What is the difference between being not racist and anti-racist?
This was the overarching question posed to three diversity, equity and inclusion scholars at Embrace Boston’s Ideas Festival. The multi-day event brings together guest panelists to discuss art, culture and activism.
Part of Thursday’s panel brought together three Black leaders: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, the director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, Colette Phillips of Colette Phillips Communications Inc. and Malia Lazu, a strategist in diversity and inclusion at M.I.T, to discuss how to implement anti-racist strategies.
For Phillips, it’s about creating allyship, a coalition of people who can rely on one another.
“We cannot do this work alone or in silo we must work together, collectively,” she said. “Not to necessarily be the white knights on white horses. But willing to stand in the breach, shoulder-to-shoulder.”