LIFELONG JOURNEY - Challenging White Supremacy Workshop

FROM WHITE RACIST TO WHITE ANTIRACIST
THE LIFELONG
JOURNEY
BY TEMA OKUN CHANGWORK
NOTE
HAVE WRITTEN
TO
DIFFICULT
MATERIAL
THIS
ARTICLE
WRITTEN
IS
USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS
WRITE IN THE THIRD PERSON
OR PART
OF THE GROUP
TO
WHITE
BY
AS
WHICH
PERSON ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE
WE
OURS
IF
AM
US
THIS
THEREFORE
BECAUSE
NOT SOMEHOW ATTACHED
MATERIAL
THIS
DID
FIND
TO
IT
THIS
APPLIES
EMPOWERMENT FOR WHITE
PEOPLE WHICH IS OUR ATTEMPT REFERRING TO CHANGEWORK AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS
DESCRIBED BELOW TO DISTINGUISH
THE DIFFERENT STAGES THAT WHITE PEOPLE GO THROUGH AS
OF
TO RACISM THIS WORK DRAWS ON THE
OUR RELATIONSHIP
WE DEVELOP AWARENESS
THINKING AND EXPERIENCE OF MANY PEOPLE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY QUOTED ARE
AND EXPERIENCE
LISTED AT THE END THE REST IS THE RESULT OF MY EXPOSURE TO THE THINKING
OF MANY TRAINERS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISMANTLING RACISM PROCESS INCLUDING
THIS
ARTICLE
IS
MEANT
ACCOMPANY THE LADDER
TO
OF
WORK
COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES DOING ANTIRACISM
USEFULNESS FOUND HERE SHOULD BE CREDITED TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF ANTI
CHANGEWORK
ANY
RACISM
ACTIVISTS
THE
ANY
BASIC
PURPOSE
IDENTITY
AS WHITE
AT THE
SAME TIME
RACIST
IDENTITY
ERRORS
OR FLAWED THINKING
OF THIS
CHALLENGING
WHILE
MANY
THAT
MINE
ALONE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND OUR
WHILE
RACIST SYSTEM WHICH ASSUMES OUR SUPERIORITY
AND
IT
WITH
ANTI
POSITIVE
ASSUMPTION
REPLACING
ARTICLE
PEOPLE WITHIN
IS
IS
TO HELP WHITE
WHITE PEOPLE SEEM
TO THINK
THAT
THE SOLUTION
COLORBLINDNESS BOTH WITH REGARDS TO OURSELVES AND TO PEOPLE OF COLOR
THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
TO ACCEPT OUR IDENTITY
AS WHITE PEOPLE WITHIN
TO CLAIM
IS
WE BELIEVE
WHITE
THE QUALITY
OF OUR LIVES
PROFOUNDLY
GROUP UNDERSTANDING
WE MUST THEN WORK IN THE WORDS OF BEVERLY
POLITICALLY
ECONOMICALLY SOCIALLY
IN
HER
EXCELLENT
BOOK
DANIEL TATUM
ON RACIAL IDENTITY
DEVELOPMENT WHY ARE ALL
THAT THIS
THE BLACK KIDS
SITTING
IN THE CAFETERIA
COMMITMENT
OF INDIVIDUAL
RACISM AND
CULTURAL RACISM
CONTEXT OF
AFFECTS
ASSOCIATION
TOGETHER
94 TO FEEL
JUST SOCIETY
THE RECOGNITION OF
CHANGEWORK
WWWCHANGEWARKI
PAGE
GOOD ABOUT
IT
IN
THE
REQUIRES TWO TASKS THE ABANDONMENT
AND
AND OPPOSITION TO INSTITUTIONAL
THIS
TO
THE LADDER
COMMUNITY
OF
LOVE AND RESISTANCE
COLLECTIVE ACTION
SELFRIGHTEOUSNESS
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
WHITE CAN DO RIGHT
ME
ESPECIALLY
OPEN UP ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
HOUSTON WEVE GOT
PROBLEM
GUILT
WHITE
IS
AND DEFENSIVENESS
DENIAL
AM
WERE
ALL
AND SHAME
IM BAD
RIGHT
NOT
THE
NOT THE PROBLEM
BE LIKE ME
SAME YOURE
WHAT ARE
YOU
FIRST
CONTACT
IM
NORMAL
CHANGEWORK
THE PROBLEM
WWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE
IS
IT
LINEAR
IS
IT
NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THE LADDER OF EMPOWERMENT APPEARS
LOWER STAGE TO
IN THAT
HIGHER
PERSON CANNOT MOVE FROM
TO
IMPORTANT
ONLY LINEAR
CANNOT GO FROM
STAGE FOR EXAMPLE
STAGE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH EACH INTERMEDIARY
THE
AND
NORMAL TO
THE PERCEPTION AND EXPERIENCE THAT
PERCEPTION
EXPERIENCE
THAT
LIKE
IM
IM
GOING THROUGH THE STAGES
OPENING UP
DENIAL
AND DEFENSIVENESS AND GUILT AND SHAME
WITHOUT
ME
IS
IT
MINUTES
NOT LINEAR
LATER
IN
DROP BACK
UNLIKE MOVING
UP
AM TAKING
IT
IS
FIRST
OF
WE CAN MOVE THROUGH TO HIGHER
TO
LOWER
POSSIBLE
STAGE AS
STAGES
ARE
YOU BE
STAGES AND THEN FIVE
CHALLENGING INTERACTION
THAT
TO SKIP
WHAT
RESULT OF
DOWN FOR EXAMPLE CAN FEEL
MY RACISM AND THEN WHEN
MOVING
WHITE PERSON FOR
HAVE DONE THAT IS ASSUMPTIVE ANDOR
CHALLENGED BY
COLLEAGUE ON SOMETHING
PATRONIZING
QUICKLY SLIDE BACK INTO DENIAL AND DEFENSIVENESS WE MOVE UP AND
LIKE
RESPONSIBILITY
DOWN THIS LADDER IN
WE ARE ON THE LADDER
THE
THE
AS
WEEK IN DAY IN AN HOUR THE LOWER
LIFETIME IN
YEAR IN
THE MORE WE COLLUDE OR COOPERATE WITH RACISM IN FACT ONE OF
AND CULTURAL RACISM WORKS IS TO KEEP PUSHING US DOWN
WAYS THAT INSTITUTIONAL
WHITE ACTIVISTS
IS THAT
LADDER OUR GOAL AS WE DEVELOP OUR PRACTICE AS ANTIRACIST
WESTAY
FOR SHORTER PERIODS AT THE
LOWER STAGES AND
FOR LONGER PERIODS
AT THE HIGHER
STAGES
LADDER IN THAT THE STAGES DONT BEGIN AND END
DISTINCTLY
THEY OVERLAP AND ELEMENTS OF ONE STAGE WILL SHOW UP IN ANOTHER YOU
ELEMENTS
WILL NOTICE SEEMINGLY
CONTRADICTORY ELEMENTS IN THE SAME STAGE AND SIMILAR
IN DIFFERENT
DEVELOPMENT THE
SHOWING
STAGES THIS IS THE NATURE OF IDENTITY
THIS
IS
ALSO NOT
LINEAR
UP
