Tell Me Who You Are defines “antiracist” as the opposite of racist. The authors distinguish it from “nonracist,” which is a passive, neutral attitude toward racism; by contrast, an “antiracist” is actively engaged in challenging racism. This distinction reflects the importance of Stories, Language, and Conversations About Race.

“Color-blind” is a term that some white people use to describe their perceived lack of racism. They claim that they don’t see race and therefore treat everyone equally. This is similar to calling oneself “nonracist” because it supposes a neutral attitude toward racism; in practice, however, it means overlooking the ways in which race matters in society. The book includes several interviewees’ experiences either with others using the term “color-blind” or of recognizing their own problematic use of the term. Interacting with a Detroit tour guide who used it, the authors proposed the terms “color-brave” or “race-conscious” instead, illustrating the importance of language when discussing race.

Coined in 1983 by author Alice Walker in her essay collection In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose, colorism is discrimination based on skin tone. Lighter skin tones—because they are perceived as closer to whiteness—are often valued over darker skin tones, even among people of color, including the Black, Latino, and Asian American communities.