Guiding Concepts
The following is a list of key concepts for this guide, including a brief definition or video to introduce you to these ideas.
Racism
"A belief that one’s own racial or ethnic group is superior, or that other such groups represent a threat to one's cultural identity, racial integrity, or economic well-being; (also) a belief that the members of different racial or ethnic groups possess specific characteristics, abilities, or qualities, which can be compared and evaluated. Hence: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against people of other racial or ethnic groups (or, more widely, of other nationalities), esp. based on such beliefs." Oxford English Dictionary
Antiracism
"The policy or practice of opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance." Oxford English Dictionary
"Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably." NAC International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi video (2 min) | Waterstones 2019
Privilege
"A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group." Oxford English Dictionary
White Privilege
"What is white privilege? It's the level of societal advantage that comes with being seen as the norm in America, automatically conferred irrespective of wealth, gender, or other factors. It makes life smoother, but it's something you would barely notice unless it were suddenly taken away -- or unless it had never applied to you in the first place." Christine Emba
White Privilege, Explained video (4 min) | Washington Post (2016)
Equity and Equality
"Equity: Equity can be defined as the quality of treating individuals fairly based on their needs and requirements. Equity is a principle that is based upon justness and fairness. Attention is paid to individual needs and requirements.
"Equality: Equality can be defined as treating each and every individual in the same manner irrespective of needs and requirements. Equality demands everyone be treated at the same level. Individual needs and requirements are ignored." DifferenceBetween.com
Equity and Equality video (4 min) | Rising Tide Center 2019
Microagressions
"Microagressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. In many cases, these hidden messages may invalidate the group identity or experiential reality of target persons, demean them on a personal or group level, communicate they are lesser human beings, suggest they do not belong with the majority group, threaten and intimidate, or relegate them to inferior status and treatment." Derald Wing Sue Ph.D.
If Microagressions Happened to White People video (3 min) | MTV Impact 2015
Intersectionality
"Coined in 1989 by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another and overlap, intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. It considers people’s overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face. In other words, intersectional theory asserts that people are often disadvantaged by multiple sources of oppression: their race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and other identity markers." USU Center for Intersectional Gender Studies & Research
Intersectionality 101 video (3 min) | Teaching Tolerance 2016
Statement of Solidarity
The USU Libraries condemns racism and violence against Black people and all people of color. Black Lives Matter. Read more here.
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