Why Black Lives Matter with Darryl Edwards #117
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee speaks with Darryl Edwards, The Fitness Explorer, about his experiences with systemic racism in the UK, the historical construction of race, and the ongoing impact of the transatlantic slave trade. They discuss how individuals can respond with empathy, education, and action in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Deep Dive Analysis
15 Topic Outline
Introduction to Race, Prejudice, and Privilege
Darryl's Background and the Genesis of Racial Division
The Social Construct of Race and Transatlantic Slave Trade Origins
Justification for Slavery and British Empire's Role
Legacy of Slavery: Compensation, Colonization, and Colorism
Recent History of Segregation and Apartheid
Darryl's Personal Experiences with Racism in the UK
Workplace Discrimination and Covert Racism
Repeated Police Stops and Being Held at Gunpoint
Responding to Racism: Awareness, Empathy, and Action
The 'All Lives Matter' Argument and Lack of Empathy
Impact of Systemic Racism on Psyche and Self-Worth
Historical Misrepresentation and Linguistic Roots of Racism
Darryl's Wellness Work and Animal Moves Decks
Optimism for Change and Call to Action
4 Key Concepts
Social Construct of Race
Race is not a biological or genetic construct, but a social one created in Europe around the late 14th to early 15th century. This construct was developed to justify the enslavement and dehumanization of non-European peoples, particularly Africans.
Transatlantic Slave Trade Justification
The Roman Catholic Church and European crowns permitted slavery for non-Europeans under specific conditions. These included conversion to Christianity, lifelong enslavement without possibility of freedom, and the creation of a system that deemed enslaved people as inferior or non-human to bypass religious prohibitions against killing.
Colorism
A concept introduced by the British in colonized regions like India, where lighter skin complexion was associated with superiority and led to better life experiences. This influence contributed to existing social hierarchies, such as aspects of the caste system, based on skin color.
Systemic Racism
This refers to the ingrained, institutionalized problem of racism that persists through laws, policies, and societal attitudes, even after overt discriminatory acts or legal segregation are abolished. It creates a continuous legacy of suppression and oppression, affecting individuals' daily lives and opportunities.
7 Questions Answered
The concept of race as a social construct, rather than a biological one, originated in Europe in the late 14th to early 15th century to justify the transatlantic slave trade and the dehumanization of non-European peoples.
European nations, including the Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, and Dutch, capitalized on existing slavery in Africa and established a triangular trade route. This involved transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas to harvest lucrative commodities like tobacco, cotton, and sugar, which were then sent to Europe, and in turn, guns and other goods were traded for more slaves in Africa.
No, racism continued through systemic laws of suppression, oppression, colonization, and segregation, such as Jim Crow laws in the US and the British Empire's influence on colorism in India. The legacy of these systems persists today, affecting wealth, opportunities, and social treatment.
Darryl experienced racism from a young age, including playground bullying and overt workplace discrimination where his qualifications were overlooked due to his race. He also recounts being stopped by police while driving at least 100 times, including at gunpoint, often without legitimate cause.
This reaction often stems from a lack of empathy and an inability to recognize that while all lives do matter, the 'Black Lives Matter' movement highlights a disproportionate suffering and systemic injustice faced by the black community, similar to how specific awareness days focus on particular issues without negating others.
Systemic racism creates a chronic emotional stress, a feeling of constantly 'sleeping with one eye open,' and an internalized burden of having to be 'the best' to overcome prejudice. It can lead to self-doubt and a sense that one's true self is not good enough, regardless of achievements.
Individuals should educate themselves, listen to the experiences of victims, show empathy, and actively call out and challenge racist behavior and demands for diversity in their workplaces and communities. This active engagement, rather than passive awareness, is crucial for dismantling systemic issues.
40 Actionable Insights
1. Cultivate Empathy and Compassion
Prioritize developing empathy and compassion as these are essential for improving one’s well-being and overall life experience.
2. Internalize Racism as Personal
Take personal responsibility to internalize experiences of racism, imagining ’that could have been me,’ to foster a deeper understanding and response.
3. Recognize Racism as Humanitarian Issue
Understand and acknowledge that racism is a fundamental humanitarian problem that involves and affects everyone, not just specific communities.
4. Demand Societal Change
After listening, engaging, and learning about issues like racism, actively go out into the world and demand change.
5. Speak Out, Demand Diversity
Actively call out examples of racism, demand more diversity in the workplace, and challenge vile comments on social media by responding that it’s unacceptable.
6. Advocate for Inclusive Language
Actively work to change language by eroding out racially charged terms like ‘blackmail’ or ‘blacklist’ and advocating for alternative, inclusive words to promote equality and dignity.
7. Embrace Reconciliation & Education
Adopt a strategy of reconciliation, learning lessons, acknowledging the past, and educating all sides to heal societal divisions, rather than focusing on blame or retaliation.
8. Ask & Listen to Victims
Sincerely ask questions and actively listen to the experiences of victims of racism, understanding that genuine inquiry is welcomed and crucial for understanding.
9. Actively Listen to Experiences
Take advantage of extended opportunities for discussion to actively listen to the experiences of those affected by issues like racism.
10. Listen to Repeated Racism Experiences
Actively listen to individuals who share their experiences of racism, recognizing that for many, these are not new issues but rather a ‘Groundhog Day’ of repeated struggles.
11. Don’t Fear Learning About Racism
Overcome the fear of talking or asking for help when educating oneself about racism, recognizing that awareness is a necessary ingredient for change.
