Racism on the Left: Racism Without Racists

---

As disturbing as the overt, headline-grabbing displays of racism can be, they’re not what most people of color face each day. The deeper weight comes from the constant, quiet drip of institutional, unconscious, and systemic racism—the kind that cloaks itself in good intentions and polite restraint.

This plenary at the Left Coast Forum delves into that hidden terrain—what sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva calls “racism without racists.” Through storytelling, research, and lived experience, our panelists will expose how subtle racial hierarchies manifest in workplaces, organizations, movements, daily interactions, and even across generations.

Session Leader Sharon Kyle is publisher and co-founder of LA Progressive, an independent news and opinion platform that amplifies movements for social, racial, and economic justice. A former NASA/JPL financial manager, she later served as a law professor at the People’s College of Law in Los Angeles, where she brought analytical precision and moral clarity to her teaching and public advocacy.

Allison Thomas: A film/theater producer turned reparative genealogy organizer who descends from enslavers in colonial Virginia. She’s poured her time into Coming to the Table (CTTT) a national organization that brings together descendants of enslaved people and descendants of enslavers to confront the legacy of slavery through dialogue, truth-telling, and restorative action. 

Ace Estwick: Local Station Board (LSB) of KPFK 90.7 FM, part of the Pacifica Radio Network. In addition to his board role, he works as a staff writer and editor for KPFK’s news and blog department, where he covers issues at the intersection of culture, media, and power dynamics.

Greg “Baba” Akili: Veteran Los Angeles–based organizer, strategist, and educator whose work spans labor, racial justice, and community empowerment. A founding member of Black Lives Matter–Los Angeles and executive director of The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute, Akili has spent decades bridging movements for economic and racial equity

Dick Price is co-founder and editor of LA Progressive, a daily online magazine committed to advancing social and racial justice and strengthening democracy. A Vietnam veteran turned anti-war activist, Price has devoted his life to challenging injustice in all its forms and amplifying the voices of those pushing for a more equitable society.