Creating Just Futures Reflection: Parallels of White Supremacy that Impact Anti-Racism at the Community Level

The million-dollar question: What are the parallels of White Supremacy that impact Anti-Racism at the community level? What White Supremacist characteristics do you struggle with?

When Tyson, CDLI’s co-lead, posed this question, I was left speechless. One of our Creating Just Futures members summed it up perfectly, saying, “White supremacy doesn’t always look like burning crosses on someone’s lawn; instead, they are behaviors that live in each of us.”

Inspired by an article turned movement from 1999, White Supremacy Culture, Tyson broke it down and drafted some characteristics associated with white supremacy. He then asked which ones resonated with us and showed up in our work in the community. Some of these characteristics included operating with perfectionism, a constant sense of urgency, defensiveness, prioritizing quantity over quality, and engaging in either/or thinking, and individualism.

If I’m being transparent, I struggle with each of these in different ways. But of course, I chose to speak on perfectionism, which is completely on-brand for the imposter syndrome, performative queen that I often show up as.

We delved into discussions about traditional modes of evaluation, funding, and strategic planning, and how white supremacy permeates each of these systems, often paralleling the very real needs of the community.

But what resonated with me the most, and also what I’m seeing as themes in other areas of my equity-focused work, is this critical sense of urgency at all times.

Especially in the non-profit world, there is so much scarcity, often rooted in funding. From scrambling to meet grant deadlines to rigid project timelines and tight budgets, our intentionality and curiosity are stripped away the moment we are rushed. We know that trust is the foundation of reconciliation, but the minute we attach a project with a deadline, intentional and meaningful relationship building will not and can not be the focus.

This is where it becomes more of a checkbox or an afterthought, rather than a thoughtful commitment.

In your work, I encourage you to push back and ask, “What's the rush?” or "I’m curious if we can spend more time in ____”.

Written by Denyelle Fraser.