LADDER
IS
ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT
GENERALIZED
STEPS
THAT
WE GO THROUGH AS
ACTIVISTS
AS ANTIRACIST
DEVELOPING OUR AWARENESS AND ABILITIES
LADDER DEPENDS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENTON OUR HISTORY OUR
OUR RELATIONSHIPS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER OPPRESSIONS AND OUR
WHITE PEOPLE
IN
WHERE WE ARE ON THE
EXPERIENCE
EXPOSURE
TO
INFORMATION
MOVEMENT UP
THE LADDER
TENDS TO
HAPPEN
AS
RESULT
OF
BOTH
RELATIONSHIPS
AND
INFORMATION WE HAVE FOUND THAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER
WHITE PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH RACISM HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN HELPING US
TO MOVE UP THE LADDER ACTUALLY KNOWING SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP US THROUGH THEIR
LIFE STORIES AND EXPERIENCE
SEE THE WORLD IN
NEW WAY AND UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT
REALITIES
CRITICAL
RACISM
US
HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY
PERSON OF COLOR IN THE
THESE RELATIONSHIPS
TEACH US THAT
TO OUR DEVELOPMENT AS WHITE ANTIRACISTS
THAT
IT HAS TO DO WITH INSTITUTIONAL
AND CULTURAL
IS NOT
OF
THE
AND
THING
PAST
OF BEING
WHITE
AND
SOMETIMES EXPOSURE TO OVERT
NOT JUST MEANSPIRITED
PERSONAL INTENTIONS
EITHER
IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES OR
HARD
TO
INCIDENTS
OF
DISMISS
RACISM
MEANING
MOVIES ARE CATALYSTS TO MOVING US
THROUGH MEDIA BOOKS MAGAZINE ARTICLES
LEGACIES
TV
IHANGEWORK
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PAGE
FROM ONE STAGE
WHITE CAUCUSES
TO
ANOTHER ONE
AT
CHANGWORK
AND
THE SUPPORT
HELP
WE NEED
WE PROMOTE
OF THE REASONS THAT
IS
TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PLACE WHERE
BECAUSE CAUCUSES CAN BE
WE CAN
GET
BROADEN OUR AWARENESS AND MOVE UP THE LADDER
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO USE THE LADDER WHEN WE WORK WITH WHITE CAUCUSES
LADDER ON NEWSPRINT WITHOUT ANY WORDS INSIDE AND ASK PEOPLE TO
TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
STAGES THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AS THEY DEVELOP IN THEIR
AWARENESS OF WHITE PRIVILEGE
AND RACISM AS PEOPLE NAME THESE STAGES SOMETIMES
HIT
THE
HAVE
LISTED HERE SOMETIMES THEY NAME EMOTIONS AND
ON
THEY
STAGES WE
WE OFTEN DRAW THE
THOUGHTS THAT
ABOUT THEM
WITHIN
FIT
THE STAGES
WEBEGIN
TO SKETCH IN
EACH
OF THE STAGES
AND
TALK
SOME DEPTH
IN
PEOPLE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STAGES AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THESE
STAGES ARE AND ARE NOT LINEAR WE ASK PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE NOW
WHERE THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO WHERE THEY WERE YEARS AGO AND WHERE THEY WOULD
ONCE
LIKE
TO
BE
DOWNTHE
WE TALK
ABOUT WHATMADE
LADDER AND
WE CAN CHALLENGE
IT
WHAT WE CAN DO
POSSIBLE
FOR PEOPLE
TO SUPPORT
TO
EACH OTHER WITH CARE AND ATTENTION
MOVE BOTH UP AND
MOVING UP AND HOW
WHENWE MOVE DOWN
EACH OTHER
IN
LADDER MIGHT PROVE USEFUL PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
TO IT AS IT IS AN ONGOING TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR US ALL
EXPAND ITS
YOU HAVE IDEAS OR FEEDBACK PLEASE SEND IT TO US AT THE WEBSITE SEE LAST PAGE
THIS
ONE WAY
USES AND TO ADD
IS JUST
THE LADDER BEGINS
TO
RELATIONSHIP
RACE
THAT THIS
WHERE
WE ALL
BEGIN WHICH
IS
WITH THE
BELIEF
IF
THAT IN
WERE NORMAL
IM NORMAL
ALSO
KNOWN AS
IN THIS STAGE
DO
THE INNOCENCEIGNORANCE STAGE
WE
NOT SEE OURSELVES AS WHITE
ASSUME
RACIAL
ARE NAIVE
ABOUT
DO
NOT HAVE
DO
NOT HAVE
BELIEVE
SEE
ALL
DIFFERENCES
UNIMPORTANT
THE CONNECTION
OF
POWERTO
RACE
AND RACISM OR OPPRESSION
POWER ANALYSIS
MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH
PEOPLE OF COLOR
ISSUES
ARE
WANT TO
PEOPLE OF COLOR
ASSIMILATE
OF RACE AS INDIVIDUAL
CHANGEWORK WWWCBANGEWORKNET
PANE
WE
HI THIS STAGE WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS THE RACIAL NORM IN FACT WE DONT REALLY SEE
OURSELVES AS WHITE BECAUSE WE ARE THE NORM AND THEREFORE DONT NEED TO BE RACIALLY
DESCRIBED
WE HAVE
ABOUT OUR WHITE PRIVILEGE
OR OTHER
WE
WHITE
ABSORB
SUBTLE
AS
ADVANTAGES WE
BEING
PASSIVELY
FROM THE MEDIA FROM BOOKS FROM MOVIES FROM POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS
MESSAGES
FROM
THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY GOOD AND THEYRE LIKE
LEADERS
MANY ADULTS
OR NO CONSCIOUSNESS
LITTLE
RECEIVE
US AND WERE
REPRESENT
MUCH ABOUT
COMMUNITIES
THEM
LIKE
THE
RESULT
SOCIETAL
THEIR
DANIEL
BEVERLY
TATAM
NORM
GROUP 1997
THEY CAN EASILY
RACIAL
DONT
OF SIMPLY
TALK
ABOUT RACE
TEND TO THINK OF RACIAL IDENTITY
THAT IS SALIENT FOR THEM
93
WE REMAIN
SOMETHING
