Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies : Lived Experiences in the Fight Against Institutionalized Racism

This book examines the myriad of systemic challenges that are baked into the fabric of US society, perpetuating and permeating antiblackness across some of its most trusted institutions. Taken together, the chapters in this book are a guide for scholars interested in social justice promotion within and on behalf of black communities, complete with concrete tools and strategies for constructing authentic helping relationships.

This book examines the myriad of systemic challenges that are baked into the fabric of US society, perpetuating and permeating antiblackness across some of its most trusted institutions. The book begins by introducing the concept of antiblackness and the many ways we see it playing out across various deep-rooted public institutions, including our healthcare system, academia, religious institutions, and others. Then, it considers white privilege as an accelerant to these challenges and moreover as a sinister barrier to addressing these problems. Next, the book shifts past superficial definitions of allyship to offer a path to authentic relationships that can deconstruct antiblack structures and diminish the power of white privilege. Each chapter is written by an esteemed professional or researcher in a multitude of disciplines, including psychology, public health, and medicines, all of whom interweave their personal experiences with sound academic research to uniquely illuminate systemic racism. Taken together, this book is a guide for scholars interested in social justice promotion within and on behalf of black communities, complete with concrete tools and strategies for constructing authentic helping relationships.