Don Shearer’s Post

"What this white supremacist, white nationalist movement has come to understand is the only way they defeat this drive, this aspiration towards a multiracial society, is to turn us against one another." On the State of Belief this week, we discuss what the punk scene can teach us about white supremacy with Eric Ward, the civil rights strategist, Executive Vice President at Race Forward, and longtime punk rocker with deep expertise on hate movements and attacks on democracy. https://lnkd.in/exR9ZVY8

In practice, the concept of racial humility means that white people have an obligation to assume that they do not understand race and racism because they don’t have to understand it, and this is a manifestation and advantage of their white privilege.

In commemoration of #Juneteenth, let’s acknowledge that each step toward justice requires honesty, unity, courage, and perseverance. May this day inspire our ongoing pursuit for a society where liberty and justice truly extend to all. To learn more: https://loom.ly/GtLUuHs

let tomorrow be a reminder that white america understands the importance and necessity of violent resistance—when it benefits them we even valorizes violent resistance when it aligns with white, revisionist historical narratives and interests reinforcing that violent resistance is not only necessary but also noble and foundational to the nation’s existence it also highlights a glaring double standard when contrasted with white americas sentiments towards violent resistance in Black liberation movements while white americans celebrate their own violent struggle for freedom, they position and reject resistance by Black americans and other marginalized groups as illegitimate and unjustified so just remember tomorrow is explicitly celebrating violent resistance it’s about colonists resorting to armed violence against british rule with one goal in mind: to achieve self-determination and independence so if youre rocking stars and stripes but condemn violent resistance to oppressive systems from Black folx…you’re not a patriot, you’re a hypocrite…and possibly even a white nationalist 🤷🏻♀️ image description: photos of white supremacists and white nationalists violently storming the capitol on 6 jan 2021

We are celebrating Non-Violence Day today and remembering the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom. From the anti-British movement to his role in promoting democracy and opposing corruption, Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in shaping our history. Learn more about his legacy and impact in our latest blog post: [Link to the Blog Post](https://ift.tt/mxoiAkF).

The insult and injustice of the nation never reconciling centuries of debt and restitution owed goes beyond the impairment and indignity accrued and compounded through the years, and further aggravated and exacerbated by any redress given to others. The one most egregious to me is The Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which issued reparations to thousands of white slave owners as property compensation for freed --- lost slaves. Even members of Lincoln’s administration were recipients. But this issue is so much more than the just accounting for generations of bondage, for it is an issue of rectifying the ongoing wrongs of ever-present ills, and dismantling the intentional infrastructure of socially engineered disparities.

As we celebrate the birthday of the iconic civil rights leader Malcolm X in 2024, it is essential to reflect on his enduring legacy and relevance in today's social and political landscape. Malcolm X, born on May 19, 1925, continues to inspire generations with his unwavering commitment to racial justice, empowerment, and self-determination. In a world grappling with systemic racism, inequality, and social injustice, Malcolm X's teachings and activism remain as pertinent as ever. https://lnkd.in/gZGbMaqb

Excuse the language.. We have been horrified by abhorrent racist and Islamophobic attacks taken place over the last few days. We unequivocally condemn these acts of violence and are in deep solidarity with all Black and Global Majority communities across the UK. These acts of hatred are a direct result of years of divisive politics, using immigration as a political football and allowing rampant racism to go unchecked - Many of us have warned about this. These recent attacks highlight the urgent need for Black and Global Majority communities to remain vigilant and for our allies to join us in the collective fight against racism. In these trying times, we reaffirm our commitment to anti-racism and to supporting Black and Global Majority communities. We will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle systemic racism and to promote policies and practices that ensure Justice, Unity and Freedom for all.

I talked to a number of people after the events last week that we saw in the UK, around racist and violent comments regarding Diane Abbott. The attack, and for many the inadequacy of the reaction around the racist comments, have a real impact on people. We set ourselves up at C4 to stand against racism, to be anti-racist. That means we need to think about how we show up as an organisation. For a lot of my colleagues last week was very tough. Particularly for Black women who encounter this type of “misogynoir” in their daily personal and professional lives. It has made me think about what I need to do to be an ally. What are the ways that allies let our Black colleagues feel seen and safe in these moments; how do we educate ourselves to better recognise racist behaviour and what we can do to counter it; how do we ensure that our own behaviours are sensitive to the ways in which Black women can be dehumanised or their contributions devalued. It is always worth exploring how one can improve even if we might not always get it right. I had emailed Channel 4 at the start of the week talking about faith and the complexity of being comfortable with views about Israel-Gaza and it being so hard to manage our identities and opinions whilst the conflict goes on. For me it’s worth just thinking about how we can help each other as colleagues and I hope all feel safe and respected in our buildings. https://lnkd.in/e4SizQ9x