Spaces for Anti-Racism, with guest Valerie Spain

The People Impact Podcast

We need to be talking about racism without people of colour present.

The work Valerie Spain does - and the way that she does it - is pretty special. Valerie is a certified coach and antiracism educator, DEI consultant and group facilitator, particularly focusing on white people doing the inner work of racial justice and of developing an action plan.

Affinity groups and employee resource groups have been around for marginalised groups and minorities. Valerie hosts them for white people, coming together to learn about racism and whiteness. Educating ourselves as white people, with white people.

“Come together with other like-minded white folks who want to learn,” is her invitation.

Why do white people have to step into a separate group to do this?

It’s a way of talking about the work of anti-racism without adding to the emotional burden for people of colour – while acknowledging the work that many people of colour have already done.

It’s a way of doing our own work, in a safe space, to develop our emotional resilience. Even if this self-development is uncomfortable, or something you’re not used to doing, that discomfort is not a signal to stop. It’s a signal that something is happening for you, you are reacting to something – identify what you’re reacting to and then make a decision from there. That’s something you can learn.

Developing the awareness of whiteness, the ‘invisible’ nature of it. Noticing white supremacy culture in the world, in the organisation, between you and your colleagues.

White supremacy culture may seem at first like too big of a term in this context (and what is the discomfort signal, what is happening for as you were reading this?).

Whiteness is a concept that affects everyone, whether you’re a person of colour or not. Racism is embedded in our whole world.

In most parts of the world, and in most organisations, whiteness is prioritised, is the default, and has the best cards in the deck, simply put: that is white supremacy. Let’s examine how this shows up in your organisation. What is the bias that is built into your particular work environment?

Anti-racism work for white people means finding out what you can find out without asking people of colour. Valerie has shared resources for you – and feel free to ask for more if you’re looking for other information.

Because when you’re thinking, educating yourself, taking actionable steps, you can get ongoing support through your experience of learning and change, from people like Valerie.

And you’re welcome to join the company of likeminded people. It makes all the difference, when you want to make a difference.
More about Valerie Spain: https://valeriespain.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriespain/

More resources: see episode comments on the People Impact podcast page on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/people-impact-podcast

More about us:

Lisa Dempsey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/ - https://www.leadershiplabs.eu

Marjolijn Vlug – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijnvlug/ - https://www.marjolijnvlug.nl/?lang=en

Reach us both at [e-mail]