We’re usually young when we learn about the concept of fairness. During childhood, fairness understanding may originate as some form of believing that we’re not getting our fair share of some material item; often something that we believe we’re entitled to have. Fast forward past childhood and our perceptions of fairness evolve to include how…Read more »
shedding white comfort
So, what’s the next step, once we’ve accepted that unearned ‘white goodness’ is a myth (see The myth of white goodness)? It’s not only to acknowledge, but to embrace our discomfort in order to commit to dismantling our racist acculturation. Lapsing back into white comfort Resisting the urge to lapse back into white comfort is…Read more »
the myth of white goodness
If I dress myself up in ‘good guy’ garb, does that make me a trustworthy member of the community? What if I align myself with purportedly ‘good deed’ groups, does that fill me with goodness, through some sort of osmosis? If I employ performative acts of helping others, is that proof of an altruistic heart?…Read more »
interrupting whiteness
Have you ever asked yourself, ‘How can I interrupt whiteness?’. I used a simple method this morning that you can do from your couch. As I scrolled through TikTok, I came upon an older white man’s video where he noted that: sometimes it’s better to keep the peace than argue your opinion about race. It…Read more »
healing humanity
“You’re fighting for your humanity, not your ability to save me from your inhumanity.”@desireebstephens, TikTok creator The Black creator was talking specifically to white people, when she used those words to wrap up her post about the work that needs to be done. Starting the work doesn’t mean acting as a white savior, conversely it’s…Read more »
Each and every one of us
White supremacy isn’t the shark. It’s the water. Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre In the wake of the horrific assault perpetrated on innocent, hard working, loving, community supporting, Black people in Buffalo recently, I’m reminded to keep my eyes open to reality. Unfortunately, racial acculturation will have many white people focus solely upon that despicable murderous…Read more »
a beginning anti racism reading list
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson 1619 Project created by Nikole Hannah Jones The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin White Rage by Carol Anderson The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley The Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem How to Become an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi The…Read more »
Proximity to black people
As white people, we can’t just declare ourselves to be non-racist or unbiased. The mere desire to be without racial bias doesn’t have the power to undo our racism acculturation. Additionally, unconscious bias and racism aren’t erased by having black friends or relatives. The “my sister’s husband is Black, so I can’t be racist” is…Read more »
White people’s work
She said not to turn away, when we became uncomfortable, that the work would make us uneasy. I agreed. I’d heard and understood that message over a decade ago, at a UPenn diversity workshop. I watched as folks turned away then, when the work became difficult- when it challenged us to consider our privilege in…Read more »
strategies to de-center whiteness
@Fatalprose posted a response (on TikTok) to a white person who wrote, ‘I feel like anything I try to add to a conversation about race is wrong. I see so many BIPOC people get mad at white women for trying to add their perspective.’ His response was to use an analogy of misogyny to offer…Read more »