AS
NOTES THAT BECAUSE WHITE PEOPLE
REACH ADULTHOOD WITHOUT THINKING
SHE ALSO NOTES THAT WHITE PEOPLE AND
SILENT
AND
AS
CONSEQUENCE WHITES
PEOPLE HAVE NOT SOMETHING
THAT OTHER
94
AS
WE ASSUME OR INTERNALIZE THE NOTION THAT WE ARE NORMAL AND IT IS
WHOARE THE OTHER THIS LEADS TO SOMETIMES SUBTLE NOT
BELIEF THAT WE ARE BETTER SUPERIOR AND THEY ARE INFERIOR THESE
ALWAYS INTERNALIZED
RESULT
PEOPLE OF OTHER RACES
AND
ASSUMPTIONS
OUR
REALITY
INTERNALIZED
US EVEN
WITHOUT
WE TEND TOMOVE OUT
EXPERIENCES
ALSO
IN
KNOWN AS
THIS
STAGE
SHAPE OUR PERCEPTIONS
AND DEFINE
IT
STAGE
WHEN WE ARE EXPOSED
TO INFORMATION
AND UNFAIRNESS
TO SEE THAT DIFFERENCE
OR
EXISTS
CONTACT
WE
FIRST
CONTACTS WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR
THEY ARE NOT LIKE US
WORK TO MAKE
HAPPENS
TO NOTICE
CONTINUE
AS EARLY
SENSE OF THE DIFFERENCE
DIFFERENCE WITH ADDITIONAL
BEGIN
TO
YOU
FIRST
HAVE OUR
NOTICE
REALIZING
OF THIS
WHICH LEAD US
WHAT ARE
MESSAGES BEGIN
OUR
TO SEE ISSUES
IF
PARTICULARLY
INFORMATION
OWNPREJUDICES
AS THE AGE OF
WE ASSOCIATE
ABOUT UNFAIRNESS
THE
OR DISCRIMINATION
OR THOSE OF OUR FAMILY
OF RACE AS INDIVIDUAL
AND
STILL
HAVE NOT DEVELOPED
POWER ANALYSIS
BEVERLY DANIEL
WHICH
MAY
TATUM
WE HAVE OUR FIRST
BE FORCED
CALLS THIS
STAGE DISINTEGRATION
DESCRIBING
MEANINGFUL CONTACT WITH
PERSON OF COLOR
TO NOTICE FIRSTHAND
THAT
RACISM OR UNFAIRNESS
CHANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGES
IS
AT
IT
AS THE POINT
AND WHERE WE
WORK SHE
WRITES
AT
THIS
NEW AWARENESS
GUILT
SHAME AND
MEMBERS
MEMBERS
ARE VISIBLY
ARE
PUT OURSELVES IN
INTERACTIONS
ARE
ARE
ONES
OF
PERSONAL
97
STRONG FOR THOSE OF US WHOSEFAMILY
OR RACIST AND MAY BE LESS FOR THOSE OF US WHOSE FAMILY
BIGOTED
MORE OPEN
WHICH
IN
THE UNCOMFORTABLE EMOTIONS
CAN BE PARTICULARLY
GUILT
DIFFERENCES
WAYS
DISCOMFORT
NEW AWARENESS OF
ANGER ARE OFTEN RELATED TO
WITHIN ONES FAMILY
AND
DISCOMFORT
THE
BY
OR THE PREJUDICES
PREJUDICES
CULTURAL
CHARACTERIZED
IS
WE STILL
WE HAVE
OR ANTIRACIST
UNIMPORTANT
RACIAL
ARE TIED
DIFFERENCES
TO
TEND TO ASSUME THAT RACIAL
AND
NOT DEVELOPED AN UNDERSTANDING OF
POWERDIFFERENCES WE DO NOT FIND OR
WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHEN WE ARE OR DO OUR
OFTEN CHARACTERIZED BY NAIVETE INNOCENCE IGNORANCE OR TIMIDITY
MANY SITUATIONS
WE TEND TO MOVE OUT OF THIS STAGE WHEN WE TAKE IN INFORMATION ABOUT RACISM
AND DISCRIMINATION
EXPERIENCED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR EITHER THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH ANTIRACIST
WHITE PEOPLE OR THROUGH EXPOSURE TO NEW
INFORMATION
BOOKS MOVIES NEWS IN OUR ATTEMPTS TO UNDERSTAND AND SOMETIMES
WE TEND
CONTROL THE DISSONANCE WE FEEL WHEN WE NOTICE RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION
TO
MOVE
TO THE NEXT STAGE
ADOPTING
EITHER
THE POSITION
THAT
WERE
ALL
THE
SAME SO
WE
DIFFERENCE
AND UNFAIRNESS OR THE POSITION THAT YOURE THE
BLAME
FOR IT OUR OWN SENSE OR EXPERIENCE OF
SO
WE
CAN
SOMEONE
PROBLEM
DIFFERENCE
BECAUSE OF GENDER SEXUALITY CLASS DISABILITY
ETC CAN EITHER HELP US MOVE
INTO
NEW STAGE OR WORKTO KEEP US IN THIS ONE DEPENDING ON HOWWE RELATE TO OUR
CAN
FEEL
OK ABOUT THE
OWN DIFFERENCE
ME
BE LIKE
ALSO
KNOWN AS WERE
ALL
SAME YOURE
THE
THE PROBLEM
WE
IN THIS STAGE
BE SEEN AS AN INDIVIDUAL
WANT
TO
BEGIN
TO SENSE WHITE
BELIEVE
WE CAN
BELIEVE
IN
PRIVILEGE
FLATTEN
IMPORTANCE
OUT
WITH
LITTLE
OR NO AWARENESS YET OF
OF FAIRNESS
GUILTY
SEE RACISM
PROBLEM BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS
EITHER
OVERIDENTIFY
OVER
IT
GET
CAN
OR FEARFUL
TOWARDS PEOPLE
FEEL APOLOGETIC
AS
OF COLOR
WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR OR THINK
SEE THE DIFFERENCES
POWER
DIFFERENCES
AS
EXOTIC OR EROTIC
CHANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PATE
PEOPLE OF COLOR SHOULD JUST
DONT
ONE
SEE OURSELVES AS PART OF THE
OF OUR REACTIONS
YOU
ME
THE EXTENT
DIFFERENCE
RACIAL
TO NOTICING
AS LONG AS WE ASSUME THAT
RACIAL DIFFERENCES
AT THIS
PROBLEM
DIFFERENCE
THE OTHER ARE
POINT
IS
TO BELIEVE
LIKE
ESSENTIALLY
ME OR
NEED YOU
FEEL THREATENING
YOU ARENT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH
WERE THE SAME OR EXOTIC YOUR DIFFERENCE
THE DIFFERENCE
TO
WANT
BE
LIKE
IS
FASCINATING
TO
BE
TO
LIKE
ME AND
DONT
YOU INVISIBLE
OK
IS
ME AS
SEE ANY
IT
WOULD
ABOUT IT OTHER THAN AS
THERE IS NOTHING SIGNIFICANT
SOURCE OF
SOMETIMES
THE
ROLE
OF
TOUR
IN
THIS
WE
ASSUME
FASCINATION
GUIDE TO THE
STAGE
BECAUSE WE ASSUME THIS
DOMINANT CULTURE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE BETTER ASSIMILATE
BE
TOURIST
TO
WHAT THEY WANT
ALSO
TO
ASSUME
WE ARE
THAT
NOT AWARE OF THIS
OUR WORLD VIEW
IS
ASSUMPTION OR
THE UNIVERSAL
OTHERS LIKE
IT
BECAUSE
