Unpacking Race 2013 • Part 4: White Privilege and Internalized Racism

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5

In our fourth session of the Unpacking Race workshop series, we go deeper into concepts of white privilege, internalized racism, collusion, micro-aggression, and also strategies of empowerment, examining how all of these things crop up in our own lives.

Readings

This week we've assigned the following essays.  Click on the titles to view:

1. “Crazy Sometimes” by Leonard Pitts Jr. 
2. “Making Systems of Privilege Visible” by Stephanie M. Wildman with Adrienne D. Davis.
3. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh (video version below).
4. "Internalized Racism: a Definition" by Donna Bivens.   

Videos

Here's an excerpt from A Question of Color, Kathe Sandler's film on internalized racism among African-Americans:

And a video version of "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," Peggy McIntosh's anecdotal essay on white privilege:

Caucus Groups:

In the workshop we broke up into caucus groups for the purpose of discussing our different experiences.  The People of Color Caucus Group discussed the following questions:

1. What thoughts or feelings do I have about meeting in caucus groups?
2. How have I been affected by internalized racism and horizontal racism? How do I collude with the system of racism?
3. How can I empower myself and others in the group to deal with racism in our lives, and to take action to end racism?
4. What are the costs and benefits of actively confronting racism, and doing anti-racism work?

The White People Caucus Group discussed the following questions:us

1. What thoughts or feelings do I have about meeting in caucus groups?
2. How have I benefited from white privilege?
3. How can I move from feelings of guilt and shame about racism to taking responsibility for my role as an agent of racism?
4. What are the costs and benefits of becoming an ally to people of color and doing anti-racist work? 

After meeting in these caucus groups, the entire group reunited and reported back on what they'd discussed.

Unpacking Race 2013 • Part 3: Institutional Racism

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5

In our third session of the Unpacking Race workshop series we identify cultural and institutional advantages attached to "Whiteness," and how institutional racism within housing, education, labor, media, and the criminal justice system target people of color.  We also identify the myth of "post-racial institutions."

Readings:

This week we feature readings about different aspects of institutional racism:

• A history of institutional racism in the U.S.: “Doubly Divided: The Racial Wealth Gap” by Meizhu Lui.
• On Race and Criminal Justice:  "Fourteen Examples of Systemic Racism in the US Criminal Justice System" by Bill Quigley.
• On Race and Education.  "Institutional Racism Not Obvious" by Dan Whisenhunt.
• On Race and Housing: "Racial Preferences for Whites: The Houses that Racism Built" by Larry Adelman.
• On Race and Labor: "America’s Food Sweatshops" by Yvonne Yen Liu.

Writing Assignment:

Keep a race journal:  Whenever you notice something in your life that relates to race, write about it.  We learn so much from reading about race and racism, from talking about race and racism, and in these workshops we also create images and theatre about race and racism.  Making time for self-reflection is also very powerful.  When journaling about race, take a look at the following chart.  How does this Cycle of Socialization relate to your own experiences with race and racism throughout your life—this week, last year, growing up and possibly in the future?

Cycle of Socialization, developed by Bobbie Harro