Anti-Racism

Awareness & Understanding

Racism is not just slurs or hate crimes — it also shows up in policies, systems, and everyday habits that treat people differently based on race. Understanding the difference between being "not racist" and being actively anti-racist is where this quest begins. Read the first chapter of Ibram X. Kendi's "How to Be an Antiracist" — many public libraries, including the Salt Lake City Public Library (slcpl.org), have free digital copies through Libby. Watch "The Urgency of Intersectionality" by Kimberlé Crenshaw on YouTube (TED Talk, free). Reflect on what you already know about race and what you have questions about. You're ready for the next step when you can explain in your own words what anti-racism means and how it differs from just avoiding racist behavior.

Research & Investigation

Learn the history that shapes the present. In Utah, this includes the history of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian communities along the Wasatch Front — from the Chinese laborers who built the Transcontinental Railroad (completed at Promontory Summit, Utah) to the experiences of Native American tribes like the Ute, Navajo, and Shoshone. Visit the Utah Division of State History (history.utah.gov) for free articles and resources. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture has a free online portal (nmaahc.si.edu) with videos, timelines, and teaching guides. Keep a reading or viewing log as you go. You're ready for the next step when you can connect at least one historical event to a racial disparity that still exists today.

Planning & Preparation

Choose one specific action you will take to practice anti-racism. Options range from personal (examining your own assumptions, diversifying what you read and watch) to interpersonal (speaking up when you hear a racist joke) to community-level (attending a local event or joining an organization). In Salt Lake City, organizations like the NAACP Salt Lake Branch, Comunidades Unidas, and the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs host events and welcome allies. Plan your action, write it down with a timeline, and identify one person who will hold you accountable. You're ready for the next step when you have a written plan with a specific action, a date, and an accountability partner.

Taking Action

Execute your plan. Take the action you prepared — attend the event, have the hard conversation, read the books, or show up for the community meeting. Document what happened honestly: what was easier than expected, what was harder, and what you felt. If you spoke up about something racist, write down how it went and what you would say differently next time. If you attended a community event, reflect on what you heard from people whose experiences differ from yours. Being anti-racist is uncomfortable work — that discomfort means you are growing. You're ready for the next step when you have completed your planned action and written an honest reflection of at least one full page.

Leadership & Expansion

Expand your impact by bringing others into the conversation. Share one resource — a book, documentary, article, or local event — with at least three people in your life and invite them to engage with it. You can organize a small book club discussion, share a post on social media with your own commentary, or present what you have learned to a class or community group. Look into youth-led organizations like the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce's youth programs or the Multicultural Student Services at the University of Utah, which sometimes host open community events. You're ready for the next step when you have shared anti-racism content with at least three people and had at least one real conversation about it.

Impact & Reflection

Anti-racism is not a destination — it is a lifelong practice. Write a two-page reflection on your six weeks: what you learned, where you fell short, and what you commit to going forward. Think about how racism connects to other civic issues you care about — housing, education, healthcare, and environmental justice all have racial dimensions in Utah and nationally. Consider submitting your reflection to a local publication, sharing it in a school portfolio, or using it as a college essay. Explore ongoing ways to stay engaged: follow the work of Utah-based racial justice organizations, or look into the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute's free online resources. You're ready for the next step when you can name three specific ongoing commitments you will make beyond this quest.