WORLD VIEW EVERYONE THINKS
IS
WE
LIKE
WE DO
AND OFTEN BECOME ANGRY
IN THIS STAGE WE WANT TO BE SEEN AS AN INDIVIDUAL
THE
WHITE
AS
WE ARE LUMPED IN WITH
BEVERLY DANIEL TATUM NOTES
GROUP
WHEN
WHEN
WHITE MEN AND WOMENBEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE VIEWED AS MEMBERS OF
DOMINANT RACIAL GROUP NOT ONLY BY OTHER WHITES BUT ALSO BY PEOPLE OF COLOR THEY ARE
SOMETIMES TROUBLED EVEN ANGERED TO LEARN THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR GROUP STATUS
VIEW
AN INDIVIDUAL
THEY ARE VIEWED WITH SUSPICION BY MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR
ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL
104 WE CARRY CERTAIN BLINDNESS WANTING TO BE SEEN AS
IM
SEPARATE FROM OUR GROUP WHILE FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR LEARN VERY
EARLY THAT THEY ARE SEEN BY OTHERS AS MEMBERS OF
GROUP AND OFTEN ONLY AS MEMBERS
OF THAT
GROUP
OUR STRONG
ARE SUPPORTED BY THE DOMINANT CULTURE WHICH
AND TO BELIEVE IN MERITOCRACY THE IDEA THAT
TEACHES US TO VALUE RUGGED INDIVIDUALITY
OUR HARD WORK IS WHY WE SUCCEED AND OUR SUCCESS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
FEELINGS
ABOUT
THIS
WHITE GROUP WHEN WE BEGIN TO HEAR ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACIST
BARRIERS TO ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS WE HEAR THAT AS MEANING WE DONT DESERVE AND
DIDNT EARN WHAT WE HAVE MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO IDENTIFY
AS PART OF
MEMBERSHIP
THE WHITE
AT THE
IN
THE
GROUP
SINCE
DOING SO ERASES OUR PRECIOUS
SAME WE BEGIN
TO
HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING
THAT RACISM
TATUM
EXISTS
103
AND SO
MAY
WE MAY
SEE OURSELVES AS LESS PREJUDICED
THAN MOST OTHER WHITE PEOPLE WHICH PRESENTS AN INTERESTING
CONTRADICTION
WE
WANT TO BE SEEN AS DIFFERENT FROM AND BETTER THAN THE VERY WHITE GROUP WHICH WE
FEEL APOLOGETIC
TOWARDS PEOPLE
DONT ACKNOWLEDGE
WE BELIEVE
WE TEND
THAT RACIST
OF COLOR
INDIVIDUALITY
TO TAKE ACCUSATIONS
THOUGHTS OR BEHAVIORS
OF RACISM
REQUIRE INTENT
CHANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PANE
VERY PERSONALLY BECAUSE
PAUL KIVEL
IN
HIS
BOOK UPROOTING RACISM
EXCELLENT
HOW WHITE
PEOPLE CAN
WORKFOR
SOCIAL JUSTICE NOTES
61 TALKS ABOUT HOW ANOTHER RACIST RESPONSE TO
DIFFERENCE
IS THE EROTICIZATION
OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHITE PEOPLES IMAGES OF PEOPLE OF
MAKE THEM SEEM NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT ALSO EXOTIC AND EROTIC MEN OF
COLOR
HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED
AS WILD BESTIAL
AGGRESSIVE SEXUAL BEINGS WITH LITTLE OR
COLOR ARE PORTRAYED AS MORE PASSIONATE AND SENSUAL THAN
THIS EROTICIZATION
OF DIFFERENCE PRODUCES NAYVE AND DEVASTATING
FOR
IT
AS
ABOUT HAIR AND SKIN COLOR
SOME APPEARS
INAPPROPRIATE
CURIOSITY
RESPONSES
FOR OTHERS IT SHOWS UP AS EXTREME FEAR AND ANGER WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO THE USE OF
COLOR
RESTRA
NO
WHITE
WOMENOF
WOMEN
FORCE WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY
AND
MUTILATION
ONE
OF
INCLUDED
AND CONTINUES
TO INCLUDE
LYNCHING RAPE
KILLING
OUR MOST
COMMONRESPONSES WHEN FIRST
NOTICING
RACE
TAUGHT AT AN EARLY AGE TO FEAR DIFFERENCE AND BECAUSE WE ARE THE
SYSTEMATICALLY
TAUGHT TO FEAR PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE DIFFERENT
AND PHYSICAL HARM DONE
OCCURS WHERE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
IS
FEAR
WE ARE
NORM WHITE WE ARE
THE
IS
IRONY
THAT THIS
BY WHITE
TOWARD
PEOPLE
HISTORICALLY
OVERWHELMING
PEOPLE
PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE PORTRAYED AS DANGEROUS AND
UNTRUSTWORTHY IS LARGELY MANUFACTURED AND USED TO JUSTIFY REPRESSION AND
WHILE
IS
OF COMMUNITIES
EXPLOITATION
THIS
MANUFACTURED
SUPPORTS OUR
ABILITY
TO
THE
FEAR
COLOR KIVEL
OF
TO PEOPLE
OF COLOR
THAT WHITE
FEEL
53
AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN KEEPING US
DEHUMANIZE PEOPLE OF COLOR THE OTHER IN
FEAR PLAYS
IN
THIS
THIS
STAGE FEAR
WAY FEAR
PREVENTS US FROM FORMING THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT BREAK THROUGH THIS
DEHUMANIZATION AND ENCOURAGES US TO REMAIN STUCK IN OUR STEREOTYPES
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING STAGES FROM WHICH TO MOVE BECAUSE
THE NEXT STAGE IS DENIAL AND DEFENSIVENESS
WHICH IS
DIRECT RESULT OF BEGINNING
TO
UNDERSTAND THE PERVASIVENESS OF RACISM OUR FIRST REACTION TO THIS UNDERSTANDING IS
TO RESIST
OR
DENY
IT
STAYING IN
BE
LIKE
ME BECAUSE
OF THE PSYCHIC
SAFETY
IT
PROVIDES
WAYS THAT WE STAY IN THE BE LIKE ME STAGE IS TO BLAME PEOPLE OF COLOR
FOR RACISM WE WONDER WHY THEY HAVE TO MAKE SUCH
BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND BECOME
