Antiracism work

Antiracism as it stands today

I have found antiracism work personally and professionally rewarding. Growing up in the American South, I have always been troubled by racial inequality. I will admit I did not always know how to stand up for humanity nor did I always have the will to do so. I am able to say I am a work in progress as I identify as an ally to so many things. However, labels come cheap. Anyone in America can wake up and say, "Hey, I'm an actor." Few of them can be successful at it from the get go. It takes practice. It is a practice. It takes learning. It takes listening. It takes courage. It take the courage to fail. It takes grit. It requires collaboration more so than confrontation. It takes community. It takes will. It takes working through the uncomfortable and getting to the better side of it. Antiracism work is also a practice. I find myself truly beginning that practice. I have been in community with others who are also beginning that practice as well as those who have mastered the practice of being ambassadors to the community. My goal, right now, is to grow, and learn, and understand, as one of my trainers, Nicole Brewer stated, we are all works in progress. I believe I can have agency in the progress of making America more antiracist and less the status quo. 

Below I am sharing resources that have found useful. There are thousands, if not millions, of resources on antiracism. Should you want to begin the journey, or if you are already a practicing antiracist, I hope you find these resources helpful. 

Books and where to start:
(I have chosen a Black Owned Bookstore in DC in the links below. Clicking on the links will take you to their online store.)

Digital resources

PODCASTS:
  • NICE WHITE PARENTS (originally produced by This American Life, all FIVE episodes available now)
  • CODE SWITCH (A weekly podcast produced by NPR. The journalist dive right into race from so so so many angles.)
  • LOUDER THAN A RIOT (A weekly deep dive into race exploring the intersectionality of hip-hop and mass incarceration in America. Like, Code Switch, it is entertaining as well as a gut punch of reality. The first three episodes on Mac Phipps is journalism at it's best.)
  • more coming...
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Important people to my journey

  • I studied with DR. MONEA  (pronounced mo-NAY) in a community of theatre artists, at Irondale Ensemble Project. I will not only highly recommend her, I will strive to study with her again myself. Her approach to antiracism is authentic, open, kind, with deep mindfulness to individuals as well as the group. She is truth and she is good. Check her school out: AUTHENTIC ANTIRACISM. Although I worked with Dr. Monea with a theatre company, she works with many types of organizations and corporations.
  • I can specifically recommend Nicole Brewer and her ANTIRACISM THEATRE , aka ART, for theatre artists. Nicole is keen on sharing her knowledge and wisdom, as well as training theatre artists of all races and genders on how race is a part of what she calls the Industrial Theatre Complex. She is a leader in dismantling the old systems, while being open and honest with the participants in her training. 
  • There are many organizations also offering workshops and trainings. The way I got started was through the Unitarian Universalist Association. Here are some of their offerings which are powerful in their own right:
    • SOCIAL JUSTICE EMPOWERMENT WORKSOP. (click on the free .pdf as a resource)
    • EXAMINING WHITENESS (if you are white, and you are not yet ready to study with a group, this could be for you. It's a curriculum designed by Rev. Dr. William Gardner to guide one through the examination or, erghm, whiteness. This debunks a lot of white beliefs, inspires, and challenges.  Think about asking a friend or family member to join you on this journey. There is a different curriculum for trained facilitators. Find your local UUA congregation to see when they offer a workshop near you.)

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Joey Collins, SAG-AFTRA, ACTOR'S EQUITY. BRET ADAMS LTD AGENCY.