Internalized Racism

What is it and does it affect you?

What is Internalized Racism?

ICYMI, I made a post introducing the concept of internalized racism. I didn’t know what it was until a few years ago, and discovering it was what made me write Muted Colours.

Internalized racism is the absorption of society’s stereotypes and racist ideas about our own race that can result in negative views and hatred toward our own race and culture.*

Internalized racism is a form of internalized oppression.*

Other forms of internalized oppression include internalized ableism, internalized homophobia, etc.

Internalized racism is LEARNED. It can develop from a very young age and function without your conscious awareness or intention.** (Exactly what happened with me!)

Internalized racism can be passed between generations and between people through socialization.** (I wasn’t aware of the messages I was absorbing!)

Internalized racism results in detrimental consequences for an individual and for the collective group to which they belong.** (which is why we need to talk about it.)

So… what now?

If you’re wondering how internalized racism affects you, you’re in good company.

I tell the stories of 14 racialized women from various backgrounds in MUTED COLOURS to help you unpack your own internalized racism. AND I give you the tools to do something about it.

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Now the question is: Do you experience internalized racism?

I’m so glad you asked! I have a quiz for that!

What did you learn about internalized racism from this post?

Let me know in the comments or reply to this email!

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Media Club Picks

LISTEN:

The reason I get through so many books every year is because of AUDIOBOOKS! Yes, I definitely make use of the Libby and Hoopla apps through my local library, and if I can’t get them there, my go-to is Libro.fm - the indie bookstore version of the big name A company that does not need any more money from us!

I know there’s debate about whether listening to a book is the same as reading it… I’m here to say - consuming content in any medium is consuming the content. If you are someone who can CHOOSE to consume content in any medium - that’s great! But you may not be aware that not everyone can choose - and therefore ACCESSIBILITY matters. Readers should not be disparaged because they listen with their ears rather than reading with their eyes.

Here’s a playlist of some of my favourite audiobooks!

(Full disclosure: I am an affiliate with Libro.fm.)

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READ:

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

This is a fantasy YA novel that’s been on my TBR for awhile because I kept hearing such great things about it. King Arthur meets Black girl magic in this trilogy and I am HERE FOR IT! It’s a really unique take with incredible world-building and doesn’t shy away from the history of slavery, problems with the patriarchy, and of course, racism. I already started devouring the next book because it is THAT GOOD!

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WATCH:

The Sympathizer

I read the Pullitzer Prize winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen awhile back (it is an incredible book) and was excited to hear it was being made into a TV series. The series is really well done, with a lot more dark humour than I expected. Beautiful storytelling and interrogation of who’s on the “right” side of history. Available to watch on Crave in Canada.

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Sources:

*Anneliese A. Singh, The Racial Healing Handbook (New Harbinger Publications, 2019), 33.

**EJR David and Annie O. Derthick, “What Is Internalized Oppression, and So What?,” in Internalized Oppression: The Psychology of Marginalized Groups, ed. EJR David (Springer Publishing, 2014), 23.