Justin Michael Williams, Shelly Tygielski, and Mario Van Peebles: How We Ended Racism
Nov 7, 2023
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Authors Justin Michael Williams and Shelly Tygielski discuss their book 'How Ended Racism' and explore topics such as recognizing biases, taking action, and embracing compassion. Filmmaker and activist Mario Van Peebles also joins the conversation to share his perspective on ending racism. They discuss the power of collective effort, the role of media, and the importance of cultural exposure in combating racism.
Believing in the end of racism is essential to challenge the assumption of its inevitability and create change.
The eight pillars of possibility (vision, truth, emotions, discomfort, privilege, action, bridges, and love) provide tools for ending racism.
Inner work and outer actions must go hand in hand for meaningful change, starting with individuals tending to their own gardens of influence.
Deep dives
The Power of Believing in a World Without Racism
The podcast explores the title of the book: How We Ended Racism and the skepticism surrounding it. The authors discuss the importance of believing that racism can end and the need to challenge the assumption that racism is unavoidable. They emphasize the importance of setting a vision for a future without racism and the power of individual and collective belief in creating change. They also address the misconception that everyone is against us and highlight the need for dialogue and finding common ground with those who hold different views. The authors encourage listeners to confront their own biases and consider the impact of their beliefs on perpetuating supremacy. They emphasize the importance of doing the inner work and recognizing the tools we already have to contribute to ending racism.
Tools for Ending Racism
The podcast highlights the eight pillars of possibility discussed in the book as tools for ending racism. These pillars include vision, truth, emotions, embracing discomfort, addressing privilege, taking action, building bridges, and cultivating love. The authors explain the importance of recognizing the distinction between facts and assessments, and how knowing this distinction can help uncover biases and promote meaningful conversations. They also emphasize the need to do the inner work and take responsibility for one's own beliefs and actions. The authors provide a worksheet to help listeners identify their personal passions and assets, and encourage them to take action in their own communities.
The Intersection of Inner and Outer Work
The podcast explores the relationship between inner and outer work in ending racism. The authors discuss the importance of doing the inner work, such as recognizing and addressing biases, emotions, and personal beliefs. They highlight the need to align inner transformation with outer actions, emphasizing that change starts with individuals tending to their own gardens of influence. They share the example of the Pandemic of Love initiative, which started as a local effort to support community members in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and grew into a global movement. The authors encourage listeners to recognize the power they have as individuals to make a difference and promote love and compassion in their own communities.
Taking Action in Your Garden
The podcast challenges listeners to identify their action steps in their own gardens. The authors emphasize that anyone can make a difference, regardless of their platform or following. They encourage individuals to leverage their personal passions and skills to address racism and inequality in their own communities. Examples of action steps include creating inclusive spaces, using art and creativity to foster dialogue, supporting local businesses owned by marginalized groups, and teaching children about social justice. The authors highlight the importance of coming from a place of love and avoiding actions driven by fear or anger. They emphasize the cumulative impact of small actions and the power of each individual in creating meaningful change.
The importance of living in harmony with nature
Mario envisions a future where people have found a way to live in harmony with nature by combining ancestral wisdom with futuristic technology. He emphasizes the need to be great stewards of the Earth rather than owners, treating each other with respect and recognizing our interconnectedness.
The SUS process: bridging divides through understanding
Shelley and Justin discuss the SUS process, a tool to bridge divides and engage in difficult conversations. The process involves stating surface positions, uncovering noble purposes, synergizing concerns, and selecting solutions. By uncovering the deeper concerns behind opposing views, people can find common ground and collaborate on solutions, fostering understanding and unity.
The end of racism—really? When your eyes stop rolling, tune in to this podcast to hear why it's actually possible—in our lifetimes—to free our society from systemic racial oppression and injustice. In part one of this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Justin Michael Williams and Shelly Tygielski about their new book, How We Ended Racism. In part two, filmmaker and activist Mario Van Peebles joins the conversation to share his own hope-giving perspective.
This stirring and uplifting podcast explores the five assumptions that perpetuate racism; the eight pillars of possibility; the pledge to help end racism; how our inner work relates to the outer change that we're working toward; assertion versus assessment, and learning to recognize our own biases; shadow work and confronting the concept of supremacy; taking action where we're standing right now; "loving with bigger arms"; crossing the divide within families; the metaphor of the inherited house; the practice of calling forward; intraconnection; the link between exposure and empathy; the SUSS process: State, Uncover, Synergize, and Select; and more.
Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
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