WHEN
RACISM
IS
NAMED
TO
AS
UPSET
OPPOSED
BECOMING UPSET ABOUT THE RACISM
ONE OF
THE
WE WOULD SUGGEST
THAT
US
DOMINANT
CULTURE
IS
STUCK IN THIS STAGE PRECISELY
AND ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY
GUILT AND
SHAME ABOUT THE PAST AS RESULT THE DOMINANT CULTURE SUGGESTS THAT RACISM IS
BECAUSE OUR
INSTITUTIONS
THING OF THE PAST THAT ANY REMAINING RACISM IS THE RESULT OF THE PERSONAL RACISM
FEW IGNORANT PEOPLE AND THAT THE PLAYING FIELD IS NOW LEVEL
CHANGEWORK
WWWCBANGEWORKNET
PAGES
OF
AND DEFENSIVENESS
DENIAL
ALSO
AM
KNOWN AS
NOT THE PROBLEM
WE
IN THIS STAGE
ARE FORCED TO SEE OURSELVES AS PART OF THE DOMINANT
BLAME
PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR CREATING THEIR
DENY ANY
OR
PRIVILEGE
PROBLEMS
AS
MEMBERS
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARENT TRYING HARD
BELIEVE
LOOK FOR EVIDENCE
BELIEVE
IN
THE
OF THE
WHITE GROUP
ENOUGH
OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
FIELD
THE PLAYING
INSIST
POWER WE HAVE
GROUP
LEVEL
IS
POWER OF
INDIVIDUAL
ABOVE
ALL
WE ARE
OF RACIAL DIFFERENCE
FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE
OR BY WITNESSING UNDENIABLE
USUALLY THROUGH THE DEPTH OF AN EMERGING RELATIONSHIP
THAT
EITHER DENY THE VALIDITY
AT
DANIEL
TATUM
NOTES
WE
RACISM
THIS POINT BEVERLY
AT SOME POINT
BEING PRESENTED OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR PHYSICALLY WITHDRAW FROM
DONT TALK ABOUT IT OR SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO
98
LOGIC IS THAT IF
WONT HAVE TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE THIS IS WHENWE SAY OR
MAKE ME THINK ABOUT IT
THINK THINGS LIKE WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SUCH BIG DEAL ABOUT RACE ALL THE
OF THE INFORMATION
THE
IT
TIME WE MAY BELIEVE
THAT TOO
MUCH ATTENTION
OF COLOR ARE OVERLY SENSITIVE
THAT TALKING
ABOUT RACISM IS THE
THAT PEOPLE
BELIEVE
WHEN WE DO ADMIT
RATHER THAN
DAILY
THAT RACISM
IS
WE
PLACED ON CULTURAL DIFFERENCES OR
DENY THAT RACISM IS THE PROBLEM AND
IS
PROBLEM
HAPPENING
WE SEE
IT
AS ISOLATED
INCIDENTS
CONSTANT GRIND
ARE OFTEN CONNECTED TO FEAR OF LOSS THOSE
INTERESTINGLY DENIAL AND DEFENSIVENESS
OF US WHO HAVE DEVELOPED FRIENDSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR MAY FEAR LOSING THEM IN
THE SOMETIMES MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGING OUR DIFFERENCE
OR OUR
OWN RACISM WILL END THE RELATIONSHIP THIS IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE WHEN THE PERSON OF
WHOMWE ARE
COLOR WITH
ABILITY
FRIENDS
IS
IN
STAGE OF DENIAL
ALSO
WE FEAR
THE LOSS OF OUR
OR CONTROL OUR OWN REALITY AND EVERYBODY ELSES THIS IS WHERE WE
AND MAY NOT
THAT THE WAY WE VIEW THE WORLD IS NARROW AND LIMITED
TO DEFINE
BEGIN
TO SENSE
APPLY
TO
SOME
EVERYONE
OF
THREATEN TO
US STAY IN
LEAVE US
THIS
IF
STAGE BECAUSE OF OUR FEAR OF LOSING FAMILY
WE
INSIST
ON ACKNOWLEDGING AND TAKING
CHANGEWORK
WWWCHANGEWORKNET
PACE
AND FRIENDS
RESPONSIBILITY
WHO
FOR
OUR BEHAVIOR AS
RACISM OR WHO CHARACTERIZE
PHASE
ONE WELL GET OVER ONCE WE COME TO OUR SENSES
THAT
WERE GOING THROUGH AND
WHERE WE SAY
POTENT FORM OF DENIAL AND DEFENSIVENESS IS INTELLECTUALIZING
OF
RACISM
TO DISTANCE
THE RIGHT THINGS AND USE OUR INTELLECTUAL
UNDERSTANDING
LOOK AT HOW WE BENEFIT FROM AND PERPETUATE RACISM WE
OURSELVES FROM TAKING
ONE
ALL
ANY ADVANTAGES WE HAVE AS WHITE PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE PEOPLE OF
ARENT TRYING HARD ENOUGH IT IS IN THIS STAGE THAT WE EXPERIENCE WHITE PEOPLE AS
THAT
MAY BELIEVE
COLOR
THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL OR THAT PEOPLE
OF COLOR GET UNFAIR ADVANTAGES BECAUSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND QUOTAS
HISTORIC ADMISSION TO SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE THE TAKING AWAY OF AN UNFAIR PRIVILEGE
VICTIMS
OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
INSISTING
WE
WHERE ADMISSION WAS DENIED
WE ARE BEING
TREATED
UNFAIR ADVANTAGES
BASED ON HISTORICAL
MAKING
UNFAIRLY
HISTORY
AND NATIVE STUDENTS AS THOUGH
AFRICANAMERICAN
NO MATTER HOWDEAR IT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN
TO
OF ADMISSIONS
LEGACY OF WEALTH
BECAUSE
OF
ETC THANKS
TO
RACE FAMILY TIES
COLUMNIST MOLLY
TO
ABILITY
IVINS
PAY
FOR
POINT
THIS
SPECIFIC
FORM OF DENIAL
IS
MARCHED WITH
THE
DR KING
DEFENSE WHERE WE
WEVE DONE TO HELP THE
IN CIVIL
FIGHTS MARCHES OR ALL THAT
BRING UP PAST PARTICIPATION
CAUSE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOT RACIST DO NOT PARTICIPATE
IN RACISM AND ARE
WHITE
FOR
ANTIRADSTS
JOAN OLSSON IN HER EXTREMELY USEFUL DETOUR SPOTTING
NOTES THAT THIS DENIAL OF CONTEMPORARY RACISM BASED ON INACCURATE ASSESSMENT
