DAY 1: Social Identities & Systems of Oppression

Who we think we are and who others think we are has an influence on how we navigate the world, think about possibilities, and take action. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all assigned multiple social identities, both internal and external.

Educators from oneTILT define social identity as having these three characteristics:

• Exists (or is consistently used) to bestow power, benefits, or disadvantage
• Is used to explain differences in outcomes, effort, or ability.
• Is immutable or difficult, costly, or dangerous to change.

Examples of social identities include race, gender, class, ability, and sexuality.

The term "systems of oppression" helps us call attention to the historical and organized patterns of mistreatment against people with non-dominant social identities. In the United States, systems of oppression (like racism) are woven into the very foundation of American culture, society, and laws. Other examples of systems of oppression are sexism, heterosexism, ableism, classism, ageism, and anti-Semitism. Society's institutions, such as government, education, and culture all contribute to or reinforce the oppression of marginalized social groups while elevating powerful, dominant social groups.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	15 Minutes
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EXAMINE THIS GRAPHIC to break down how oppression of various social groups becomes ingrained in our society.	and	REVIEW THIS BLOG POST by YWCA Boston, outlining the "Big 8" of social identities.	and	EXPLORE THIS INTERACTIVE ARTICLE detailing the five main ways oppression shows up.

DAY 2: Historical Foundations of Race

When we say “race” what are we talking about? Race has no biological meaning or significance. Race does, however, have a great deal of social significance in everyday life and what opportunities are available to us. Social scientists call the term race a “social construct,” that is, it was invented and given meaning by human beings. It is a trait or set of traits—skin color, hair texture, the shape of one’s eyes—that is used for allocating power and distributing society’s material benefits and burdens.

From the earliest moments in our history, racial group identities granted access to resources and power to those who were “white” while excluding those who were “other” legally, politically, and socially. Attempts to label this systemic categorization a science, such as the Eugenics movement, have been debunked as it has been made clear that the leaders of this movement had no scientific basis for their research. Racial 'science' instead falsely blamed minority groups for the consequences of systemic racism, attributing the cause of inequality to genetics, ignoring social and environmental conditions. This race-based system of power and privilege continues to provide false justification for present and past actions such as the enslavement of Africans, the taking of Indigenous lands, the limits set on Asian & Latin American immigrants, and forced sterilizations.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	30 Minutes	and	45 Minutes
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WATCH THIS VIDEO that unpacks the origins of race as a social construct.	and	READ THIS INTERACTIVE ARTICLE from the The National Museum of African American History and Culture.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST featuring prominent journalist and researcher, Chenjerai Kumanyika, that takes a deep dive into the history of race and racism.

DAY 3: Levels of Oppression

Are you seeing and addressing how racism and other forms of oppression operate at different levels? Dr. Camara Jones, Senior Fellow at the Morehouse School of Medicine, says that in order to address racism effectively, we have to understand how it operates at multiple levels. Often what people think of first and foremost is interpersonal racism, but in order to eliminate racism, we must focus our actions to address systemic forms of racism—institutional and structural.

Structural racism refers to the complex ways in which history, public policies, institutional practices and cultural representations interact to maintain racial hierarchy and inequitable racial group outcomes.

Applying a structural racism lens allows us to see and understand:

• The racial legacy of our past
• How racism persists in our national policies, institutional practices, and cultural representations
• How racism is transmitted and either amplified or mitigated through public, private, and community institutions
• How individuals internalize and respond to racialized structures

Understanding how each level shows up is crucial to understanding exactly why and how we need to work for racial justice.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	10 Minutes
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VIEW THIS INFOGRAPHIC on levels of racism to better understand how these levels present themselves in our community.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE explaining the difference between interpersonal and institutional racism.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST where author Ijeoma Oluo discusses the need for a systemic approach to seeing and addressing racism.

DAY 4: Hate Crimes

In the next few days of the challenge, we are going to look at examples of oppression in action. How does it show up on different levels and what kind of impact does it have on the people who experience it? Today, we are examining the most extreme form of interpersonal oppression: hate.

The FBI defines a hate crime as a "criminal offense motivated in whole or in part by an offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity." While interpersonal in nature, violence against non-dominant groups is influenced by biased institutions and culture, and has an impact beyond just those directly victimized. Since the onset of COVID-19, xenophobic rhetoric has caused a massive increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Hate is more harmful when it is organized. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) defines a hate group as "an organization or collection of individuals that – based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities – has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics." Today, the SPLC has identified over 900 active hate groups, "a 60% increase since 2000." These groups are everywhere, infiltrating communities in all 50 states.

