Anti-racism work is not rocket science

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Merel van Haastert to explore why anti-racism work can feel daunting for white people, and why the work starts with seeing racism as a system rather than an individual moral failing.

Together they unpack how “white as default” shows up in everyday life and representation, and how media narratives, nationalism, and colonial histories reinforce structural inequity. They discuss how labels and categorisations can obscure lived experience, and how racism is sustained through systems that reward compliance and discourage people from challenging authority.

Merel shares why she created Project Colour White: to create safer spaces for white people to talk honestly about fear, shame, and fragility, and to build community for those wanting to do deliberate, active anti-racism work. The episode closes with a call to speak up, be intolerant of intolerance, and stay engaged in long-term change.