Anti-Racists are Pro-Democracy — That’s Our Winning Message

We can’t continue leading with what we’re against. Let’s change the narrative and be clear about what we’re fighting for

Photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash

The anti-racism movement needs a new name.

Not because there’s anything wrong with being anti-racist, obviously.

As someone who has been involved in the movement as an organizer, activist, or educator for 30-plus years, I’m proud to call myself an anti-racist.

In fact, I worry about anyone who isn’t or doesn’t.

Nonetheless, we need a name change or something to supplement the existing label — a different way of talking about who we are and what we want.

Because being against something doesn’t tell people what you’re for. And if folks are going to join a social movement, that part is sort of important.

Oh sure, they understand we’re working for the end of racism. But what does that mean in practice? As Americans, we’ve never lived in that place before, so knowing what it would look like if we got there is always speculative at best.

But we do have some general ideas.

What is the anti-racism movement fighting for…