In response to these increases in hate, new legislation has been brought before congress. The Jabara-Heyer NO Hate Act, named after a Lebanese American man killed in Oklahoma and Heather Heyer, a white woman killed at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, would streamline the national hate crime reporting systems used by law enforcement, create a hate crimes hotline and expand assistance and resources for victims of hate crimes, and support training for law enforcement on investigating hate crimes. It would help the FBI better understand where, why, and how these incidents occur, and how to better take action, both proactively and reactively, on this critical issue. As of May 18 2021 this bill has passed in the Senate and the House.

On Thursday, May 20, President Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act as a response to the rise of hate, bigotry and violence targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The act creates a position at the Department of Justice to expedite the review of COVID-19 related hate crimes, encourages reporting, and empowers communities to come forward and report incidents. Legislation like this is essential for communities traumatized by racist rhetoric and violence to have the resources needed for community healing.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	30 Minutes
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READ THIS BLOG to better understand the gaps in hate crime reporting and how to report these incidents locally.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE  to better understand how to interpret local hate crime data and trends in Washington state.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST as experts unpack the US justice system's measure of what leads a violent incident of bias to be categorized as a hate crime.

• BONUS 1: If you have a few extra minutes, read these stories to learn about the experiences of Asian Americans who have faced interpersonal racism related to COVID-19. (Content warning: uncensored and personal accounts of interpersonal violence)
• BONUS 2: If you have an extra 45 minutes, explore this report on fatal violence against the transgender and non-conforming community, which disproportionately impacts Black transgender women

DAY 5: Opportunity & Wealth Gaps

Differences in academic achievement — and eventual earned income — are often the result of the "opportunity gap:" the unequal and inequitable distribution of educational resources and opportunities that results in radically different levels of success for individuals based on their race, ZIP code, and socioeconomic status.

While a product of historic economic policies and social practices (such as housing segregation), the racial wealth gap stubbornly persists today: for every $100 a typical white family has in wealth, a typical Black family has less than $10 in net worth.

Without critical educational and wealth building opportunities for families of color, these gaps will only widen.

If you have...

10 Minutes	and	20 Minutes	and	1 Hour
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USE THIS RACIAL WEALTH GAP CALCULATOR to better understand how wealth disparities and race are intertwined.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST that unpacks how the devaluation of Black lives and property has lead to the racial disparities we see today.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE OR LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST  about what's stopping student success

DAY 6: Domestic Violence

Domestic violence affects people of all gender identities and races. However, women, communities of color, and those in the LGBTQ+ community are especially affected by domestic violence and are statistically harmed at higher rates compared to other groups.

1 in 4 women in the U.S. will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and more than 40% of Black women will. According to the CDC, 44% of lesbian women, 61% of bisexual women, and at least 50% of transgender people report having experienced intimate partner violence of some kind. The CDC also reports that Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women experience the highest rates of homicide, and that over half (55%) of those homicides were related to intimate partner violence. It is important to note that incidents of domestic violence are often underreported, so rates may be even higher than existing data reflects.

YWCA USA is the single largest network of domestic and sexual violence service providers in the nation. More than 150 YWCAs across 44 states provide gender-based violence services. YWCA Spokane offers a wide variety of services for those who have experienced domestic violence, including legal support, safety planning, mental health services, housing advocacy, employment support, and much more. Our 24 hour helpline can be reached at 509-326-2255, and you can read more about the services we offer on our website.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	1 hour
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REVIEW THIS GRAPHIC  of the Power & Control Wheel from our website to better understand the dynamics of domestic violence.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE  to learn more about local trends in domestic violence amidst the pandemic.	and	EXPLORE THIS GUIDE on how to be an ally to survivors of domestic violence in the community.

BONUS: Check out Day 11 of last year's challenge to learn more about the impact of identity on domestic violence.

DAY 7: Homelessness

What does homelessness have to do with racial equity? Structural racism, discrimination, and unconscious bias in housing and employment have led to an overrepresentation of racial minorities experiencing homelessness across the nation.

We tend to think that homelessness and housing insecurity are caused by poverty; that they are simply due to a person’s inability to pay rent. But consider the data: People of color are dramatically more likely than their white counterparts to become homeless — even when poverty rates are taken into consideration. In essence, homelessness is one of the most visible manifestations of racial inequity.

Homelessness also affects survivors of domestic violence at a disproportionate rate. In 2018, the city of Spokane found that 1 in 2 people experiencing homelessness were currently fleeing domestic violence (DV). Housing is the most common need for survivors of DV, and is often the most unmet need. YWCA shelters are a safe haven for families fleeing DV who should not have to choose between shelter and safety.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	30 Minutes
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WATCH THIS VIDEO  that unpacks the intersections between gender-based violence, racism, and homelessness.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE  that breaks down Spokane's point-in-time homeless count.	and	READ THIS REPORT that discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened housing insecurity for people of color.

