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Ibram X. Kendi Explains What It Means to Be Anti-Racist
Riley von Niessen — June 29, 2020 — Keynote Trends
References: youtube
TED facilitated a conversation with Ibram X. Kendi, with the author and historian speaking to the difference between being "not racist" and anti-racist.
The conversation, which spans almost an hour in length, shows Kendi consider a variety of examples that speak to the stark differences that can be noted between the two. One example Kendi brings up is the case of Amy Cooper, otherwise known as Central Park Karen, who called the police on a man for asking her to leash her dog in the New York park while he was birdwatching. After facing repercussions for her actions, Cooper went on to claim that she regretted her decision but was not racist. Kendi highlights this pattern in further examples, and shows the importance of taking accountability for racist acts, rather than denying them entirely.
As Kendi states, "The heartbeat of racism is denial and the heartbeat of anti-racism is confession, and the recognition that to grow up in this society is to literally internalize ideas that are racist."
Image Credit: TED/YouTube
The conversation, which spans almost an hour in length, shows Kendi consider a variety of examples that speak to the stark differences that can be noted between the two. One example Kendi brings up is the case of Amy Cooper, otherwise known as Central Park Karen, who called the police on a man for asking her to leash her dog in the New York park while he was birdwatching. After facing repercussions for her actions, Cooper went on to claim that she regretted her decision but was not racist. Kendi highlights this pattern in further examples, and shows the importance of taking accountability for racist acts, rather than denying them entirely.
As Kendi states, "The heartbeat of racism is denial and the heartbeat of anti-racism is confession, and the recognition that to grow up in this society is to literally internalize ideas that are racist."
Image Credit: TED/YouTube
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