Loves,

I’ve been thinking of how/what to share about this for a long while, rolling formats and ideas and words around in my head again and again to see what was right to share.

I’ve been in active research mode for over 18 months, and have been so reticent to speak because I don’t know shit, and didn’t want to create harm by misspeaking. Until I got that not speaking was harmful as well.

So I still don’t know shit, but I’m learning everyday, and the least I can do is point you to people who DO KNOW and can teach about this.

Which is a long ass intro to saying:

I think it’s important for us all to look at the way we may be contributing to racism and cultural appropriation, especially if we identify as white, liberal hippies.

Which can feel really shocking… we are definitely the least likely to even consider we are. Cue: “But! I’m the least racist person on earth!”

I definitely felt kicked on my ass when I first realised I didn’t have a fucking clue about racism. I had to reconsider my own identity: I thought as a leftie highly educated hippy who didn’t identify as racist, I was immune to engaging in racism. I thought by studying Australian indigenous history and issues in university and adoring learning from spiritual traditions from around the world, I was immune. I thought by being an active and passionate philanthropist, I was immune.

Spoiler alert: I wasn’t. And by being oblivious to racism, I was engaging in it.

I totally don’t feel like I’ve dealt with it well publicly before. I’m so sorry. I wish I knew more, sooner. I wish I’d understood more, sooner.

I know this is something I’ll be learning about for the rest of my life. I’ll never master it.

But I’m grateful for all the people who are teaching about this, and all the lessons and wisdom I have learned from them.

And I’d love to point you in their direction to learn from.

Recommended Anti-Racism Books:

• White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about race – Robin DiAngelo (I want to acknowledge that this book is problematic in some ways, however I wanted to include it in this list because I think it is useful as a beginner book that pulls apart white resistance to learning more)
• So You Want To Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
• Good Talk – Mira Jacob (graphic novel)
• I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – Austin Channing Brown
• White Spaces Missing Faces: Why Women of Colour Don’t Trust White Women – Catrice Jackson
• Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge (UK based)
• This Will Be My Undoing – Morgan Jenkins
• Heavy – Kiese Laymon
• Your Black Friend – Ben Passmore (graphic novel)
• You Can’t Touch My Hair + Other Things I Still Have To Explain – Phoebe Robinson
• Hard Conversations Book Club

Anti-Racism Books by Australian authors

• Talking To My Country – Stan Grant
• Dark Emu & Young Dark Emu – Bruce Pascoe
• White Tears, Brown Scars – Ruby Hamad
• My Place – Sally Morgan

Courses & Webinars

• Small Business Town Hall Meeting
• Unpacking White Feminism lecture – Rachel Cargle
• Racial & Social Justice 101 & 202 webinars – Ericka Hart
• Introduction to Culturally Inclusive Language (Australian Indigenous) – Louise O’Reilly
• Whiteness At Work webinar series – Desiree Adaway & Ericka Hines
• Hard Conversations – Victor Lee Lewis & Patti Digh

Online Resources + Educators:

Important Note: It is important to not just expect an education on racism free from BIPOC. If you’re not buying their books, consider purchasing their programs or supporting them on Patreon. 

• Native Lands map
• Anti-Racism Resources For White People In Australia
• List of Resources for white people growing equity literacy and justice consciousnesses towards solidarity
• Desiree Adaway
• L’Erin Alta
• Leesa Renee Hall
• Rachel Cargle
• Rachel Ricketts
• Louise O’Reilly (Australian-based)
• Natarsha Bamblett (Australian-based)
• Annie Gichuru (Australian-based)
• Glennon Doyle (shares her experience of becoming “racially sober”)

I’ll update this with more courses, resources + books as I discover them.

I’ll be learning right along with you.

Love,

Last updated to add more resources: May 2024