#1: Self-Worth
Our enslaved ancestors knew being enslaved didn’t define them. Spiritually they believed they were free.
This mindset allowed them to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually distance themselves from anti-Blackness even when they couldn’t physically.
#2: Knowledge
Leaders like Frederick Douglass knew knowledge is power. It was learning to read that helped Douglass realize he was worthy of freedom.
After his escape, Douglass dedicated his life to sharing knowledge and resources that exposed anti-Blackness. Anytime we call out anti-Blackness we acknowledge there’s a divide between anti-Black hate and our radical love.
#3: Community
Anti-Blackness doesn’t want us knowing the power of our community. But we prove time and again that there’s strength in numbers.
The Civil Rights Movement was successful because of community. Black Wall Street flourished because of community buy-in.
#4: Protest
Any time we say “no” to anti-Blackness we distance ourselves from it. “No” is a protest in itself.
It was leaders like Rosa Parks saying “no” that sparked long term protests. Sit-ins, marches, boycotts, and guerrilla warfare are all historic ways that our people collectively told Anti-Blackness, “No.”
Anti-Blackness won’t be gone anytime soon but that doesn’t mean we have to subscribe to it.
We all deserve the peace of mind that comes from distancing ourselves from anti-Blackness.