Introducing New Demographic’s core beliefs
JC & CVK
You may have noticed that we’ve gradually been making changes to the way we describe New Demographic. When we launched the company in late 2004, our main goal was to raise awareness about issues surrounding mixed race identity and interracial relationships. Over the years, our work has evolved. What we realized is that we were actually using the topics of mixed race identity and interracial relationships as filters through which to discuss larger issues surrounding race in general. Essentially, we’re an anti-racism training company.
We recently sat down and figured out how we could summarize the principles that guide our work so that people could quickly understand our core beliefs. We’ve listed them below, and posted this video in which we discuss each of these beliefs.
- We go beyond uncritical celebrations of diversity and multiculturalism and confront head-on the complex issues surrounding race and racism today.
- In challenging racism, we go beyond individual acts of prejudice and recognize that racist ideals are disseminated by the very structures and systems upon which this country is built.
- We go beyond the concerns of the specific community to which we belong and recognize that when one group is discriminated against, it is an affront to us all.
- When discussing racism, we go beyond simply blaming “The Man” and recognize that racism persists through an intricate web of intergroup and intragroup oppression and privilege.
- We go beyond “diversity speak” and academic jargon and recognize that using direct, down-to-earth language is the best way to engage people in anti-racism work.
- We go beyond acceptance of finite racial categories and recognize that race has no biological basis, but that the social construct of race impacts us all.
eric daniels wrote:
I like your manifesto of sorts but call me a cynic, because even though I agree with almost everything you said, Race is now a politcial construct in this country. And politcans and activists will use anyone’s words to take advantage of race whether through science or stats. Like Derrick Bell, I have come to believe that race unfortuantely is a permanment part of this country’s legacy. You cannot change first sin.
Posted 18 Sep 2006 at 11:51 am ¶
Rachel S wrote:
Great to see your core beliefs spelled out. I was a little worried when I first came upon this blog that I was going to have to read the sort of “James Landrith” wing of the multiracial movement. In fact, over time I have come to believe that much of the multiracial movement is predicated more on gaining acceptance for IRs and multiracial people and less on stopping racism. It is nice to seem multiracial advocacy that really strongly connects to racism and discrimination more broadly. (Insert hand clapping icon here. )
Posted 19 Sep 2006 at 1:09 pm ¶
Mark La Roi wrote:
Good stuff! Add another set of hands clapping…
Posted 19 Sep 2006 at 1:35 pm ¶
James Landrith wrote:
I was unaware that I had my own “wing” of the multiracial movement.
Wow.
Funny thing, I’ve always gotten along with Jen and Carmen and have communicated with both of them privately and publicly.
Perhaps Rachel didn’t know that when she attempted to play us against each other in her comments above. Rachel’s approach is similar to the “with us or against us” approach favored by the neo-conservatives running the government at present.
I have great respect for Swirl and Mixed Media Watch. I don’t always agree 100% with their take on a given topic, but I’ve never felt antagonistic or as if we are separate “wings.” We agree far more than we disagree.
People really need to stop trying to force their own agendas on others without doing their homework first.
Posted 24 Sep 2006 at 9:26 pm ¶