Thread by @WokeDoctors

Anti-racism is not enough. Be Pro-Black.

Pro-Black doesn’t mean anti-white.

Pro-Black is a lifestyle that encourages the social and economic growth and development of Black people. (1/2)

It’s sole purpose is to uplift a community that historically has been marginalized, brutalized, imprisoned, enslaved, and oppressed.

Being ProBlack is wanting to see the underdog succeed and doing everything in your power to see it through. (2/2)

Is being anti-racist the same as being pro-Black?

No. The answer is no.

Anti-racism is actively ensuring that you, the people around you, the organizations you work for, and the systems in which you operate in aren’t perpetuating racism. But being anti-racist shouldn’t earn you a gold star, just like NOT being anti-women isn’t the ultimate end-goal.

Being anti-racist is important but it is the bare minimum. The end-product of anti-racism is equality in treatment, access to opportunities, hiring and promotion in the present time. But we also need redistributive justice. Black people are long due for reparations.

Until reparations are realized (something America will probably never be ready for), we need a model that says it is okay to actively and - dare we say - preferentially support everything Black. That means Black businesses, community organizations, and Black people.

Such a model is rooted in an understanding that the economic and systemic forces that prevented Black people from thriving 100 years are still alive and well today.

Let’s be honest, you can be anti-racist and never step foot in a Black neighborhood or spend a dime of your own personal money on Black business.

Being Pro-Black encourages people to be conscious of where and how they spend their personal money, in order to help redistribute wealth, resources, and power to the Black community. It is about empowering the Black community and doing what it takes to help them thrive.

Anti-racism is critical, but - we believe - falls short when placed within the socio-political-economic context of capitalism in which we operate. Until Black people get reparations, being Pro-Black is something YOU can do RIGHT NOW to help level the playing field.