Many rural Appalachian communities are predominantly white. Why is anti-racist work important here?
Racism in the United States exists even in communities and institutions where people of color are not physically present or are a small percentage of the community. White Appalachians, while not feeling privileged, unknowingly benefit from racist institutions even while condemning a system known to be unfair, unjust, and oppressive. Racism is communicated powerfully and often subtly in society, through the media, schools, the legal system, and other structures and institutions that make decisions about our lives. ACF feels that in order for any of our organizations to be allies in the movement for social change — which includes people from all races and ethnicities — we have to be willing to work cooperatively and respectfully with each other, and to be accountable for our behavior with our allies.
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