DISCONTINUED: Council of Science Editors Book Club discussion

Hi everybody, I hope you've had an opportunity to get started on our new CSE bookclub book, "How to Be an Antiracist."

I have to say that, months ago, when we started talking about reading this book this fall, it somehow did not occur to me that we might be kicking our discussion off during Election week in the US. I want to acknowledge that this is a particularly sensitive time to be grappling with issues around racism/antiracism. At the same time, it is increasingly essential. As if the world could have felt any stranger than it did 6 days/6 weeks/6 months ago, here we are... I truly look forward to discussing with all of you about what concrete actions we can take toward a more equitable society.

I would be remiss not to remind everyone that all commenters MUST be aware of CSE's Code of Conduct (https://www.councilscienceeditors.org...), and any posts that violate this Code will be removed. Above all, PLEASE be considerate and respectful as we try to foster a productive conversation.

Now, to finally get us started: How do you feel about Kendi's assertion that "racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be racist one minute and an antiracist the next.” How can we ensure we are constantly reaffirming an antiracist identity, rather than falling into inaction?

I found this book to be super easy to read, and incredibly informative! The author's concept about people being both racist and antiracist was really interesting. I think that by continuing to educate ourselves, we can keep working towards removing racist ideas and thoughts. Reading books like this is a great way to recognize racist thoughts and how to reframe them so they are antiracist. The author does a great job with laying out what a racist thought is, and how to reword it so it is antiracist.

I'm not done with this book yet, but I agree with Morgan---this is a very interesting and revealing book. I have especially enjoyed how Kendi's parents and background were woven into the book. So much is about history and context... especially the way people can unknowingly go back and forth between racist and antiracist identities and actions. I'm looking forward to getting through the rest of it!

I agree with Morgan as well in that educating ourselves is an effective way to keep reaffirming our antiracist identity. I thought that the introduction of the book was a good discussion of that: we may be having in racist thoughts or beliefs without even realizing it, simply because we didn't recognize them as racist. But with the wealth of knowledge and discussion available now, I think we have all the tools to reframe our way of thinking.

I have fallen a bit behind in my reading but picked up again yesterday and today. As many of you have already said, the themes about the fluctuating between racist and antiracist thoughts and actions are thought provoking, not only in terms of continual education, but also from the perspective that this work is never "done." Earlier this year I read the New Jim Crow and there are some parallels with the updated intro in the new edition of that book around Obama's election and perhaps how that allowed us, particularly white people, to see our society as "postracist"--when in reality, that is denial and perhaps an easy way out of facing truth. The reframing of "racism" as "microaggressions" and the uptick in other terms that play down the gravity of racism was another compelling discussion... particularly from the editor's perspective, the concept that the words we use matter really resonated with me. One excerpt that has really stuck with me over the past couple of days is: "Only racists shy away from the R word. Racism is steeped in denial." What do others think we can do day-to-day to admit/confront/reframe our own racist ideas/actions?

One of the things the book has really brought to light for me is systemic racism: how racism is purposefully built into the fabric of our country. I underlined this phrase as I was reading: "...the consistent function of racist ideas [is]...to manipulate us into seeing people as the problem, instead of the policies that ensnare them." In addition to being eye-opening, for me, it makes the issue even more daunting.