De-silencing Anti-Black Racism and Countering the Master Narrative in Human Resource Development and Beyond

Racism has been a silent topic in the community of HRD because [some] Whites do not see racism as their issue. However, the current landscape of society has become extremely racially charged and makes anti-racism work more imperative than ever. This chapter will present defining constructs of anti-racism, but will be more entrenched within anti-Black racism. The work being done in professional organizations will be highlighted as these organizations are typically sites for growth and development but often support a race-neutral mentality. Work done in the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) will be featured as an example. Stories of historical racism within that community will also be highlighted. While race scholars call for eradicating racism, the more realistic goal is to accentuate the need for ongoing anti-racism work. Racism is finding new ways to reproduce itself which makes eliminating it an idealized state of existence.