BOTH HISTORY AND CURRENT SOCIETY ROMANTICIZES THE PAST AND DIMINISHES
TODAYS
GOOD
11 ONE
REALITY
WE USE
OF THE REASONS
THIS
FORM
OF DENIAL
TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM OTHER WHITE PEOPLE AND BECAUSE
OUR OWN CONTINUED RACISM MEANS ADMITTING THAT
ADMITTING
WE MAY GET ANGRY WHENPEOPLE OF
WE FEEL EXCLUDED WHY CANT
BECAUSE
TO LOOK
UNWILLING
WHERE PEOPLE
DECISIONS
WE RETURN
WHAT IT MEANS
OF COLOR
REASSURANCE THAT
MAKING
AT
WE ASSUME
WE ARE
IT
ALLOWS US
THAT
ESSENTIALLY
BAD
THEM
OK WE MAY
WHICH WE CANT
BECAUSE
COLOR MEET TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEMS
BE THERE WITH
WE ARE GENERALLY
TO BE WHITE WITHOUT BEING IN
MIXED GROUP
SEE
FEEL
WHAT WE ARE
OFTEN LOOKING FOR IS
THREATENED BECAUSE PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND
WE ARE
IS
OF
OR CONTROL
STAGE AGAIN AND AGAIN WHENEVER ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MAKE US
FEEL VULNERABLE ANDOR ATTACKED FOR BEING WHITE THIS HAPPENS FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE
WHODOESNT WANT
MEET
STAGE OF RAGE OR EXCLUSIONIMMERSION
PERSON OF COLOR IN
TO DEAL
TO THIS
WITH US SIMPLY
BECAUSE
WE ARE WHITE
WHAT WE MIGHT
ANOTHER HARD STAGE TO LEAVE BECAUSE WE FEAR ADMITTING
HAVE TO DO IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY OF DIFFERENCE AND RACISM WE ALSO FEAR THE
THIS
IS
CHANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 10
AND SHAME THAT AUTOMATICALLY COME WITH ACKNOWLEDGING RACISM
AND INTERNALIZED WHITE SUPREMACY
OF GUILT
FEELINGS
PRIVILEGE
SHAME AND BLAME
GUILT
KNOWN AS WHITE
ALSO
IN
THIS
STAGE
WE
REALLY
FEEL
THAT
IS
NOT RIGHT
AND THINK
IM BAD
THAT RACISM
VERY BIG PROBLEM AND THAT
IS
SOME LEVEL
AT
WE ARE
THAT
BLAME PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR RACISM AS
EITHER
FEEL EXTREMELY
HAVE
PART IN
WAY OF
FOR RACISM
RESPONSIBLE
OR DENY ANY
PRIMARY ISSUE
STAGE
RACIST
SHAME OFTEN DEEPLY
AND
FEEL GUILT
THIS
PART OF
PROBLEM
UNDERSTAND
IN
WE ARE
RESPONSIBILITY
OUR
AVOIDING
SOMETIMES
IT
IT
ON
AM NOT
AT ALL FOR RACISM
AS
OUR
RACIST
OF RACISM AND THAT WE
TO UNDERSTAND THE PERVASIVENESS
AND SHAME ARE AN INEVITABLE
RESULT OF THIS REALIZATION
AS OUR
GUILT
TO
SEE
FEELINGS
AND THE WAYS
WHITE PRIVILEGE
OF GUILT
MOST OF THE TIME WE DONT NOTICE OR
ONE
HOWEVER
RACISM MANY OF US
BE
OF THE
WHEN THE
DEFENSIVENESS
IS
BE WHITE BECAUSE
OPENS US TO CHARGES
OF BEING
LIKE
TO THIS
IT
WHICH
MAIN
REASONS
WE STAY
ME ANDOR DENIAL
IN
SUBJECT
IN
AND SHAME BECOME STRONGER
QUESTION OUR WHITENESS
TO
TAKING
AND SHAME
WE BEGIN
UNDERSTANDING GROWS AND WE BEGIN
WE INTERNALIZE WHITE PRIVILEGE THE
DONT WANT
GUILT
STAGE
IS
TO AVOID
AND HAVING
AND
COMING
THESE
FEELINGS
RACIST
AND BRINGS UP FEELINGS OF GUILT SHAME
EMBARRASSMENT AND HOPELESSNESS
PAUL KIVEL
ACTUALLY
THIS
IS
WHERE WE WANT TO
GUILT
AND SHAME
NOT
STAGE
VERY LONG
EVENTUALLY TURN
STAY
TO RESENTUIENT AGAINST THE VERY
DONT WANT TO FEEL GUILTY AND ASHAMED ANY
THESE FEELINGS
THIS RESENTMENT OFTEN LEADS US BACK INTO DENIAL
DEFENSIVENESS
THINGS THAT ARE CAUSING
MORE SO
AND AN
WONT
BE OPEN TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING THANKS TO LEONARD PITTS
COLUMNIST FOR THE MIAMI
HERALD FOR MAKING THIS CONNECTION WE SUGGEST THAT MOST
OF WHITE AMERICA RESPONDS WITH RESENTMENT WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO TAKE
INABILITY
RESPONSIBILITY
MODELS
INEVITABLY
FOR
TO
FOR
OUR ROLE
HOW TO HANDLE
IN
RACISM THE REASON
THE
ATTACHED TO TAKING
REALLY
FEELINGS
OF GUILT
RESPONSIBILITY
CHANGEWORK
FOR
FOR THIS
RACISM
WWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 11
IS
BECAUSE
WE HAVE NO
AND SHAME WHICH WE KNOWARE
ALSO POSSIBLE
IS
IT
DIRECTED
IF
THERE
OF GUILT
FOR FEELINGS
AND SHAME TO TURN INTO
DANIEL TATUM EXPLAINS
TOWARD PEOPLE OF COLOR BEVERLY
IS
PROBLEM WITH RACISM THEN YOU PEOPLE
OF COLOR
FEAR
AND ANGER
THE LOGIC
THIS
WAY
MUST HAVE DONE
AND IF YOU WOULD JUST CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR THE PROBLEM
101 WE TURN TO THIS ARGUMENT BECAUSE IT RELIEVES US OF ALL
AWAY
FOR INDIVIDUAL
OR SOCIAL CHANGE THIS IS ALSO THE STAGE WHERE WE SAY
RESPONSIBILITY
SOMETHING
CAUSE
TO
IT
WOULD GO
THINGS LIKE
DAVID
THIS
NEVER OWNED SLAVES
DIDNT VOTE
FOR
MY FAMILY
DIDNT JOIN THE KLAN JOAN OLSSON EXPLAINS THAT WE
BECAUSE
WE
TEND TO HEAR BLAME WHENEVER THE ISSUE OF RACISM IS
WAY
WHETHER OR NOT BLAME HAS BEEN PLACED ON US AS BENEFICIARIES
OF RACISM
DUKE
RESPOND
ME BECAUSE
DONT BLAME
OR
BROUGHT UP
AND WHITE PRIVILEGE
DEFENSIVE POSTURE EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT
WE SOMETIMES STRIKE
BLAMED WE MAY PERSONALIZE THE REMARKS PUT OURSELVES IN THE
BEING INDIVIDUALLY
CENTER NOT REALIZING
THAT MOST REFERENCES TO RACISM ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AT US
