My Notes on "How to Be an Antiracist" a Speech by Ibram X Kendi

I've never considered myself racist, but then again, I don't think anyone does. I never thought black people were anything less than equal. At the same time, I know I've had racist thoughts born of the culture I inherited that has propagated racist ideology throughout the history of our nation. I knew I had the advantage of white male privilege. I assumed that since I wasn't taking direct racist action, I was ok. If someone asked about racism or if I heard someone being racist, I would say something; if I saw someone taking racist action, I would do something. I thought that was enough. I was wrong.

“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe.”~Elie Wiesel Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."~Maya Angelou

If you are ready to do your part to be a part of the solution, it is essential to realize change comes from within and starts in our everyday lives. To do that or any other action effectively, you need to educate yourself on the issues and recognize where you can do better. I recommended the movie 13th (link below) and still do if you haven't seen it. This past week I started the audiobook "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X Kendi. Ibram is a black man who has studied African American history for decades. Before starting the book, I listened to a speech he gave on the topic (link below). The first half of the video was his speech; the second half was a Q&A session, both of which were good. Below are some of my favorite parts of the video. In line with the quote from Elie Wiesel above, he lays out a compelling argument for inaction being support for racist society. The oppressor has the power and can continue without your direct support. The oppressed have less power and need help from those who have more power to see liberation and justice. A comforting and eye-opening part of his speech was his admission that he too was guilty of racist thought and propagating racist speech in an oratory competition when he was younger. You can be black and be guilty of racist thought, speech, and action. You can be guilty of saying or doing something racist in one moment, and then say or do something antiracist in the next. Another significant part of his message is the explanation of how other marginalized groups will benefit from antiracism. For all black lives to matter, black female lives have to matter, black disabled lives must matter, and black trans lives also matter. To be antiracist, you must oppose all forms of bigotry that impact people of all colors. The closing part of his speech lays out an essential aspect of making change. In it, he talks about how you have to believe change is possible to make it happen. Two decades of studying the shifting and ever-present racism in our society, and he still has hope. He has seen the omnipresent racist power in America, the progress we have made, and the progress we have yet to make, and believes that change is possible. I believe change is possible. I think accountability for police officers who abuse their power is one step, but it’s only the first step. To continue the journey to eliminating racial inequity, we all need to do our part. That starts with acknowledging our responsibility, educating ourselves, and taking steps in our everyday lives to be antiracist, including political action.

Resources

13th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8

Ibram X. Kendi on How to be an Antiracist, at UC Berkeley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxa43H8m034

A Social Game - Good thread from Google Plus

One of the neat features of Google Plus that users need to try out and understand is the ability to go public with a post.

At the bottom of this entry there is a fun one I took part in with Google employees as an experiment or game if you will. (This is a journey into social) I strongly encourage everyone to get a flavor for Google+ by reading the post. If you like it share as you see fit.

The crux of the situation was I was in a different thread with some of these guys and I wanted to ask a follow up question. Almost like an exercise in citizen journalism. Could one person ask for a response from a real person in a company, who wasn't even really "authorized" by his company to speak out on the manner? Could they actually get a response?

I get a sense that with Google+ you can have that personal interaction with real (or fake if thats what your looking for or suits your collaboration needs best) people, and have the benefit of that conversation being available to anyone wether they have "Friended" you or not, whether you are even logged into the platform or not.

It can be a risk to do so, but there is also great reward that can come from it as well. Some friends I've developed in my company remind me occasionally, that there is (or at least there shouldn't be in most cases) no big payoff available without at least putting a little skin in the game, you have to risk something if you want the reward.

Think big,
get social,
do commerce,
play games.

Let's see if we can find new ways to help Build a Smarter Planet along the way without even trying too hard.

If you've got ideas, but need help refining them, work with your Business Partners who you trust, and have people not afraid to dream enough to find a vision to share in hopes of solving your problems. They can help you build the vision as well as the platform.

I know it works, I've worked for a company that is a great partner to both our customers and our technology partners for years. This is how we work together with our partners to solve problems, with honesty, respect, clarity of vision, excellence in execution, and follow-up when we are done.

Because no one is perfect and we are striving to always improve our game, so that we do a better job of improving your company's game.

Travis

This is a journey into social

The video below is from a record on my 'droid right now, the opening line was the inspiration for the name on the link.



If any IBM'rs read this tell your company I say happy 100th!!!

Social Networks of the Future?

Following is a question that popped up in my stream on Google Plus that I decided to answer. Thanks to Daniel Travolto at gpeep.com for letting me into his circle and asking the question.

what do you think will happen with G+ from a macro perspective? the world will be more connected? More ideas will be put into reality and faster? More talented people will find a way to make money of their art? what else? i am curious what you think

My response to this question was in part from the brilliant people I had the opportunity to record a This Week in Lotus podcast with....
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I think a lot of hard drives will fill up with data.

I don't know if the world will get more connected per say. In meat space we already all subscribe to a mass transit system that's got us in a pretty comfy spot in our galaxy, this connects us in a fundamental way that should never be forgotten.

I do think however the connections will get stronger and richer and more serendipitous if you will. We will be able to bring enough of our identity into a network so when a new connection is made it can grow quickly and without a lot of effort.

Now after saying nothing much in two paragraphs, I'll jump the shark and offer this meme to society in the hopes it catches fire, before others to start a fire to ignite social change, thank you Mohammed. I haven’t had time to read his story yet, but the general story and his name I have heard.

One could hope new richer conversations could take place and bubble up through the collective consciousness to transform society as a whole. Imagine the effect twitter and Facebook have had in the Arab Spring.

The internet's ability to carry the news of political turmoil in WI to Egypt, and despite the Egyptians struggle with more fundamental government issues than us, some people there bought pizza for protesters in Madison WI.

If the tools already built can help spark something like the Arab Spring, imagine our tools are where they could be two years from now. What could that level of technical advancement in society have done to facilitate not just the uprising, but the aftermath. The nation building, I hear that stuff is expensive if we try to do it for them.

Now flip that over to the USA, where our starting point isn't so bad. Our political body and physical society is fractured and operating under rules that are not exactly purpose built for this day and age. We don't need a revolution, we just need an honest debate.

Then the people who are struggling to come together to design new governments for the nations that did revolt, could follow our example and use the new tools to facilitate the new governmental structures they need to build.

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Is it time to get social and collaborate?

Can we build a smarter planet with our clouds and social networks?

I think the answer to both of these questions is yes.

Link: gpeep