As a non-American, non-Black POC living, doing research and teaching in the US I have often felt ignorant about the history behind racism in this country, and are quickly discovering that I have been blind to racist issues both here and in my own country, particularly against Black people. I don't think this is just my experience, I have spoken with many foreign scholars who have a similar experience when they move to the US. This may end in us replicating "American" racist attitudes and behaviors ourselves very quickly, even though we may knowingly experience racism ourselves. Sometimes it very literally seems like we don't know any better, which is really a very poor excuse.
We need to do better. I would like to suggest the creation of a space similar to the anti-racist White discussion group for the education of non-American POC. My idea, which is open to discussion, is for those interested to take ownership or our racial education, and get together every once in a while to discuss some of the texts and readings that have been already shared in this forum and learn together how we can contribute to our mission of becoming an anti-racist community. The group does not have to be limited to those living in the US.
If you are interested, please let me know below and we can start organizing something together.
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Manuela Jimenez
Arizona State University
Tempe AZ
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