Antiracism as Daily Practice: Changing White Communities One Step at a Time

White Americans can grow racial justice through everyday behaviors. And it’s especially vital we engage with our families, through our social networks, in our neighborhoods, and at our jobs to make antiracism a daily living commitment. Meanwhile, these are some of the hardest places to do so. We have real power in our relationships with other white folks—and not enough of us have used it.

In this presentation we’ll talk about why white people struggle with the “what to do?” about racism and explore the significance of grief and anger, and the harmful role of shame. We’ll identify concrete practices that can transform our communities to become the partners in justice Black communities and other communities of color need and deserve. Such transformation isn’t only vital to the well-being of U.S. democracy, its vital to the freedom and wholeness of white people too.

Everyone is affected by how white people show up in the work of racial justice. So, this is a conversation for all of us.

Raising Anti-Racist White Kids: A Conversation for All of Us

Difficult conundrums exist when it comes to raising white children in a society that is racially diverse, but full of racial inequity and injustice. Should we teach white kids to be “colorblind”? Or, should we teach them to notice race? And if so, how? What roles do we want them to play in addressing racism when they encounter it? How do we do that?

In this presentation, we’ll talk about the challenges of nurturing anti-racist white identity and identify race- and justice-conscious strategies for doing so. Of course, everyone is affected by the way white youth are being raised in the U.S. So, whether you’ve been a white kid, are helping raise white kids, have relationships with people who used to be white kids, or have children who are friends with white kids—this conversation is for all of us.

Being an Ally with Purpose: The Power of the Employee

How do we grow white participation in cultivating an environment of racial inclusion, and genuine ally-ship and camaraderie between white employees and employees of color?

The ways many white people have been socialized create challenges when we’re invited or challenged to grow inclusion and racial equity in the workplace. For example, many of us think we should be “colorblind” or that “valuing diversity” is enough. Through understanding how the messages so many of us received undermine our abilities to be good allies, this can help white people grow capacity to do our part to make inclusion and equity more reality than rhetoric. We don’t have to feel guilty that we don’t know what we weren’t taught, but we do need to decide to learn it. Even better? We can.

White Socialization and the Challenge of Anti-Racism

Powerful multi-generational patterns of white socialization shape the lives of white Americans. These patterns show up in every aspect of U.S. social life, including our professional networks where they impact all of us: white people, people of color who work with them/us, practitioners, clients and more. In this presentation Dr. Harvey brings insights from her research to help us identify shared tools and practices that can grow our collective capacity to create cultures of anti-racism and true equity in our public roles and professional environments.

Best Practices and Inspiring Action: Building Alliances Across Identity so We Can Celebrate Success! (A seminar for identity-based Employee Resource Groups)

Our desire to build alliances across differences is often stronger than the tools we have for making it happen. This is especially true when it comes to racial difference. But we don’t have to stay stuck. Learning more about how race has socialized white people, can help all of us together build better tools to construct stronger multi-racial connections and supportive relationships across our diverse and beautifully varied identities.

**All of us have experience with and are affected by whiteness and by how white people show up when it comes to equity, inclusion and antiracism. So Dr. Harvey’s presentations and the conversations they invite are for all of us.

Jennifer Harvey, Ijeoma Oluo & Beverly Daniel Tatum: “Raising Kids in White Supremacist America” – 2018 Decatur Book Festival from Candler School of Theology on Vimeo.

Jennifer Harvey on NPR’s It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders.

“E1: Amplify Live: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity”

Raising White Kids – Interview with author Jennifer Harvey – Parenting Forward.

“The Integrated Schools Podcast S5E13 – Raising White Kids with Jennifer Harvey”

Praise for Antiracism as Daily Practice

“The author’s vulnerability and passion combine to create a narratorial voice that is nurturing and inspiring….A thoughtful and comprehensive guide for white people truly seeking to practice antiracism.”

“An essential book of practical wisdom…. If you’re white and have been asking, ‘What can I do now?’ this lively and timely book is for you.”

“Jennifer Harvey has exactly the qualities necessary to help white people like me to do the inner work we need to do so we can show up constructively in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and genuine neighbor-love…. She brings deep learning and experience to her writing [and] believes what sometimes feels beyond belief: that white people really can change. Please: read this book and invite some white friends to read it with you.”

“What a gift to the world…a timely resource for white persons engaged in the difficult but necessary work of truth-telling, accountability, and repentance.”

“This story-packed treasure paints a vivid picture of what white antiracism looks like beyond protest signs and book clubs. White individuals and institutions, this book guides us towards the micro strategies we need to choose justice over comfort, again and again, in ways that build relationships, sustain us, and finally equip us to break from our white lineage of antiracist inertia.”

“Courageous, powerful and true, the prophetic wisdom of Dr. Jennifer Harvey strikes truth into the heart. Antiracism as Daily Practice calls us deeper into the joy of justice even as we face the hard tasks of loving ourselves and transforming our communities…. For all those seeking soul-nourishing strength to do justice daily this book is a must read!”