The Why

Racism in the United States does not disappear, it adapts. Racism today looks different than it did 40 years ago, and even more from 150 years ago but it is still here and it is important to continue labeling it as such. The purpose of this website is to inform and educate. Over 50 different sources have gone into this site in hopes to help those that are looking to begin or continue anti-racist work. Because this work cannot be done alone, I plan on tapping on numerous individuals in my circle that may carry different viewpoints and experiences than my own on any given subject to begin a conversation. My hope is that any reader can closely identify with some while continue to challenge themselves as they read the viewpoints of others.

Social media plays a subversive role in perpetuating racism. Because it does not take anything to post misinformation, stereotypes and biases can be immediately reinforced without any need for critical analysis over who may be affected by another’s actions. Social media can exploit a person’s basic level desire of feeling like they belong. The “like” system can mistake approval of ideas as fact. As a result, the more popular a person, the more “right” they are on any given subject. This is an especially dangerous slope when it concerns Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) topics. This site primary responsibility is to mitigate social media’s participation in perpetuating racism and prejudiced ideas by introducing education as means to circumvent ignorance.

The Work will largely focus on the United States and its reckoning with racism in its history. Hopefully, the data gathered on this site can be extrapolated for other communities outside of the US that are faced with some of the same inequities when it comes to DEI work. Baldwin says, “Not everything faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” My hope is that we can approach racism and prejudice with an educated understanding as a means to face it.

-Derek