THAT DRAGS THE FOCUS
THE ARROGANCE OF BURL PRIVILEGE
IT IS
BACK
TO
US
10
THIS IS THE POINT AT
CAN ALSO BE
STAGE OF PROFOUND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION
WHICH MANY WHITE PEOPLE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR
THIS
RACISM EVEN IF WE WERENT PERSONALLY INVOLVED
IN
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PARTICIPANTS
CULTURE
THAT
RACISM EVEN
THIS
WE DO
FROM RACISM AND
BENEFIT
WHEN THAT
IN
ITS
HISTORICAL
FOUNDATIONS
AND
RACIST INSTITUTIONS
THAT
WE PARTICIPATE
WE
RACIST
IN PERPETUATING
NOT OUR INTENTION
IS
CAN BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME
FOR WHITE
CAUCUSES
AND SUPPORT FROM OTHER WHITE
PEOPLE BECAUSE THESE PROVIDE SPACE TO SPEAK WITH HONESTY AND CANDOR RARELY
111 IT IS AT THIS STAGE IF WE ARE TO
POSSIBLE IN MIXEDRACE GROUPS TATUM 1997
MOVE THROUGH IT
IMMEDIATELY
TO SIT
ABILITY
THAT
TAKING
WE LEARN
AND
ACTION
WITH OURSELVES
WITH OUR DISCOMFORT AND OUR FEELINGS WITHOUT
OR DENYING THEM WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
TO SIT
WITH
SENSE OF BOTH MERCY
AND LOVE
IS
DEVELOPMENT AS AN ANTIRACIST
OPENING
ALSO
UPACKNOWLEDGEMENT
KNOWN AS HOUSTON WEVE GOT
IN THIS
STAGE
PROBLEM
WE
SEE RACISM AS MOGICAL
RELATE TO PEOPLE
OF COLOR
ARE OFTEN FRUSTRATED
BY
WHO ARE
SEPARATION
CHANGEWORK
LIKE
BY
US
CAUCUSING
FOR
WWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 12
EXAMPLE
KEY TO OUR
FEEL APOLOGETIC FOR OUR PRIVILEGES
HAVE
GENERAL UNDERSTANDING THAT RACISM
ANALYSIS
OF THE
SEE RACISM
RESULT
AS
THE SYSTEM
IS
WAYS
IN
WHICH
IS
IT
OF FLAWS IN
PROBLEM WITHOUT
IS
PERSONAL
THE SYSTEM
STRONG
AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONAL
AS OPPOSED
TO
UNDERSTANDING
THAT
FOUNDED ON RACISM
WITH
CAN OVERIDENTIFY
PEOPLE
OF COLOR
ABOUT CELEBRATING
ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
DIVERSITY
WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE
OF RACISM
POWER DYNAMICS
IN THIS STAGE THOSE OF US WHOBELIEVE IN THE POWEROF LOGIC SEE RACISM AS ILLOGICAL
TALK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF LACK OF FAIRNESS WE BEGIN TO ADMIT THAT RACISM AND
WE ALSO
WHITE
PROBLEMS WE BEGIN TO SEE OURSELVES AS MEMBERS OF THE
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
ARE SERIOUS
PRIVILEGE
DOMINANT GROUP AND
TO
GROUP WE TEND
ATTACHED TO THIS
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND
TO SEE
POWERDIFFERENCES
WE BELIEVE
AS PERSONAL THE RESULT OF
IN THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING ALL KINDS OF
PREJUDICE
AT
RACISM
PEOPLE
THIS
STAGE
WEMAY BEGIN
TO FEEL PRODUCTIVE
ANGER OR ANGER
AND WHAT IT HAS DONE TO US AS WHITE PEOPLE IN TERMS
OF COLOR AND DEEPLY DAMAGING OUR WORLD VIEW
ONE
WE MOVE FROM
OF
US FROM
AND SHAME TO THIS STAGE IS TO
WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR
DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM WHITE PEOPLE AND OVERIDENTIFY
DANIEL
TATUM
OF
THE
WHITE
STUDENTS
FROM
HER CLASS
WANTED
BEVERLY
QUOTES ONE
PRETEND WAS BLACK LIVE WITH THEM CELEBRATE THEIR CULTURE DENY MY WHITENESS
OF THE
COMPLETELY
WAYS IN WHICH
AT THE REALITY
OF SEPARATING
BASICALLY
WANTED TO
GUILT
ESCAPE THE RESPONSIBILITY
THAT
CAME WITH
TO
IDENTIFYING
106
MYSELF AS WHITE
THIS IS THE STAGE WHERE CULTURAL
TAKES PLACE WHERE WE TAKE PIECES OF
APPROPRIATION
THE CULTURES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR THEIR HAIR STYLES THEIR DRESS THEIR RELIGIOUS
OR
WITH
OF
COLOR
WITHOUT
COMMUNITIES
OR AN
RITUALS
SPIRITUAL
HAVING RELATIONSHIPS
UNDERSTANDING
LARGER CULTURE
OF THE HISTORY
OR MEANING
OF THE RELATIONSHIP
WE HAVE
OF THESE PIECES
TO THE
DIFFERENT BUT WE
DEEPER AWARENESS OF OTHER RACES AS SIGNIFICANTLY
MAY NOT YET HAVE THE INFORMATION OR AWARENESS TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS IN WHICH
ROLE WE MAY BE UNSETTLED BY SEPARATISM AND FEEL WE CANNOT
POWERDIFFERENCES PLAY
LEARN AND
GROWWHEN PEOPLE
ARE
SEPARATED
CBANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 13
AT THIS
ALTHOUGH
RACISM WHITENESS
IS
STAGE
WE HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND
THE EVERYDAY REALITY OF
SOURCE OF
SOURCE OF SHAME RATHER THAN AS
EXPERIENCED AS
OF
ITS
AT THIS STAGE THAT WE ALSO TEND TO SEEK
CERTIFICATE
107
PRIDE TATUM
SEEK OR EXPECT FROM PEOPLE OF COLOR SOME
INNOCENCE OLSSON
18 WHERE
AND
FOR OUR ANTIRACISM OTHER TIMES
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE RECOGNITION
APPRECIATION
STILL
WE
WE
CERTIFICATE
OF INNOCENCE TELLING US WE ARE ONE OF THE GOOD WHITE
ARE LOOKING FOR
THIS
TAKE
BACK
TO DENIAL AND DEFENSIVENESS
WHEN PERSON OF COLOR
CAN
US
PEOPLE
WITH US AND
DISPLEASED
THIS
FOR
WE TAKE
THE ATTITUDE
