ANTIRACISM DEFINITIONS
Race and racism are difficult to talk about not only because these are touchy subjects, but also because Americans have no common language for these issues. Focus: HOPE offers the below terms not as official definitions, but as explanations into what we mean as we attempt to move this important conversation forward.
Keep in mind that because much of what is listed below occurs on the unconscious level and because we are all—regardless of color—complicit in upholding white supremacy and racism, labels for people are not included. This list is intended to assist those who want to overcome racism rather than those who do not by focusing away from who is racist, and toward the way racism works, who benefits from it and who is currently harmed by it. We hope this is helpful.
Implicit Bias
Unconscious assumptions that result in favor or disfavor.
Racism
A system of advantage and disadvantage based on color.
Racist
Of a nature which supports or perpetuates racial disparities on interpersonal, systemic and cultural levels.
White Supremacy
Conscious or unconscious power, preference and privilege of white people at the disadvantage of other races.
People of Color (POC)
The nonwhite global majority.
Internalized Oppression
The appropriation of white supremacy by POC.
White Privilege
The range of advantages experienced by white people based on color.
Woke
Conscious commitment to struggle against racism, white supremacy and implicit bias.
Racial Equality
A deployment of resources and opportunities with special consideration for correcting historic and systemic hardships for people of color.
Color Blind
The state of pretending to see all races as the same and equal.
Anti-Blackness
The conscious or unconscious distrust or disdain for Black people.