DAY 8: healthcare

The unfortunate truth is that while we have all been going through the same global pandemic, there is a very stark contrast in how different communities have experienced this COVID-19 crisis.

COVID-19 has exacerbated some of the disparities caused by healthcare inequities and socioeconomic disadvantages that so many of our nation's minoritized demographic groups are forced to survive through. But it would be a great injustice to exclude the fact that these issues have been around for generations before this crisis, and are permanently ingrained in the historical fabric of the United States.

Whether considering race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, creed, or any other basis or intersection of identity, our nation operates through an established social hierarchy that ranks one person over another. This hierarchy goes beyond being determined by quantity (i.e. majority vs. minority) but also reinforces the power structures and social dynamics that dictate the differences in healthcare that would lead to two patients walking into the same healthcare institution but leaving with completely opposite results and experiences.

The historical foundation and present-day prevalence of this systemic issue must be reckoned and reconciled with before any impactful and lasting progress can be made. Only through intentional representation and unrelenting advocacy can we even begin to mend this healthcare divide.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	1 hour
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READ THIS ARTICLE  on how health disparities exist, even in the face of socioeconomic success.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE  about the disproportionately high mortality rates for Black babies and one potential solution.	and	WATCH THIS RECORDING of our Stand Against Racism 2021 event to learn more about why racism is a public health crisis (discussion starts at 25 min mark).

• BONUS 1: If you have an extra 15 minutes, watch this video to get a better understanding of the origins of racial health disparities
• BONUS 2: If you have an extra hour, check out this Facebook talk on "Healthcare Injustice: Past, Present, and Future" from Public Health Dayton Montgomery County.

DAY 9: Working & Parenting in the Pandemic

Almost 70 percent of mothers say that worry and stress from the pandemic have damaged their health, magnified by a number of intersecting issues, including poverty, race, having special needs children, and being a single parent. New mothers are also facing record isolation, with triple the number of new moms experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety according to one study.

We are also living through our nation's first female-driven recession, as the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis has triggered a nationwide "shecession," risking decades of progress for women in the workplace. January 2020 was the second time ever that women held more jobs than men in the workforce — now, a year later, more than 2.3 million women across the U.S. have exited the workforce.

Women are bearing the burden of providing full-time childcare as schools and daycares remain limited — many while still working full-time in or out of the home. The pandemic has also reversed women's workplace gains as female-dominated sectors have been hit the hardest. Fields like leisure, hospitality, childcare, and healthcare are also disproportionately nonwhite and female.

One in four women are considering downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce entirely because of the impact of COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, the economic crisis caused by the pandemic has impacted women of color the most. Latinas were particularly affected by the economic ramifications of COVID-19, with unemployment rates exceeding 20 percent.

The dependence on mothers to be full-time teachers, caregivers, and breadwinners simultaneously is also placing a toxic toll on mental health that needs to be acknowledged.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	30 Minutes
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READ THIS ARTICLE to take a closer look at the condition of women and people of color in the Washington workforce amidst the COVID pandemic.	and	EXPLORE THIS REPORT by the National Women's Law Center on the pandemic, economy, and state of women's work in America.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST by WBUR examining the long-term impacts of the "shecession" on families.

• BONUS 1: If you have an extra 5 minutes, read this report from CNBC on the struggle of Black and Latina women in the job market recovery.
• BONUS 2: If you have an extra 15 minutes, read this article about the effect of American work culture on working and parenting in the pandemic .

DAY 10: Reparations

Over the past few weeks, we have learned about various forms of oppression that have put Black Americans at a disadvantage economically, politically, and socially. Today, we are going to explore one of the most significant ways our country could redress this 400 years of injustice: reparations.

Reparations are broadly understood as compensation given for abuse or injury. While the conversation of reparations has gained new momentum with legislative movements, such as H.R. 40, the idea of reparations as a tool for curing injustice is not new.

Today we are going to explore the history of reparations in the United States and how reparations for slavery could serve as a tool for creating a more equitable society and repairing the significant harm that is still felt by generations today.

If you have...

15 Minutes	and	20 Minutes	and	45 Minutes
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WATCH THIS VIDEO that explores the history of reparations in America.	and	READ THIS OVERVIEW  on the national conversation about reparations.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST that unpacks how reparations would work in 2021.

DAY 11: Privilege & Whiteness

As we begin to wrap up this year's challenge, we are going to focus on how can we as individuals combat the oppression in our society. A great way to start is by recognizing our own privilege.

Privileges are unearned benefits that someone has just by having a certain social identity. Having or not having privileges is not a guarantee of success or failure; it is simply a different starting point that makes success more or less likely. People with higher amounts of privilege are less likely to be aware of their privilege compared to people with lesser amounts of privilege.