12. Understand Race as Social Construct
Educate oneself on the historical genesis of race as a social construct, not a biological one, to better understand its systemic and structural impact on current experiences.
13. Understand Slavery’s Lasting Legacy
Recognize that the abolition of slavery did not end its legacy, but rather led to systemic laws and practices designed to maintain suppression and oppression.
14. Recognize Pervasive Systemic Racism
Acknowledge that a legacy of systemic racism, based on a hierarchy of privilege and supremacy, continues to affect everyone, with darker skin complexions often experiencing more severe treatment.
15. Identify Personal Blind Spots
Reflect on and identify personal blind spots regarding the pervasive issue of racism, acknowledging potential unawareness of its significant problems globally and locally.
16. Acknowledge Varied Racism Experiences
Spend time reflecting on and acknowledging that different communities experience racism in profoundly different ways, particularly distinguishing the Black community’s experience.
17. Actively Observe Systemic Bias
Actively look for and acknowledge systemic bias and lack of diversity in various fields, recognizing that talent alone does not always guarantee success due to these underlying issues.
18. Seek Diverse Historical Narratives
Actively seek out and learn about diverse historical narratives, including contributions from non-Eurocentric civilizations and people of color, to counteract biased historical teachings.
19. Critically Evaluate History
Approach historical narratives with critical thinking, recognizing that history is often written by victors to justify past actions and may involve rewritten accounts or altered language.
20. Connect Social Issues to Health
Understand that social issues, such as racism, are integral components of overall health and wellbeing, and should be discussed within that context.
21. Proactively Address Diversity Gaps
Instead of waiting to be asked, proactively question and address the lack of representation and diversity in various groups and platforms.
22. Promote Diverse Representation
Actively seek out and support products or media that purposefully represent diverse individuals and heritages, or create such content oneself, to foster a sense of belonging and visibility.
23. Support Anti-Racism Allies
Express gratitude and support to individuals who speak out against racism or post messages of solidarity, acknowledging their efforts despite potential backlash.
24. Recognize Inherent Privilege
Be aware that privilege exists based on factors like country of birth or heritage, and recognize how this interconnectedly affects everyone.
25. Recognize Human Genetic Similarity
Understand and internalize the scientific fact of human genetic similarity (99.9% identical DNA) to foster a sense of shared humanity and interconnectedness.
26. Learn, Educate, Listen, Empathize
Actively engage in learning, educating oneself and others, listening to diverse experiences, and showing empathy, as these are fundamental human capacities for positive change.
27. Maintain Racism Awareness
Live with a constant awareness of systemic racism, understanding that it can manifest at any time and has always been a part of one’s existence.
28. Strive for Excellence
Internalize the need to be exceptionally good and perform far better than others as a strategy to overcome systemic discrimination and bias.
29. Over-Prepare to Outperform Bias
Go above and beyond in preparation and performance, such as memorizing extensive material, to ensure one stands out and is hired despite potential biases.
30. Pursue Career You Love
Choose a career path based on genuine passion and interest, rather than solely on initial plans or external expectations.
31. Learn Ancestral History
Understand and acknowledge one’s ancestral history, particularly if it includes experiences like slavery, to grasp its lasting impact.
32. Engage with Important Conversations
Actively seek out and engage with important, authentic, and insightful conversations to encourage reflection on how one might approach things differently.
33. Make Lifestyle Changes
Take ownership of your health and actively make lifestyle changes, as this is always worthwhile and leads to feeling better and living more fully.
34. Be Architect of Own Health
Empower yourself to take active control and become the architect of your own health, recognizing nutrition as a crucial pillar.
35. Use Animal Moves Decks
Utilize Animal Moves decks, which are fitness cards, to engage in unstructured, fun, and playful movement games, either alone or with others, including different versions for various age groups.
36. Wear Vivo Barefoot Shoes
Wear Vivo Barefoot minimalist shoes for activities like walking, working, running, or playing, as they have been life-transforming for the speaker.
37. Try Vivo Barefoot Risk-Free
Try Vivo Barefoot shoes with their 100-day risk-free trial for new customers, allowing for a full refund if not satisfied.
38. Watch “13th” Documentary
Watch the 90-minute documentary ‘13th’ to gain an informative and engaging understanding of the history of racism and the criminal justice system in America.
39. Watch “When They See Us”
Watch the documentary ‘When They See Us’ to understand the impact of racism, but be prepared for a very emotional and potentially tear-inducing experience.
40. Explore Black British History
Seek out and engage with resources, such as those highlighted by the BBC, to learn about the extensive 2,000-year legacy of Africans within the UK, beyond just the Windrush generation.
6 Key Quotes
I feel as if I'm sleeping, always sleeping with one eye open and one eye closed. That's what this kind of systemic racism, this feeling of living is like.
Darryl Edwards
Our window of discussion has extended. Please listen to us.
Darryl Edwards
You just didn't assume that I could be the person you spoke to on the phone who's now turned up and has this skin complexion.
Darryl Edwards
There is more ethnic diversity between me and you, right? Less, sorry, less ethnic diversity between me and you than there is between all people of African descent.
Darryl Edwards
Black became bad, you know, language changed, black male, blacklisted, white became associated with what was angelic, black, what was deemed as sin, and that's still part of our language today.
Darryl Edwards
If I show them I'm being intimidated, then that's probably going to make them, you know, again, I'm being bullied here. I'm being bullied.
Darryl Edwards