Mapping Racism, Charting Change: A Regional Approach to Incorporating the Striving Towards Anti-Racism (STAR) in LIS Model

Focusing on anti-racism efforts within library and information science, this reflective essay applies our recently introduced Striving Towards Anti-Racism (STAR) model (Cooke and Williams, forthcoming) to examine geographies of racism in the United States. Our paper explores how regional distinctions—ranging from “Midwest nice” to “Southern hospitality” to “New England progressive whiteness”—both reflect and reinforce entrenched structures of racism in the US. With a reelected convicted felon in chief, the sociopolitical landscape has shifted even further toward fostering and incentivizing racism in various ways depending on geography. Through a thematic approach, we examine how racism manifests differently across regions by exploring these interconnected dynamics. We consider how the STAR model illustrates the geographic dimensions of racism and how individuals may feel out of place within these contexts. This approach highlights the contradictions and connections among different regional expressions of racial tension and shows how they both shape and are shaped by the political landscape of the US. We build on this analysis by considering how the STAR model informs the library and information science (LIS) profession, specifically by encouraging both reflection and action because of a deeper understanding of how regional and cultural biases influence library practices, policies, and user experiences. We conclude by suggesting mazeways, counter-storytelling, and broader disciplinary action as strategies for resistance and change. By applying this framework, LIS professionals can better understand and address how geographic and cultural contexts perpetuate racism within communities and how we can fight back.