyV5Xto4wpZWcjOtZZp4PiAeBORIDyLwolxF8BuX6LU) focuses on racial justice by mobilizing art and education. The group offers consulting, development workshops youth programs and more. While the nonprofit is based in Denver, they travel to bring these same measures across the globe. Additional national resources include Anti-racism Center, (https://antiracismcenter.com/) NAACP (https://www.naacp.org/), Color of Change, (https://colorofchange.org/)Black Lives Matter, (https://blacklivesmatter.com/)National Lawyers Guild. (https://www.nlg.org/) Online Resources A Resource Guide for Anti-Racism (http://theglitterguide.com/2020/05/30/resource-guide-for-anti-racism-being-an-educated-ally-for-poc/) For Our White Friends Trying to be Allies (https://sojo.net/articles/our-white-friends-desiring-be-allies) How to Support the Struggle with Police Brutality (https://www.thecut.com/2020/05/george-floyd-protests-how-to-help-where-to-donate.html) Anti-Racism Resources (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/preview? fbclid=IwAR3A19IfCFqAEaGqQ0iBp2a5a_pNVpi3W3hhiIiX18EfcF0x2UwqNKkNCu4&pru=AAABcpHIeLU*jG0MDqz7MVs4lgUWlxZsmQ) 75 Things White People Can do for Racial Justice (https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234) Support Black-Owned Businesses Smith + Canon. Photo by Amanda Piela. The Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce (https://www.coloradoblackchamber.org/) is a great resource for the education and encouragement of Colorado’s history of black-
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