Anti-Oppression

Articles and resources on anti-oppression.

Principles of Anti-Oppression

from Los Angeles Direct Action Network

• Power and privilege play out in our group dynamics and we must continually struggle with how we challenge power and privilege in our practice.
• We can only identify how power and privilege play out when we are conscious and committed to understanding how racism, sexism, homophobia, and all other forms of oppression affect each one of us.
• Until we are clearly committed to anti-oppression practice all forms of oppression will continue to divide our movements and weaken our power.
• Developing a anti-oppression practice is life long work and requires a life long commitment. No single workshop is sufficient for learning to change one's behaviors. We are all vulnerable to being oppressive and we need to continuously struggle with these issues.
• Dialogue and discussion are necessary and we need to learn how to listen non defensively and communicate respectfully if we are going to have effective anti-oppression practice. Challenge yourself to be honest and open and take risks to address oppression head on.

What is White Supremacy? by Elizabeth Martínez
White Supremacy is an historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, nations, and peoples of color by white peoples and nations of the European continent, for the purpose of maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power, and privilege.

White Supremacy On My Mind: Learning To Undermine Racism
Growing up in California and coming of political age in the 90's, race has been a central factor in my develop as a person and as a radical. California elections have been the battle ground upon which fights over immigrant rights, bilingual education, affirmative action, criminal justice, labor rights and queer marriage have been fought.

Confronting Global Capitalism and Challenging White Supremacy: thoughts on movement building and anti-racist organizing
One of the most exciting developments that has come out of the mass actions in Seattle against the WTO and in Washington DC against the IMF/World Bank is the movement-wide discussion about racism, white supremacy and organizing strategies to build a multiracial movement opposed to global capitalism. Elizabeth 'Betita' Martínez's widely distributed essay, "Where Was the Color in Seattle", put forward the question - why, if global capitalism has the greatest negative impact on people of color around the world and in the United States was the protest against the WTO so overwhelming white (about 95%)?

Tools for White Guys who are Working for Social Change
Practice noticing who's in the room at meetings - how many men, how many women, how many white people, how many people of color, is it majority heterosexual, are there out queers, what are people's class backgrounds. Don't assume to know people, but also work at being more aware.

Ten ways to tokenize or alienate a non-white person around you

Racist Activism 101
[or "How to be a Completely Clueless and Aggravating White Activist", or again "How to Get on Nadine's Personal Shit List"]

Related Links

Colours of Resistance

White Privilege

Workshops/Trainers

Anti-Oppression Principles and Practices

Challenging White Supremacy workshops

Further reading

Articles

Intersex & Trans Demands