10 Things Teenagers Need To Know About Racism

*Racism is broader than white people. But, this resource is specifically created for white teenagers.

1. Your ancestors are responsible for the beginning of racism - In America, racism started with white people 400 years ago. It is macro-aggressive like slavery and violence, and, micro-aggressive like inequity, wage gap, and privilege. It is not your fault that you were born into this world of racism, but, it will be your fault if you do not do something about it.

2. You are the most diverse generation in American history - This is important. The Minneapolis Police Chief recently stated during the George Floyd incident, “Our youth are going to be used to heal.” In a recent Barna Research study, 80% of Millennials and Gen Z have a close friend of color – and 51% of Gen Z is non-white for the first time in U.S. history.

3. You can make a difference - Confronting privileges and structures far larger than yourself may seem daunting. But every voice counts every day. You make a difference one person at a time in your circle – and you make a difference many persons at a time on your social. Leverage the relationships and the platforms you have. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Your next step is important and must be action.

4. Talking about racism is uncomfortable - But imagine how uncomfortable people of color (POC) feel as objects of racism. First, listen to leaders of color (Michele Alexander’s The New Jim Crow book, Bryan Stevenson’s TEDTalk, and David Anderson’s Gracism book). Second, learn the language such as “implicit bias”, “psychological wage”, “invisible backpacks”, and “white privilege”. Understanding the language helps with your discussions. Third, silence is the enemy of truth, hope, and love. People of color (POC) should not have to defend themselves. As a white teenager who inherited the system and the structure of racism and inequity from your ancestors, it is your responsibility to help tear it down.

5. Racism is more than complicit overt behavior - Children are not born racist. They learn it from adults. But they must be raised gracist – of integration and not segregation. Child ideologies from birth that are implicit and covert must become unlearned “white space”. Unless unlearned through diverse education and relationships, racism becomes complicit and overt behavior. Racism is birthed by ignorance, but, it grows by ignorance too.

6. Stop thinking only KKK & white supremacists are the perpetrators - A racist does not only dress in white sheets and drop burning crosses on someone’s lawn, or, have a shaved head and wear black boots. Perpetrators can be silent. White privilege, specialness, and advantage is arrogant and sinful - and that subtly or implicit ideology does not make us immune to racism. Be intentional. For example, lend support to #BlackLivesMatter – it does not mean another life doesn’t matter. See racism as you see abortion – devaluing life.

7. Seeing race and ethnicity is important - Race is physical and ethnicity is cultural. You cannot respond to racism with statements like, “I don’t see color”, or, “It doesn’t matter where you’re from”. If you see color in the rainbow, in a Crayola box, or use color in the font edits of your phone, we should also value the uniqueness of an individual and both their physical and cultural-ness. Yes, we are all of the human race and bleed the same color, but, our ethnicity has borne in us a unique design from God that should be valued.

8. White is not normal - It is narrow and myopic to think that white is right. The world is beautifully diverse. Diversity valuation means you see the value of humanity as a kaleidoscope and not just a monochrome in your neighborhood, community, team, or church. The world does not center around white people. The world centers around humanity. God did not create white people. He created mankind.

9. Time does not heal - People heal. People who were not hurt do not control when people who were hurt heal. It is this generation who are living in this time who have the choice to bring healing through your inclusive actions. I believe Gen Z will take the responsibility of gracist’s to end racism in their lifetime. Time doesn’t heal, but, people heal.

10. Your generation is responsible for the end of racism - We cannot allow our nation to repost or recycle the problem. We must put the pen in the hand of this diverse generation and let them write the new narrative. Historically, the majority of Social Justice and Civil Rights leaders have been black. We need a new breed of leaders in the Social Justice and Civil Rights area who are not black. To see the needed shift in a generation, white people must join black people in this movement and become responsible for ending racism.