Anti-racism

Anti-racist work is a continuous, active and conscious activity that aims to oppose all forms of racism. Racism means creating inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on skin color or origin. Racism is part of the structures of the society. Forms of racism include microaggression, colorblindness or, on the other hand, not giving the attention to the history or presence of structural racism. Understanding how whiteness permeates society and how exclusionary it can be is an important step in the process of dismantling racism. Therefore, one must learn to recognize one’s unconscious biases as a means to break the norms of whiteness. Anti-racist practice is a means to promote equality, inclusion and equality.

Implementing anti-racist practices takes time and hard work. It requires constant dialoguing, transparency between parties, receival of and giving feedback. Based on that, we can begin to change our own actions, reflect and re-learn so that we can build a fairer and more equitable society together. For anti-racist work to be effective and strengthened, accountability is a crucial element in maintaining best practices. In that sense, it is important to implement for example, an equality plan and safer space guidelines within an organization's operations and working team. Anti-racism work is a collective job where everyone must be involved.

The Culture for All Service trains arts and cultural organizations in anti-racist practices in cooperation with Diversity Agents. If you would like more support on how to develop and strengthen your anti-racist practices, please reach out to us: contact details.

Resources regarding anti-racism

All of the links will take you to another website.

Information gathered by Non-Discrimination Ombudsman:

Online course on anti-racism for professionals (you will go to THL.fi)

Structural racism explained by Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California, Berkeley:

Sources to support anti-racist activities

Kiia Beilinson and Miia Laine have compiled a list, in which the purpose is to site sources mainly in Finnish and suitable for the Finnish context to support self-learning of anti-racist activities and as a tool, especially for white Finns. Anti-racism is an active practice that seeks to reduce and combat racism in society and in the world. The list was published in 2020.

Sources to support anti-racist activities (in Finnish, Google document)

Anti-rascism resources in English (Google Document)

compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020.

Terms & Concepts:

Fem-R has put together a glossary of words and concepts related to feminism and anti-racism. The glossary is intended to serve as a source of feminist discussion for those unfamiliar with the terms in practice. This page is published in Finnish. Fem-R: Sanasto

Equality.fi is a data base maintained by the Ministry of Justice and it contains information and tools for persons and organisations interested in promotion of equality and non-discrimination. Equality.fi: Glossary

Anti-racist initiatives:

Are you doing an anti-racist project? Ruskeat Tytöt (Brown Girls) have compiled a list of 14 points to consider before you start (in Finnish)

“To address these challenges and tackle the continual lack of action that follows the repeated condemnation of racism, a coalition of football industry leaders has teamed up with Common Goal to launch the Anti-Racist Project (ARP).” Common Goal: Anti-Racist Project

Examples of anti-racism in action:

Readings:

The publication “Blackness & Postmodern” approaches the friction between Blackness and postmodern contemporaneity. The writers come from different backgrounds and localities; they are artists, curators, researchers, performers, activists and much more. Published by UrbanApa in 2018. Blackness & Postmodern

Kendi, Ibram X. How to Be an Antiracist. New York, NY: One World, 2019.

Sue, D. W. Race talk and the conspiracy of silence: Understanding and facilitating difficult dialogues on race. John Wiley & Sons Inc. 2015