September’s Equity Moment comes directly from and is inspired by DAY 4 of the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge: Talking About Race. “Many people think that talking about race is “taboo” or have been taught to avoid the topic all together. Others may shy away due to lack of experience or ability to articulate their feelings on the topic.” Follow us this month on social media (Facebook and Instagram) to engage the content in bite-sized pieces, then comment, share, and start the conversation within your family and friend networks.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Am I comfortable engaging in a conversation about race with those who are the same race as me? How about a conversation about race with someone who is a different race?
How often have I been in social settings where the majority of individuals have been of a different race or ethnicity?
When I hear people in my circles making biased comments, do I speak up?
Have I ever been worried about looking biased when I interact with people who are different from me?

ACTION IDEAS

Purchase a copy of Oluo’s So You Want To Talk About Race from a local and/or Black bookseller. Get a copy for a friend or your teenage child and read it together!
Have a conversation about race with children in your life. If this is uncomfortable or you’re not sure where to begin, use these tips to get started.
Think about Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racial Justice from The Opportunity Agenda.
“Commit to the discipline of being racially specific in your speech … You may not understand why this discipline is important. Do it anyway. It’s important because there is no non-racialized [person]. Committing to this practice will make you more likely to notice gaps in your awareness. You’ll be more likely to notice the racial assumptions embedded in your own claims” (from Jennifer Harvey’s For White Women Learning Calculus in a School Building on Fire).
Read Yes, You Must Talk About Race At Work: 3 Ways To Get Started and then take steps to have a conversation about race!