What does it mean to be antiracist? The only way to learn is to learn

When you hear terms like "antiracist" and "Black History Month", what comes to mind? Are they just
buzzwords tied to specific times of the year, or do they represent something deeper? Do they signal
corporate "woke washing" or a genuine call to action?

The truth is, how you define terms such as "antiracist" depends on your identity and experiences.

At the UWL Library, subject librarians emphasise this through our critical information literacy model, teaching students that our unique lived experiences shape how we interpret and analyse information. For this reason, the concept of antiracism will resonate differently depending on whether you come from a white-majority background or identify with a marginalised group.

Antiracism for many can also connect with broader social justice struggles against discriminatory structures, tied not only to race but also to gender, class, ability, religion and more.

As a Black woman who has done a Masters in Race and Resistance, and who has written and spoken extensively on how to make academic libraries more anti racist, being antiracist means actively working to deconstruct and de-centre whiteness. This doesn’t mean viewing white people as "the enemy," contrary to the many critics of decolonisation and critical race theory. Instead, true antiracist work isn’t about creating more division, but about fostering unity by exposing the ways in which whiteness is often assumed as the "default" in society.

Consider UWL: how often do we hear "Black and ethnic minority students" versus simply "students" for white individuals? Whiteness often goes unnamed, while anything else is othered. One text that brilliantly explores this concept of othering is Orientalism by Edward Said, available at our library. It’s a powerful way to delve deeper into the historical construction of how and why non-white people are framed as "deviations" from the "norm."

Black History Month gives us a yearly opportunity to engage meaningfully with these issues. However, antiracism shouldn't be confined to one month. How do we avoid turning antiracism into just another buzzword? By actively committing to learning and unlearning.

At UWL, we provide various resources. During Black History Month we have a book stand on the ground floor. Have you taken a moment to browse it? Throughout the year, subject librarians are actively making reading lists more inclusive for both students and staff. We have also attempted to create inclusive reading groups with academics to discuss this more in depth.

Similarly, all students and staff can continue to access our Global Black Studies reading lists through the library’s website. We also have valuable contributions from UWL staff member Professor William Henry, who has extensively published on these subjects.

When it comes to learning about antiracism, we need to recognise the tendency to automatically assume that education on antiracism should automatically come from those suffering from trauma. This is actually a microaggression, one of the most common forms of racisms especially within the workplace. Whilst marginalised individuals have lived experiences to share, it can often be retraumatising to have to discuss trauma we have experience.

In line with UWL’s October theme of "Respect & Kindness", consider how you treat colleagues and students impacted by or struggling with racism. When racial tensions erupted during the UK summer riots, did you check on them?

Now is the time to become a true ally, not only listening, learning and supporting others, but asking yourself difficult questions of the times you have unknowingly committed racism.

In professional settings, racism is now rarely blatant or reflected in the form of overt hostility and racist actions. It has evolved into a more subtle and sophisticated form of micro-aggression behaviour. As Kandola argues, the perpetrators are not some wayward, thoughtless faction of an otherwise right-thinking population. They are you and me... we may have said something, assuming our interactions with others have been successful, whereas the person we have been engaging with has reached a very different conclusion.

So what does it mean to be antiracist if you are not from a marginalised background? In truth the only way to learn is to learn; and to make that learning and unlearning ongoing.

I know time is limited, and reading isn't accessible to everyone. That’s why I have curated a list of videos and documentaries that can help you deepen your understanding of antiracism, even if you only have 10 minutes to spare during your lunch break.