Show Notes

Confronting Racism by Dismantling the Illusion of Race

Our returning guest today is Dr. Sheena Mason, a powerhouse in the world of anti-racism and the author of the brand-new book, *The Raceless Anti-Racist*. If you’ve ever questioned the role of race in society or wondered how we can dismantle the structures that perpetuate racism, this conversation is going to challenge and inspire you. 

Dr. Mason is an assistant professor of English at SUNY Oneonta and holds a PhD from Howard University, specializing in Africana and American literature and philosophy of race. But what really sets her apart is her innovative approach to understanding race—or, more accurately, the illusion of it. In her new book, she takes concepts from her more academic work, *Theory of Racelessness*, that  you may remember us discussing back in DTH episode 127, and makes them accessible to a broader audience.

We’re going to dive into the heart of that theory. Dr. Mason and I will explore how the internalization of oppression affects us all, the very real material impacts of racism, and how tools like the 'Togetherness Wayfinder' and 'Raceless Translator' can bring people together. We’ll also tackle some tough questions: What role do media, government, and capitalism play in maintaining racial divisions? And how do we dismantle the illusion of race to truly confront racism head-on?

Takeaways

• Dr. Sheena Mason's new book, 'The Raceless Anti-Racist,' is geared towards a wider audience and introduces the concept of the Togetherness Wayfinder.
• Recognizing the internalization of oppression and the material impacts of racism is crucial in dismantling racism.
• The Togetherness Wayfinder aims to bring people together and find common humanity in the face of contentious issues. Racialization as white does not equate to experiencing anti-white racism, but rather the effects of anti-black racism.
• The media, government, and capitalism play a role in perpetuating divisions and maintaining hierarchies.
• The Raceless Translator is a tool that helps interpret race in terms of culture, ethnicity, social class, and the causes and effects of racism.
• Engaging in conversations and exposing oneself to different perspectives is crucial for bridging divides and promoting understanding.

Who is Dr. Sheena Mason?

Sheena Michele Mason is an assistant professor of English at SUNY Oneonta. She holds a PhD with distinction in English from Howard University in Washington, DC, USA, and specializes in Africana and American literature studies and philosophy of race. She is published with Oxford University Press, Palgrave MacMillan, Cambridge University Press, and the University of Warsaw among other presses. She is the innovator of the togetherness wayfinder (formerly and alternatively called the theory of racelessness) and founder of Togetherness Wayfinder, an educational firm. Her book The Raceless Antiracist: Why Ending Race Is the Future of Antiracism shows how ending our belief in “race” and practice of racialization is required toward the goal of ending the causes and effects of racialized dehumanization.

Learn more about and connect with Dr. Sheena Mason online:
 

Website: https://www.togethernesswayfinder.org

LinkedIn: @sheenamason

Twitter (X): @SheenaMasonPhD

YouTube: @FreeYouMindTR

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