Let's Talk About Something Uncomfortable... Race

After Alison Roman apologised to Chrissy Teigen and Marie Kondo, we took to Instagram to praise Chrissy for her graceful response. But we showed a blind spot in the process - how quick the world is to downplay the racially charged comments of white women. After an amazing listener called us out, we got her on the phone to talk through this textbook case of white feminism in action - and it came not a moment too soon. As we - and the rest of the world - felt sick to our stomachs about the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, we had already decided to try and wade into the tricky, often uncomfortable topic of race. Why are white people so unwilling to acknowledge their own inherent biases? Why do we think that racism is 'someone else's' problem? And why do we always end up relying on people of colour to explain to us how to dismantle a system that we are responsible for creating? We tackle all these questions, with varying success, in this episode - we'd love to hear your feedback. 

Thanks to Crystal Andrews for being a guest on this episode. Her first book, 'How To Win Every Argument', is available now. 

Some things everyone can do: 

- Change our consumer habits: look at how many books you own which were written by people of colour, who directed and stars in the movies you watch, the magazines you buy, the stories you’re engaging in - Look around us and notice when there’s no minority groups in the room

- Analyse the power you have at work - do you have the power to hire new staff? Is your workplace diverse? If not, why not, and is there anything you have the power to do to change it?

- Call out casual racism always

- Read about our history and follow (and engage!) with people of colour and minority groups

- Look for initiatives that relate to causes you're passionate about and dedicate resources, either money or your time.

- Sign petitions and share the news. Shaun King is great to follow and always emails too when there’s something important going on with petitions you can sign and marches you can attend

Reading/recs

Me and White Supremacy Workbook by Layla F. Saad

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

About Race podcast with Reni Eddo-Lodge

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

http://tedxbend.com/presenters/rachel-elizabeth-cargle/

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Jelani Cobb's stories for The New Yorker

Gal-Dem 

Bobo + Flex podcast 

Roxanne Gay’s books/talks/work

People to follow:

@rachel.cargle 

@mikaelaloach

@laylafsaad 

@munroebergdorf

@ajabarber

@israhirsi

@theandrehenry

@shaunking

Other recs:

Pose show

Paris is Burning documentary

WTF with Marc Maron Remembering Lynn Shelton 

Richard Jewell movie

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