The commodification and capitalization of the anti-racist industry

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The dark side of the industry’s fame is that there are also some that can be … [+] to enter space as experts and educators for nefarious reasons.

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Some may wince at the idea of ​​anti-racism being labeled as an industry, but the point is, since the murder of George Floyd, global interest in anti-racism education has skyrocketed. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DCI) was already a growing and popular field in 2017, McKinsey reported that $ 8 billion was spent in the United States alone on diversity training. Following the racial revolution of 2020, that number has likely quadrupled. With the influx of requests for anti-racism education and anti-racism books flying off the shelves since the summer of 2020, it seems more people than ever are heading towards careers in DCI. The dark side of the industry’s fame is that there are also some who can enter space as experts and educators for nefarious reasons. Many may see the space as a growing cash cow that is easy to enter and lacks objectivity in best practices. DCI consultant Dr Kim Tran recently warned that the domain had gone astray. A clear indication of this is the commodification and capitalization of DCI and anti-racist education in particular. Some white authors and educators have been called in for apparently trying to take advantage of the pain and trauma of Blacks, Indigenous Peoples and People of Color (BIPOC). It is fair to question the motivations of a person who has never experienced racism when trying to enter a space where lived experience is so crucial. A problematic notion that is commonly accepted is that in order for whites to understand the nuances of privilege, prejudice and racism, the message must be spoon-fed by another white person. Interestingly enough, research suggests otherwise. White diversity trainers find it more difficult to gain buy-in from trainees.

Another interesting trend that exploded in the summer of 2020 was the influx of anti-racist educators who were born on social media. On Instagram in particular, there was suddenly a flood of accounts focused on education against racism. The focus of anti-racism education on social media is not a bad thing. It is clear that the world is yearning for a better understanding of how to manage, navigate, understand and eradicate racism. Where things start to get dangerous is when white-led anti-racism education platforms attempt to monetize and capitalize on content that has been co-opted by blacks, natives and other people of color. A lot of these white-run platforms don’t make it known that they’re white run. It is one thing to spread important and necessary information about racism on social media. He ventures into the territory of white-capitalization and centering when anti-racist accounts run by white people acquire sponsorships, book deals, and other lucrative perks. A recent example of this was revealed by New York Times bestselling author Ijeoma Oluo on his Instagram account. In her recent Instagram Stories, which have now been recorded as a highlight on her page, Oluo explains how an Instagram account many thought she was running became popular. It has now become evident that this account and many other anti-racist accounts run by white people have grown in popularity under the guise of being run by the BIPOC. After the summer of 2020, it suddenly got cool to be more awake, but the performative ally hit an all-time high. Many people who have dedicated their time, energy and life to justice and fairness have had their work stolen and co-opted for mass consumption and social media notoriety. An Instagram user by the name of Iman Europe recently shared an experience about it on her Instagram page. Iman Europe has a popular Twitter page and she recently shared a video about a TikTok user who quoted one of her tweets without quoting her or mentioning her name. The user then apologized after being arrested on social networks. Iman Europe’s experience is just the tip of the iceberg in what now seems banal.

Whites who strive to be allies, advocates, and co-conspirators (or whatever buzzword right now) need to make sure they don’t focus on their anti-racist work. It is also imperative to quote and give credit to those who laid the groundwork for the work we see today. The Kimberl Crenshaws and Angela Davis of the world. Companies looking for DCI and anti-racism educators need to understand the importance of lived experience. While lived experience is not the only benchmark required for anti-racist educators, it should be the bare minimum for any trainer, consultant, strategist, or the like that companies rely on for their expertise. This is not to say that whites cannot participate in anti-racism and DCI efforts, the opposite is true. The more people who work to dismantle the most oppressive structures and systems of societies, the better. Whites who feel called to use their privilege, access and opportunity should not focus on themselves, their feelings and their work in space. Any aspiring or actual anti-racist educator understands the many ways in which whiteness is prioritized, promoted and protected within society. This should show why white centering in the DEI and anti-racist space is so harmful. Now more than ever, those who seek to seize the moment are rightly called upon. Building a platform or even a career out of deceptive motives will never be sustainable, it is only a matter of time before your true intentions are revealed. One important thing to remember: your job is not really a job if it harms the marginalized people you are supposed to stand up for.

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