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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

Example

The Racial Justice Committee of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of
Nevada (PLAN) organized a series of Dismantling Racism workshops for their
members and partially open to the public. PLAN used those workshops to
identify people with a strong race analysis as well as energy and desire to
put their analysis into action. The workshops became a tool for identifying
leadership that strengthened their Racial Justice Committee.

3. Blunt actual and potential racist wedge issues. Right-wing political
strategists and mainstream politicians increasingly use racial issues as wedges to

enhance their voting power among constituencies fearful of change, or, in some
cases, to further a blatant white supremacist agenda. The repeal of affirmative
action in Washington State and the institution of “English-only” laws in Utah and
Alaska are recent examples. While resisted by communities of color, proponents
had fairly easy work in mobilizing support of the white electoral supermajority in
these states.

Dismantling Racism work can direct predominantly white organizations to take a
stand and work as allies in defeating racist attacks at the ballot box.
Progressive organizations can use Dismantling Racism to guard against division in
their membership as they oppose these racist initiatives.
Dismantling Racism education can also prevent divisions when the opposition
uses racist wedge strategies to defeat a progressive campaign.

Dismantling Racism Project 77 Western States Center