THE RACELESS ANTIRACIST: WHY ENDING RACE IS THE FUTURE OF ANTIRACISM
Within the dusty catalog of long-discarded theories about the universe and humankind's place in it, one idea continues to permeate the popular imagination as much today as it did at its ignominious invention: the idea of "race." As a society, we treat the "racial" categories that were invented centuries ago as if they are, in truth, inescapable and permanent aspects of reality. We organize, divide, and judge people based on our belief in "race"—and we often define ourselves and our relationships with others based on this same belief. Many scholars and activists argue that this type of racialization is necessary because even if "race" is not real, racism is. While such an approach might help lessen some effects of racism, it inevitably strengthens the very foundation of racism. As Sheena Michele Mason argues in The Raceless Antiracist, fighting racism by reifying the idea of "race" and operating within the practice of racialization is like trying to stop a flood by dousing it with water. To end racism, we must end the very idea of "race" itself, our practice of racialization, and the attending power imbalances that are part and parcel of race/ism.
“Race supports a hierarchy of being and was created in enthusiastic support of “white” supremacy. It wasn’t made to reconcile us but to ensure that we live in comparison—side by side but never together. Instead, it is the invented problem to keep us going back and forth, back and forth. Us versus them, race’s dehumanization knows no ends. It has no boundaries. Consequently, we need words that hem it in, that get in front of and behind it, that are not just antiracism or antiracist but anti-race,”
“In the United States, we have long needed a toolkit that enables us to keep the ethno-cultural parts of us that provide value while discarding that which keeps us divided and within the throes of our type of racism: anti-blackness,”
“We need a raceless space, a place outside of the confines of race/ism, to identify, analyze, and solve racism itself. The raceless space the theory invites people into is not a “white” or colorblind place where people are encouraged to miss or hide the reality of racism. Instead, one becomes increasingly aware of how whiteness and racialization more broadly operate. That clarity opens ways for more people to unify, reconcile, and heal and create a better future for all without race/ism”
“The language, knowledge, and tools of the theory of racelessness help us do that if we open our imaginations to the probability of a new way forward. Racelessness is the best and most viable future of antirace/ism”
“There are six philosophies of “race.” Three answer the question “What is race:” “Race” is hereditary, synthetic, or imaginary. The other three answer “What should we do about race:” We should preserve, reform, or terminate “race.” Each of us holds two philosophies of “race” even without the language to name them”
