What we’re doing to be anti-racist at Expansive Media

I’m a white woman. I live in a predominantly white city; most of my friends are white; and, most of my clients are white. The lack of diversity and equality in my life and my business is incredibly problematic. It’s on me to expand my social and professional circle.

I hear from other white people that their lives are similarly homogenous. I also hear people say that there are not many people of color where they live. I have learned that all-white cities did not happen by accident. Much of the history about why this is, is not taught in schools or, in some cases, documented in writing.

I learned about one factor that probably influences the lack of racial diversity in my town from one of my Airbnb guests, who was Black. She told me that the town where I live was a Sundown Town. At the time, I did not know what a Sundown Town was. It is a town that had a curfew for Black people, preventing them from leaving their homes after dark. While writing this, I searched online to verify this information and could not find anything conclusive.

So, I reached out to my one Black friend in town, who devoted a large part of his career to racial equity, and asked him if our town had been a Sundown town. He hasn’t seen any written documentation, but said that elders in the Black community have told him that this a Sundown town prior to the 1960’s.. 

I've come to realize that even if I’m not actively racist, I’m perpetuating systemic white supremacy by participating in a society that allows me to reap benefits because I’m white. It’s not enough to just not be racist. We must be anti-racist.

Black people in the United States live in fear of being killed by police every single day. 

This is inhumane. 

As a white woman, I have the privilege to not be afraid of being killed by police. And, I owe it to oppressed people to get uncomfortable.

The world is changing and that’s really hard for humans. Breathe and make space for the work you’re doing. It’s important to learn and think about uncomfortable topics regularly. Just remember to pace yourself; this deep inner work is lifelong. It takes time and patience. The option not to think about these things is the definition of privilege.

Let’s unpack these five phrases

• I am not a racist

• I did not grow up around black people so I did not know...

• White supremacy

• White privilege

• Anti-racist

The first four phrases are defined by passive and active racism. While we have fewer active racists today than during Jim Crow South, white supremacy is still alive and well. 

Systemic White Supremacy

What white privilege does not allow us to see is that white people benefit from a culture that was built by people who were active racists. That is white supremacy - white people being put above people of color. But, racism didn’t stop when slavery was abolished. White people have continued to systematically oppress Black people since the abolishment of slavery in 1865. 

How to be anti-racist

So, what can I do as a white person?

Because our country was built on racism and has created a system that upholds racial inequity (this is white supremacy) being a well-meaning non-racist white person perpetuates this system. If we want a more equitable system, we have to do intentional work in that direction.

Four steps to become anti-racist:

• Listening and learning

• Self-analysis and awareness

• Allyship and action

• Repeat

But, becoming an ally includes my personal and professional life. As a white female CEO of a company with an ethical core, it’s important that I strategically build an anti-racist business.

How Expansive Media is becoming an anti-racist company:

• I hired a Black business coach who specializes in conflict resolution with awareness of ancestral healing.

• I have had one conversation so far with my assistant, Karey, about her experience as the sole person of color in this company. With just two of us, we are a 50/50 team, but as the team grows I am being mindful of how the dynamics will shift.

• Working toward building a more diverse team. With this round of team-building everyone we interviewed was white, female and in her 20s. We need to learn how to reach more people of color with job postings and what we can do to make job opportunities appealing to people of color. Also, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability… The more diverse our team is, the more effective our work will be!

• Being more conscious of the race of vendors I am currently working with.

• Actively looking for vendors of color.

• Expanding our client base to include more people of color. First step is to evaluate the racial skew of our current marketing practices.

• I am continuing to educate myself by reading, listening and watching.

Anti-Racism Resources

These resources have been helpful to me in moving toward equity. I hope you find the resources below useful personally and professionally as you navigate life.

When We Stand Together is a treasure-trove of resources for white people who want to make change toward racial equity. Their Anti-Racism Starter Kit inspired some of what I have said here and gives more depth and resources.

Watch this Small Business Town Hall specifically for small business owners who want to build anti-racists companies.

Get inspired by Dereck Higgins’s resiliency, creativity and joy in the midst of all that is going on.

I recommend listening to The Seeing White Podcast by Duke University. In this episode, the host, which is a white guy,  asks the question - ‘How did we get here to this point where Black people are regularly being killed by police?’ 

It details many examples of oppression throughout our history. One of the stories that has stuck with me is about an all white town in the current day. The podcast explores the history of how the town became all white and, as you might guess, it was not by accident.

I also recommend this 1989 article by Peggy McIntosh called Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. She clearly illustrates what white privilege is.  The 1989 article is still relevant today; it speaks volumes on the lack of progress we have made toward racial equity in this country.

The work doesn’t stop here.

Let’s celebrate the work that has been done for racial equity thus far and cultivate a bunch more energy to do the work that needs to happen.

Keep this dialogue going. Comment below and tell me how you are working toward anti-racism in your personal and professional life.

Sarah