ANTIRACIST

the opposite of "RACIST" isn't  "NOT RACIST"

Ibram X. Kendi

I have been putting a mirror in front of me and trying to figure where i stand when it comes to racist people and myself.  i  picked up a few books to better myself. 

my father was in the air force so we moved around a lot. lived around different types of people.

made friends and went to school with people from all over.  we lived all over california, texas, philippines,

oregon and washington state.

then i joined the army and moved a lot again and was around and worked and lived with all types of people. i was stationed in germany and went to different countries and was stationed in south korea 

fort polk,louisiana,  fort dix,new jersey, fort jackson, south carolina, fort bliss, texas,  and was stationed as a recruiter in port arthur texas.   I always got along with everyone i have met.   we were all soldiers 

with the same ideals and always prepared for war if that was to be. you didn't care who was in the same fox hole as you for we train to watch each others back.  we were all soldiers in the u.s. army.

we trained together and we party together.  was their racism in the military  sure just like it was everywhere else in the world. when you join the military everything you were then you brought with you.  you can wish it wasn't anywhere and maybe one day it will be so until then we can continue to educate  ourselves as well as others. 

Anti-racism refers to a form of action against racial hatred, bias, systemic racism, and the oppression of marginalized groups. Anti-racism is usually structured around conscious efforts and deliberate actions to provide equitable opportunities for all people on an individual and systemic level. As a philosophy, it can be engaged with by acknowledging personal privileges, confronting acts and systems of racial discrimination, and/or working to change personal racial biases. WIKIPEDIA

I picked up several books to challenge myself and to see where i stand.

just finished the book   " HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST  BY IBRAM X. KENDI

"the only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it-and then dismantle it,"

now i had a head start and seeing what to do. to identify any racism  ideals or thought i might be carrying and then dismantle it.  and not just african americans,  could also be native americans,

asians, middle easterns and so on. 

now i picked up another book just for history was "THE BLACK HISTORY OF THE WHITE HOUSE BY CLARENCE LUSANE"  which opened my eyes that they existed through majority of our presidents.  

"CARRYING THE COLORS" BY W,ROBERT BECKMAN AND SHARON S, BOWMAN.

the life and legacy of medal of honor recipient andrew jackson smith.   

catching up with history which i was never taught in high school. its a shame that they wait until the 

last decade or less to start teaching it and writing books about it.

my opinion they are american citizens and they fought in the civil war as an american citizen. 

"coming of age in mississippi" by anne moody.

is a must read on how black americans were treated in the south in the 40's 50's and 60's.

i am reading at this moment "WHITE FRAGILITY WHY IT'S SO HARD FOR WHITE PEOPLE 

TO TALK ABOUT RACISM"  BY ROBIN DIANGELO.

has been an big eye opener for myself. 

i have also read "THE NEW JIM CROW" BY MICHELLE ALEXANDER,

mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness,

just when i thought thing might be getting a little better again i was wrong.  as my eyes are open wider 

i wonder what as 1 person  like myself can do to open others eyes.

"

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" by beverly daniel tatum,phD

the next book i will be reading is "STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING" BY IBRAM X, KENDI

the definitive history of racist ideas in america.

i have read several books over the years i usually get recommendation from people i trust

to steer me in the right way.  

in 2021 you would think that this would of been behind us. i don't know if people do not want to let go or maybe they don't know how or peer pressure.   you have to let go of the hate whether you realize it is there or not. challenge yourself  read books and you can elevate yourself give yourself marks and go from there.

there is no reason to be racist not everyone are bad just a few are and you have that in every race even in white.

i hope theses books will help me become a better person and not just say but live it as well. 

for i am ANTI RACIST