Confronting Racism
Above: artist Kay Onye works on a mural of combined works by Adam Serrano, Keisha Finnie, Kearasten Jordan, and other community activists. Photo by Michelle Johnsen Photography
As our nation continues to grapple with pain and uncertainty, we believe some essential truths remain for Lancaster County:
Our community is only strong when every voice is heard. Our community is only safe when every resident can live and dream fearlessly. Our community is only extraordinary when every family, neighbor, and friend is respected.
At the Community Foundation we recognize that we have a lot to learn. And we know that we all have work to do: as an organization, as a community, and as a country. We know that condemning racism and violence is only a first, small step, and the most important steps we take are the ones that come after, and while we’re still on our journey of learning, we know that we can’t do it alone.
We are holding space and solidarity with the Black community, indigenous community, and other communities of color across Lancaster County for the anger, hurt, and grief caused by generations of racist violence and policies.
We are holding space and solidarity with the countless individuals across Lancaster County who want to see our community become more just and equitable. We are prepared for the long journey of learning, listening, and acting together with our community.
Where we go from here
The Community Foundation as well as other organizations, businesses, and individuals throughout Lancaster County and the country have much to learn and unlearn about the ways racism has shaped our world, and the community we serve.
And while there is no one set path, there are many ways forward. And though we have far to go, we can go.
The Community Foundation team has begun collecting resources that various members of our team have found useful in helping to shape and reshape our race consciousness, both in personal terms, as well as at an organizational level. It is by no means a complete list, nor is it intended to be. We understand that we are only at the beginning of our journey to understand our role in perpetuating systems of oppression, as well as our ability to dismantle them. We offer these resources that have been helpful to different members of our team in the hopes that they may also be useful to you.
For people
In order to work towards change on an institutional level, the journey must begin with the individual. Each organization, business, or society is a reflection of the individuals that make it up. Here are some resources that might be helpful to begin exploring antiracism at the individual level:
“Racism-101”, Showing Up for Racial Justice
“Call It What It Is: Anti-Blackness”, The New York Times
“The Hopefulness and Helplessness of 1619”, The Atlantic
“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, The National SEED Project
“The Heartbeat of Racism is Denial”, The New York Times
“The Color of Wealth”, McKinsey & Company
“Mass Decarceration, COVID-19, and Justice in America”, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Resources for White Allies, The Dismantle Collective
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“The Unequal Opportunity Race”, Erica Pinto
“The Difference Between being ‘Not Racist’ and Antiracist”, Ibram X. Kendi
On “Decolonizing Wealth”, Edgar Villanueva
“1619“, podcast from The New York Times
“A Moment of Reckoning,” Vanita Gupta
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“How to be an Antiracist“, Ibram X. Kendi
“The New Jim Crowe“, Michelle Alexander
“Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City“, Matthew Desmond
“Breathe“, Imani Perry
“The Half has Never Been Told“, Edward E. Baptist
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For Organizations
Antiracism is about more than just individual growth: it has to permeate into the work that we do, because together, we can build power, amplify voices, and make substantive change. Here are some resources to begin exploring antiracism at the organizational level:
Advancing the Mission: Tools for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Seeing and Naming Racism in Nonprofit and Public Organizations, Laurin Mayeno
Diversity Equity and Inclusion series, Nonprofit Quarterly
Challenging White Dominant Culture: Time to Look in the Mirror, Lupe Poblano
Racial Equity Impact Assessment Tool, RaceForward
Getting Equity Advocacy Results (GEAR) Tool from PolicyLink
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The Danger of a Single Story, Chimamanda Adichie
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race, Jay Smooth
Radical Imagination, podcast from PolicyLink
Moving the Race Conversation Forward, RaceForward
Equity is the Superior Growth Model, PolicyLink
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Emergent Strategy, Adrienne Maree Brown
Winners Take All, Anand Giridharadas
Decolonizing Wealth, Edgar Villaneuva
Privilege, Power, and Difference, Allan G. Johnson
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For Community
Understanding the largescale impact of racist policies on our country can often feel overwhelming; it’s important to always find ways to be reminded that these are issues that impact you, your neighbors, your friends, and your coworkers. Join us in learning more about the history of those policies at a local level, as well as the proud history that has emerged from resistance to them; it is work that continues to this day.
only the beginning
It’s important to remember that antiracism is a rich tapestry of ideas and intersections. Within antiracism must be a commitment to fighting discrimination and discriminatory policies of all kinds: sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, anti-semitism, environmental justice, and more. While the above resources are primarily focused on confronting the history of racism and racist policies with regards to the Black and Brown communities, the recognize the work of combating those policies must center the voices that can speak to these intersections, or it will not truly be equitable. We are learning as we go and hope you will join us.