White privilege is both a legacy and a cause of racism. Having white privilege and recognizing it is not racist, but white privilege exists because of historic, enduring racism and biases.

From the earliest moments in our history, racial group identities granted access to resources and power to those who were "White" while excluding those who were "Other" legally, politically, and socially. Today we are going to talk about privilege and the impact of whiteness in our anti-racist work. How does privilege and white supremacy show up in our communities, our organizations, and in ourselves?

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	15 Minutes	and	30 Minutes
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TAKE THIS SELF-ASSESSMENT about privilege from YWCA Greater Cleveland.	and	READ THIS ESSAY  on understanding "What is white privilege, really?"	and	REVIEW THIS LIST OF INDICATORS of a detour or wrong turn into white guilt, denial, or defensiveness.

• BONUS: To explore understanding and utilizing privilege more, check out Day 6 from last year's challenge.

DAY 12: Implicit Bias

The term “implicit bias” describes when we have attitudes towards people or associate stereotypes with them without our conscious knowledge. Residing deep in the subconscious, these implicit biases can be both positive and negative, and can be activated without you even knowing it. They operate unconsciously and differ from known biases that people may intentionally hide.

A growing number of studies show a link between hidden biases and actual behavior. In other words, implicit bias can reveal itself in action, especially when a person's efforts to control behavior consciously fail under stress, distraction, relaxation, or competition.

Everyone has some form of implicit bias, but knowledge is empowering. It is critical that we recognize, stay aware of, and learn to correct for the biases we carry. Having biases doesn’t make you a bad person — it only makes you human.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	10 Minutes	and	1 hour
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CLICK ON MODULE 1, LESSON 3 TO WATCH THIS VIDEO that unpacks how implicit bias develops. (If you have more time, check out the other modules!)	and	TAKE ONE OF THESE TESTS  on hidden bias to uncover your implicit associations about race, gender, sexual orientation, and other topics.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST from NPR that examines research on "studying the invisible:" prejudices so deeply buried, we often doubt their existence.

DAY 13: Anti-racism & Allyship

As you approach the end of the challenge, you're probably starting to wonder what comes next. Have I fulfilled my duties as an anti-racist by digesting this content for 14 days? The answer is no. While this challenge may have been your first step to engaging in racial justice work, there is a lot of work to be done to dismantle systemic racism, and we need everyone, in every space, to do it.

Systemic racism exists in every corner of our society. To put an end to this it is not enough to not be racist. Each of us is responsible for using our privilege to address racism when it shows up and be proactively anti-racist in the spaces we inhabit like our job, school, religious institution, family, or neighborhood. What does that mean? It doesn't require that you always know the right thing to say or do in any given situation. Anti-racism asks that you take action and work against racism wherever you find it, including — and perhaps most especially — in yourself. It is an active way of seeing and being in the world, in order to transform it including the recognition that racism is complicated and reinforced by other forms of oppression.

This is critical because we often inhabit monolithic spaces where diverse perspectives aren't heard. Often, being actively anti-racist will require us to give something up — our comfort, a relationship, a job opportunity, or a policy that benefits us — in order to dismantle racist systems. If we really want to eliminate racism, we must commit to being active accomplices even when it's hard, rather than engaging in performative activism.

If you have...

5 Minutes	and	20 Minutes	and	1 hour
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WATCH THIS CONVERSATION that explores how white people can turn performative support into true allyship.	and	READ THIS ARTICLE OR LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST that provides four tips for working towards anti-racism in your life.	and	LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST that unpacks what authentic allyship means.

DAY 14: Raising Our Voices

Congratulations – you've made it to the end of YWCA Spokane's 14-Day Challenge for 2021!

These 14 days were thoughtfully curated to inform you, to challenge you, to make you uncomfortable, and to inspire you. Our commitment to the work of racial equity and social justice requires action from each of us.

Completing this challenge is a great way to further your social justice journey. It is also important to recognize that "choosing" to learn or talk about race is not a privilege everyone has. We must remain actively engaged and talk about racism within our spheres of influence. This could be with your coworkers, family members, or friends. You might be the one person they listen to or say something that helps them further their own journey.

There is no "one way" to have this brave conversation. And while we may never have the perfect response, we always need to try. Now is the time to do our part by speaking up so, together, we can eliminate racism.

If you have...

10 Minutes	and	15 Minutes	and	1 hour
	and		and
Need resources for the kids in your life? CHECK OUT THIS TOOLKIT for discussing race with children as parents and caregivers.	and	Want to effect change at work? READ THIS GUIDE on building an anti-racist workplace.	and	Nervous about speaking up? CONTINUE CHALLENGING YOURSELF WITH THIS TOOLKIT of ways to respond to everyday instances of racism.