Racial Biases Exercises: Reflect - Digest - Move Forth
For those who want to be a part of ending racial biases, while remaining grounded in their wellbeing, this deck is for you!
I have put together some of the most impactful resources, grounding excursuses, and reflection questions so it is easy to dive into the work that will create a world rooted in love.
As a 50% Filipino, 40% Mexican, and 10% Italian woman growing up in America I have had an incredible amount of privilege. I never had to worry if there would or would not be another meal. I go for runs without bringing a phone. I’ve had a phone since I was 13. I make eye contact with many people I pass by and feel safe and joyful.
There has been a “protective layer” of whiteness surrounding me, alleviating me from many stressors that I could not even comprehend growing up. And as we know, an extended-release of stress hormones can:
- Lower immune defenses.
- Create mood issues, including anger and depression, lack of energy, and sleep problems.
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate, higher cholesterol, and risk of a heart attack.
- Insight stomach cramps, reflux, and nausea.
- Increase fat storage and disrupted hunger cues.
- Lower libido, lower sperm production in men, and absent or irregular menstrual cycles in women.
- Create aches and pains in the joints and muscles.
- Lower bone density.
- And more issues that reduce quality and opportunities of life.
This does not mean my life has been “easy”, and I have not had any stress. Of course, looking at my history of chronic skin disease and work to remove learned conditioning from a foster father and immigrant parent. However, I fully acknowledge the upper hands I have been served, am grateful for them, and choose to use this to serve the greater good.
It is not enough to not be racist. We have to be actively anti-racist.ANGELA DAVISAMERICAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST, PHILOSOPHER, ACADEMIC, AND AUTHOR.
What I am trying to get at here is the importance of recognizing our privileges to create a just world. Additionally, we must take stock of the oppressive systems in which have facilitated our privileges while marginalizing and often dehumanizing black, brown, lower-income, larger-bodied, disabled, and non-cisgender communities. Once we can sit with this (as uncomfortable as it may be), we can then make a choice. Do we want to continue to benefit from these systems/ ways of thought? Or, do we want to live in a world transparently built on love, and connectivity with all beings and this planet?
If the latter sounds more like your vibe and you want to be a grounded piece of a community in which lifts each other rather than pulling most down, this is for you! Please feel free to work through this alone, with friends and or with family! Take your time, but remember to keep moving forward.
