Essay #2 requires that we all work from the same foundational premises (ideas we assume to be true):
- At the core of racism is self-interest, the use of false racial hierarchies to oppress others with the goal of attaining/maintaining power.
- Therefore, anti-racism implies any action taken to work against oppressive racist policies and/or practices.
- This anti-racist action can happen on an individual level and it can occur at a more communal level.
For an example of these core truths, we can look directly at Dr. Ibram X. Kendi who admits to having once held racist ideas. As we learn, he evolved his racist position through deep introspection (individual work toward anti-racism) to arrive as a powerful, vocal advocate for systemic change (community level anti-racism work).
Kendi is not alone in offering ways in which each of us can move toward a more anti-racist society. Doyle, Watts-Smith, Adichie, Barajas, Ortiz, Wilson: they all offer insights into how we each can contribute to the creation of a more just and equitable community, whether that community is found in family, schoolmates, work environment, neighborhood, or nation.
In this essay, pleaseexplainwhat you have learned antiracism to mean;analyzethe importance of creating a just and equitable society; anddetailat least one step you think should be taken to achieve that ideal society. As you build your essay, please be sure to support your ideas with evidence from course materials and your own experience.
Step 1:Your first task in preparation for Essay 2 is to choose two companion pieces from the reading we have done this unit. While you are welcome to choose from the course materials you find most relevant, you may want to select the focus of your essay from these interesting pairings:
- Kendi (Intro and/or Ch. 1) & Doyle
- Kendi (Ch. 2) & Lysicott
- Kendi (Ch. 3) & Adichie
- Kendi (Ch. 4 and/or Ch. 6) & Wilson
- Kendi (Ch. 5 and/or Ch. 7) & Vancour
- Kendi (Ch. 8) & Ortiz
- Kendi (Chs. 9 - 15) & the Soul Pancake videos (module 11.2)
Step 2:In the first part of your essay, you willexplain anti-racismby briefly summarizing and carefully analyzing the sources you choose. Similar to mapping out the conversation as you did in essay #1, you will find the common threads of topics and main ideas you see in both sources. You can do this by comparing and contrasting how your sources approach a shared theme. While the writers may have different areas of focus in their arguments, they are all engaged in an ongoing conversation about racism and anti-racism in America.
Step 3:You willexpress your viewon the value of antiracism in America. This is a thesis-driven essay, which means that your opinion on the topic must be clearly expressed in an early thesis and fully-supported throughout the rest of the essay.
Step 4:You willoffer a full descriptionof an action we can take to get closer to racial equity in America. Please recognize that this step does not require you to offer a comprehensive solution to the very complex nature of the problem of racism in America. We certainly can't expect to effectively manage that in the space of just a few pages. Instead, this step asks you to focus your attention on one action you can take, whether that be in your family, your workplace, or your community. While there are many ways to approach this section of your paper, please consider using theQuestions for Critical Thinking Chartto guide your thoughts. At the very least these are some essential elements to consider:
- who can take this action?
- where will this action take place?
- what are the hoped for results of this action?
- how long will it take to see the hoped for results from this action?
More Details:
- Your essay must be4 – 6 pages in length.
- It should be thesis-driven, well organized, and inMLA formatLinks to an external site.
.
- It should include aWorks Cited page.
- You are encouraged tofocus on two to three sources; however, you may include one other source if you would like, including a related TED Talk. (Click on “transcript” to view the TED Talk speech.)