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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

4. If your organization is multi-racial with some white leadership, or primarily white, you
must prepare for the possibility of people questioning or suggesting your approach is
racist. This shouldn’t prevent you from trying to hold someone accountable, but it is
something you should account for in your tactics. Here are some examples:

• In regard to messaging that critiques the legislator or leader: Are there ways to
craft messages that suggest you hold that person accountable to similar values and
in similar ways as others?

• If your organization has had an intentional conversation about this, your
spokespeople can be prepared to take the allegation of racism head on. They could
do this, for example, with an acknowledgement that sometimes leaders of color are
unfortunately treated with a different standard, which is something your
membership has talked about. However, in this case it is simply about the issue of
….(fill in your key critiques).

5. There is also a question of who is your organizational face; who will be publicly voicing
the criticism of the leader you are holding accountable? Is it tokenistic to intentionally
want your spokesperson to be a person of color, in order to prevent suggestions that
your organization’s position is racially motivated? Does having a spokesperson of color
realistically represent your constituency? At the same time, is there is undue pressure
internally on a leader of color to play that role, even if they are uncomfortable with
that role?

6. As your campaign develops, are there opportunities to reflect on these questions
again? Do you provide opportunities for your staff, members and leaders to debrief
the racialized aspects of the campaign?

Dismantling Racism Project 116 Western States Center