December, 2020
“I do think that some of us began to realize that this was going to be a long struggle that was going to go on for decades, and you'd have to knuckle down. A lot of people in our generation did that. They didn't drop out and run away” - Julian Bond
Day One
Definitions & General Concepts

Today, we will define race as a concept. However, before sharing this definition we ask that you reflect on your personal understanding of race by answering following questions:

  • What is race to you?
  • Is race science based, or a social construct?
  • How does your race impact you on a day to day basis?
  • Are there any unique events that have occurred exclusively because of your race?

After reflecting on the questions above, feel free to utilize the resources below (and the Reflection Log) to learn more about racial equity and the role that it can play in the lives of not only yourself, but your peers and coworkers as well.

Share the Challenge with Others

Share on social media by downloading this Facebook Square to post along with the link https://bit.ly/UWPCEquityChallenge.
READ
Read this article on how race is not a proven concept, but instead a social construct.

Read this article to get a better understand on how to develop effective relationships.

What is Racial Equity (2 Minute Read)
Read the article below that describes what racial equity is.

How White People Got Made (2 Minute Read)
There’s a perception that whiteness is working for white people. It’s not. Whiteness is one of the biggest and most long-running scams ever perpetrated.
LISTEN
Listen to and follow NPR's "Code Switch" Podcast on Spotify.

Our recommended selection for today from "UWPC's Soundtrack 4 Justice" playlist
"It's OK To Be Black" by Jac Ross (2:41)
WATCH
Watch this video to see an alternative way of looking at racial identity based on varying cultures.

A Conversation on Race (Videos range from 5-7 Minutes)
Available here is a video series depicting experiences surrounding race for people of multiple different backgrounds. We would recommend integrating these videos throughout the challenge to expose yourself to a variety of perspectives surrounding racial identities.

Race: The Power of an Illusion (three 1-hr episodes)
Three-part, three-hour film by California Newsreel exploring the biology of skin color, the concept of assimilation, and the history of institutional racism.
NOTICE
Go out into the world and change up what you notice!

Once people start to learn about white privilege and America’s systems of oppression through history, they often ask, “Why didn’t I see this sooner?” It’s easy to overlook what we’re not looking for. Once you understand the phenomenon of selective noticing, take yourself on a noticing adventure.

Who is and is not represented in advertisements?

CONNECT
Who's in your feed?
Follow Racial Justice activists, educators, organizations, and movements on social media. Consider connecting with any of the people/organizations you learn about in the daily resources. We'll provide some suggestions to widen the circle of who you follow.
PUT IT TO USE!
Engage - Enter this process with the intent to learn and bridge knowledge gaps.

Act - Don't be silent about that racist joke. Silence implies support. Prepare yourself to interrupt racial jokes. Click HERE for some advice about how.

Reflect - Assume racism is everywhere, every day.
Just as economics influences everything we do, just as gender and gender politics influence everything we do, assume that racism is affecting your daily life. We have to learn to see the effect that racism has. Notice who speaks, what is said, how things are done and described. Notice code words for race and the implications of policies, patterns and comments that are being expressed.

Visit the Equity Challenge Community Page to revisit content, listen to the "Soundtrack 4 Justice" playlist and more!