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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

Assumptions

Western State Winter 2001
Growing up in the USA, we have absorbed considerable misinformation,
specifically negative information, about people who are ‘different’ from us and
our families. Because racism, sexism, classism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia
(as well as other forms of oppression) are so widespread, we have been

imprinted with negative beliefs, prejudices, stereotypes about groups of people
we barely know. This began to happen when we were young, when we couldn’t
distinguish truth from stereotype, before we could recognize misinformation or
object. Now that we are older, we all have responsibility for looking at what we
have learned and making a commitment to dismantle oppression in our lives.

Dismantling racism, sexism, homophobia and unlearning the oppressive attitudes
we have learned is a lifelong journey. Most of us have been struggling with
these issues, some for years and years already. None of us are beginners and
none of us have perfect clarity. This work is a journey; there is no endpoint.
The greatest commitment we can make is to keep paying attention to how these
issues affect us and those around us.

Individuals and organizations can and do grow and change. But significant
change comes slowly and requires work. The changes that happen quickly are
usually cosmetic and temporary. Change on issues of justice, equity and
fairness come after resistance, denial and pain have all been worked through.
Progress on oppression and equity issues never happens when we're looking the
other way; it takes our focused attention and commitment.

We cannot dismantle racism in a society that exploits people for private profit.
If we want to dismantle racism, then we must be about building a movement for
social and economic justice and change.

While single individuals can inspire change, individuals working together as an
organized whole, in groups, communities and organizations make change happen.

Created by changework, 1705 Wallace Street, Durham NC 27707, 919-490-4448

Dismantling Racism Project 9 Western States Center