In the cold of winter, with mid-term elections around the corner and the Republican-led Iowa legislature about to resume, what can we do right here, right now – particularly in rural America — that can lead to the anti-racist world in which we want to live?
Jane Elliott suggests we can start by reading.
As a third-grade teacher in Iowa, Elliott devised and conducted the “Blue eyes/Brown eyes” exercise with her class on April 5, 1968 — the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Elliott is now known around the world as a diversity educator, and as an outspoken “white ally” in the ongoing effort to dismantle institutionalized racism in the United States.
As we all begin to learn what “white people’s allyship” means, we must remember that being an ally is not just a word; it requires action. Dictionary.com’s 2021 word of the year, “allyship” is a noun that refers to “the status or role of a person who advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalized or politicized group in all areas of society, not as a member of that group but in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership” (dictionary.com).
Being an anti-racist ally is not a title, it is a practice.
Our local school district in Decorah, Iowa, cares deeply about its students. But after decades of “not seeing” race or, by extension, racism — caring isn’t enough. Racism, sexism, and bullying in schools have all created an environment that is often toxic for students. While these are tenacious problems, solving them is a challenge many educators are eager to take on. After a Spring 2021 Diversity workshop in Decorah, educators were excited about sharing ideas for diversity appreciation in the classrooms. They are hungry to learn more. However, when the 2021 Iowa legislature passed its “Divisive Concepts” law, intended to stifle educators from teaching about systemic sexism and racism, many educators were left wondering: How do we do this, and where do we begin?
“Join forces with others,” says Jane Elliott. “Join a group. And if you don’t have one, make one.”
Part of my practice as a white-identifying antiracist activist is to talk with others who are doing this work — like Jane Elliott. Her “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise” was first introduced to me in my freshman sociology course, 30 years ago. With my camera recording equipment, I drove an hour west, past harvesters and grain trucks, to Riceville, nearby to where Elliott now lives — to ask her where she gets her inspiration.
We sit down at a round, oak table in her kitchen, overlooking a deck and bird feeders. Elliott wants to talk about books that have opened her mind; they’re what she turns to for new ideas, for self-nurturing, and even for church. (She was kicked out of the Osage Methodist Church years ago when she referred to G*d as “she” and flatly told congregants that Jesus didn’t have pale skin).
“Grab me that book,” she says, pointing to a bookshelf in her kitchen. The book is “Caste,” by Isabel Wilkerson.
“In a world without caste,” Elliott reads, “we would join forces with Indigenous people around the world raising the alarm as fires rage and glaciers melt. We would see that when others suffer the collective human body is set back from the progression of our species. A world without caste would set everyone free.”
I ask Elliott for a reading list for those of us who want to re-imagine community, teach the truth, and create a safe and empowering environment for everyone. She urges us to read and listen to Black people and other people of color, not just “‘melanemic’ or pale-skinned people” — like her, she says.
With sunshine streaming into her kitchen, Elliott plucks some more favorite reads off a shelf, and I make note of the titles. After all, what could be better than a good read on a cold day? Perhaps a friend to share it with — talking about what you’ve learned with someone you care about is among the joys of being human. And if it involves the dismantling of racism, all the better.
Here are some books Elliott has been reading, of late; for a more extensive selection of recommended readings, visit her website at https://janeelliott.com.
“Caste – The Origins of Our Discontents,” by Isabel Wilkerson
“C Street – The Fundamentalist Threat to American Democracy,” by Jeff Sharlet
“Rich Thanks to Racism- How the Ultra-Wealthy Profit from Racial Injustice,” by Jim Freeman.
“Sapiens – A Brief History of Mankind,” by Yuval Noah Harari.
“The Color of Law – A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America,” by Richard Rothstein
“Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal,” by Andrew Hacker
“The System – Who Rigged it, How We Fix It,” by Robert Reich
People are forming diversity, equity, and justice groups in workspaces and communities all over the country. Collective Action for Racial Equity — CARE — formed two years ago to connect and activate people working to dismantle racism in the Decorah area. CARE shares resources (like interviews with Jane Elliott) on a Youtube channel and leads reading groups with people committed to challenging and dismantling racism.
To connect with Collective Action for Racial Equity, join CARE’s Facebook page and sign up for the weekly CARE newsletter by emailing decorahcare@gmail.com.
Click on the image below to hear Jane Elliott reading from “Caste,” by Isabel Wilkerson.
