73. There Is No Anti-Racism Fast Track + How To Check Yourself
Summary
In a year where everything has seemed hard, we’re all looking for wins. For those of us who have dedicated ourselves to anti-racism work it’s easy to think we’ve done enough — we’re changed.
In this episode, Erica Courdae shares how long you can expect your anti-racism journey to take and things that are likely to come up along the way.
Quoted
“This year is not about easy. It’s about awareness and upheaval.” - Erica Courdae
“This is a journey, not a sprint.” - Erica Courdae
“Anti-racism is about the betterment of our world as a whole; it’s not about you.” - Erica Courdae
“Anti-racism work can be lonely but you don’t have to do it alone.” - Erica Courdae
After the Episode
Apply to the Pause On the Play: The Community
Episode Notes
IT’S NOT A SPRINT
Maybe you’ve gone through anti-racist trainings, attended workshops or courses, or read books on anti-racism. You know this work isn’t easy. But in 2020 not a lot is easy.
Erica opens by admitting that sometimes what I say is not for listeners directly to learn, but rather to equip you as the messenger.
Recently she’s heard (or seen actions that point this the words):
I read this book so now I’m good.
I’ve taken in all this information in a few months and I’m good.
Erica candidly points out that you are reprogramming your life. You are reconstructing your entire way of processing what you see, think, and feel. And that takes time.
She says you can’t expect that a few months of work will make you fully anti-racist.
You can’t assume that 6 months of showing up and being present is going to make every Black person welcome you with open arms.
And with this hard truths she also says that you’re going to get it wrong. We all do at some point. But that’s not a reason for you to give up.
People have a hard time being imperfect, she says. When we have a misstep it brings up things like - “I thought I was past this” or “I thought I was better than this.”
But when you have people that were generationally conditioned not to trust you because it was not advantageous to do so, you showing up with the best of intentions isn’t going to make that happen. And that’s not about you personally, so don’t point to this as a reason to stop.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE
We must be patient.
Because in reality, Erica says, being an anti-racist isn’t about what you’re doing.
If everything starts with “I thought…” “I thought this was helpful…” “I am really…” you’re getting it wrong.
If you’re doing DEI work for you, you’re in it for the wrong reason.
Some of us will be able to stand in our power for the long-haul. Some of us will need to tap in and tap out. Because this work is tough.
Erica says that she’s had people that have worked with her that got frustrated there weren’t “there” by 3 months. Some just weren’t ready to do the deep work to be on an anti-racist journey.
This episode isn’t about telling you where you should be. It’s to ease your expectations knowing that it’s a journey that takes time and there’s nothing that you can hop on that can make it move faster.
The Pause On The Play Community is where you can ask for help when it gets hard and you can’t see your way through or are disillusioned. Erica’s recently seen members support each other in incredible, selfless ways when RBG and Chadwick Boseman passed.
Being able to have beautiful, dynamic, open conversations allows us to co-create together. And while the POTP community is not the only place to do so, Erica would love to have you join us there.