Lessons from Our White Anti-Racist Elders
Margery Freeman (she/her) and David Billings (he/him)
In 2012, Sandy Bernabei interviewed Margery Freeman and David Billings for the AntiRacist Alliance Youtube page. The Libertroph team asked them if we could uplift these lessons again, with a new introduction from David and Margery. The interview transcripts have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Introduction
Reading the transcript of these 2012 interviews we did with Sandy Bernabei, we were struck by their positive and hopeful tone. It seemed that much of our anti-racist organizing was bearing fruit: Organizing to challenge white supremacy was gaining steam across the country, even worldwide. Many non-profits, schools, healthcare, and judicial systems were adopting antiracist principles and practices.
Yet history has taught us that white supremacy always fights back when challenged. The current catastrophic actions being taken by federal as well as some state and local governments to re-assert white supremacy create fear and even hopelessness – as they are intended. Our colleague Barbara Major explains: This anti-democratic movement is gaining power because our broad-based anti-racist movement has been so strong! It should be no surprise. History also shows our way forward, with hope: As we organize together – inside our institutions and in our communities – with clear anti-racist principles, we will regain the momentum to build an even stronger and equitable multiracial democracy.
