Hannah Paul, Antiracist Activist
“I want to build an antiracist environment in college campuses where change can happen without the constant emotional labor of BIPOC.” — Hannah Paul (she/her)
What does it mean to be an antiracist activist at this moment?
To explore this question, we invite you to reflect on the words and wisdom of Hannah Paul (she/her), a brilliant activist working to build antiracist spaces at Whitman College. As each one of us commits to be antiracist, it’s crucial to take moments to pause so we can ground ourselves in understanding what and who is guiding, inspiring, and energizing us in this journey.
When we asked Hannah who inspires her, she answered without hesitation. “My mom, fellow BIPOC activists, and freedom fighters such as Ms. Angela Davis,” she told us. What’s clearly reflected in her words is an understanding that antiracist activism is multigenerational as well as a community effort. This insight by itself it’s powerful; however, Hannah offers us more precious knowledge.
Some of the questions have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Q: At this moment, what does it mean to you to be a changemaker?
A: Being a changemaker means being a voice for people that are often ignored or silenced. As a changemaker, I want to be a part of the change that creates a world in which BIPOC, specifically Black people, especially Black women are protected and liberated. We should all be able to have a voice and we should all be safe. The smallest changes still make a big difference, and that’s why I believe you should start with your own community.
Q: How did you begin your antiracist activism work? What motivates you to continue engaging in this work?
A: I began my work in activism because I was inspired by the work of past BIPOC students, specifically women of color at my institution who led and partook in activism on campus. These students inspired me to speak out against injustices and foster safe spaces for people who share similar identities with myself. I am motivated to stay engaged with this work because I think about future generations of BIPOC students and how much I hope that they can be in an environment that is antiracist. I refuse to let BIPOC voices, especially women of color, be silenced. We deserve to be heard because these are our lived experiences.
Q: What is the most valuable advice you’ve been given that informs your activism? Do you have any advice for other activists?
A: The most valuable advice I have been given informing my activism is that you can’t do your best work if you aren’t at your best. As an activist it is very easy to feel overwhelmed, like you’re not doing enough or that your work is not changing anything. When feeling overwhelmed, always take a step back, take a deep breath, take a pause, take a break from the news/socials. Those platforms can be discouraging for an activist, but you always have to remember that the kind of change you seek doesn’t happen overnight. All change is important no matter how big or small. Never invalidate your own work because it took resilience and perseverance to make that change happen. Self-care is key to being able to continue your activism. Choose the moments when you step up and always protect your energy.
Q: What do we need to build a world of belonging?
A: To build a world of belonging, we need active listening, empathy, action, accountability and better education. The world needs to actively listen to BIPOC, especially women of color. The world needs to listen to our needs and hear our voices without invalidating our lived experiences. Listening goes hand in hand with empathy, people need to care otherwise the world will stay the same. Activists do what they do because they care so deeply, because they have empathy. Empathy changes the world. To care about something so deeply that you want to take action is powerful. When you take action, you start to organize, create new ideas, become a role model, and start a process to improve community. Action can come from organizing protests, creating clubs or safe spaces, or holding yourself and others around you accountable. Accountability is necessary for creating change. To be accountable, the problem must be identified and acknowledged, then an apology is to follow along with a promise and action to ensure the problem will not occur ever again. Acknowledging the harmful history of the past is so important to move forward. With accountability comes education. Educating yourself to challenge and unlearn racist mindsets. I am a very big advocate for free quality education for all and I believe this should also include race education. History is more often than not white-washed, misrepresented and watered down. There are so many BIPOC stories that have been left untold in education.
About Hannah:
Hannah Paul is a student at Whitman College, where she’s pursuing a double major in Art and Hispanic Studies. She has served as the President of the Black Student Union and Vice President of the Women of Color Voices Club. Hannah enjoys the visual arts, fashion, and supporting Black businesses.
This series is part of our ongoing effort to amplify stories from We the Changemakers. Hannah was nominated as a changemaker by Whitman College’s Black Student Union.