WELL
IF
DELICATE
IS
WE CAN MOVE
OF RACISM
WITH
AND
BECAUSE
WORKAND CAN
DOING ANTIRACISM
RELATIONSHIPS
STAGE
ITS
WE HAVE
EASILY
TO THE NEXT STAGE
UNCOMFORTABLE SO
WILLINGNESS
INTELLECTUAL
AND PHYSICAL
IN OUR LIVES
THROUGH PROACTIVE
TO CULTURAL
RELATIONSHIP
TO BE
YET TO IDENTIFY
BE DERAILED
AND PEOPLE
WHITES
ANTIRACIST
AND
IM
DOING
ALL
18
DONT WANT MY HELP WHY BOTHER OLSSON
THIS
THE VERY PEOPLE
IS
OF COLOR
OUR
OWNSELFINTEREST
IN
EFFORTS TO BUILD
THROUGH STUDY AND ANALYSIS
INSTITUTIONAL
POWER GROWING
WE PUT
OURSELVES IN PLACES EMOTIONAL
BEEN
WE HAVE NOT
BEFORE AND THROUGH CONTINUED WORKON
THAT
OF RACISM
ISSUES
TAKING RESPONSUBILITYSELFRIGHTEOUSNESS
ALSO
AT
KNOWN AS
THIS
STAGE
WHITE CAN DO RIGHT
ESPECIALLY
ME
WE
SEE OURSELVES AS PART OF THE WHITE
UNDERSTAND AND BEGIN
PART OF THE WHITE
ARE COMFORTABLE
CONTINUE
TO
HAVE
FOR OUR
POWER AND
PRIVILEGE
AS
GROUP
WITH SEPARATION
OF GUILT
FEELINGS
DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS
DISTINGUISH
GROUP
TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
ANGER FRUSTRATION BUT
AND INCREASED
MULTICULTURAL
ALSO OF JOY BECAUSE
EXPERIENCE
BETWEEN COMMITMENT AND PERFECTION
SEE CHALLENGES AS TEACHERS
PARTICIPATE
VALUE
IN
INDIVIDUAL
AND
COLLECTIVE
ACTION
SELLREFLECTION
USE OUR RACIST THOUGHTS
THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS
AND
BEHAVIORS
TO
DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING AND CHANGE
CBANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 14
OF
OF OURSELVES
FEEL OUR
AS SEPARATE
COMMITMENT
FROM AND BETTER THAN MOST OTHER WHITE PEOPLE
WORK VERY DEEPLY
TO ANTIRACIST
TO SELF
LEADING
RIGHTEOUSNESS
IN THIS STAGE
WHITE
WE BEGIN
TO THINK
WE ENGAGE
PRIVILEGE
OWN INVOLVEMENT
IN
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING
THE SIX
RS
ANALYSIS
DO
AND
OUR
REMEMBERING
ABOUT RACISM
ACTIONS RISKTAKING REJECTION
THOUGHTS BELIEFS
AND BE REJECTED WITHOUT TURNING AWAY FROM
COMMITMENT
RACISM AND RELATIONSHIPBUILDING
TO FIGHT
TO
READING REFLECTION
RACIST
TO TAKE RISKS
WILLINGNESS
IN
TO SEE RACISM
AS
WE BEGIN
RESULT
AND
BUT AS CULTURAL
AS NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL
TO
DEVELOP
POWER
INSTITUTIONAL
OF RACISM IS EXPANDING
MUCH OF THE WORK AT THIS STAGE
ON
LEVEL
WE
ARE
OUR
HAPPENING
PERSONAL
DEEPENING
UNDERSTANDING OF OUR OWN
WORLD VIEW AND HOW IT DOES NOT REPRESENT
UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCE WE BEGIN TO
AND
WHITE
ACCEPT RESPECT
APPRECIATE
PEOPLE PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE ANTIRACIST
EVEN THOUGH OUR ANALYSIS
IS
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WE BEGIN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
AND
IN DISMANTLING
RACISM
RECOGNIZE OUR SELFINTEREST
POWER
ACTIVISTS
AT
FOR OUR PRIVILEGE
AND
WE ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEED FOR SEPARATION AND BEGIN TO LOOK
SUPPORT FROM OTHER WHITE PEOPLE FEELINGS OF GUILT ANGER FRUSTRATION AND
AS WELL AS PAINFUL
ANXIETY FEAR OF UNKNOWN CONTINUE TO APPEAR BUT CAN BE LIBERATING
THIS
STAGE
FOR
WE BEGIN
TO
MISTAKES
ALTHOUGH
UNDERSTAND
JUDGMENT OF OTHERS
THIS
IS
THAT
THERE
IS
NO
UNDERSTANDING
STILL
WAY TO DO
IS
STILL
WORK WITHOUT MAKING
AND
OUR
YOUNG
SELLJUDGMENT AND
ANTIRACIST
VERY HIGH
WE ARE MORE OPEN TO
SEEING CHALLENGES BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER WHITE PEOPLE
AS
INSTEAD OF SIMPLY THREATENING
ARE
TEACHING MOMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
MORE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE RAGE EXPRESSED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR OR WHITE PEOPLE WITHOUT
TAKING IT PERSONALLY UNDERSTANDING THAT RAGE IS OFTEN AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO
RACIST
OPPRESSION
INTERACTIONS
AT
WE SEEK
WE BEGIN
UNDERSTAND THE
WE
TO
BE INVOLVED
BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT
OF OUR
LIMITS
TO
OPPORTUNITIES
IN
CULTURAL
CROSSCULTURAL
DIFFERENCES
AND TO
KNOWLEDGE
WE ARE
ALSO IN GREAT DANGER OF FALLING VICTIM
TO FALSE PRIDE AND SELF
OURSELVES
ABOUT
WHITE PEOPLE AS THEY BECAUSE WE
RIGHTEOUSNESS
TALKING
ARE SO JUDGMENTAL OF THE WHITE GROUP AND MOST PEOPLE IN IT AND SEE OURSELVES AS
SEPARATE FROM AND BETTER THAN THE GROUP WE SAY THINGS LIKE WHAT IS WRONGWITH
THIS
STAGE
WE FIND
THOSE WHITE
WERE NOT
DISTANCING
PEOPLE
THE
PEOPLE
WHERE
OR
THEY
JUST
WHO NEED
WE
DONT
GET
IT
THIS
TRAINING
OTHER
WHITE
PUT
PEOPLE
OR
THIS
YOURE WASTING
IS
DOWN
CHANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 15
TIME
WITH US
ANOTHER FORM OF DENIAL
AND RIGHTEOUSLY
CALLED
CONSIDER
WHO HAVE EVOLVED BEYOND
OURSELVES WHITE PEOPLE
OUR RACIST
CONDITIONING
OLSSON
P16
WE BEGIN
IN WORKING WITH
STAGE WHENWE BECOME INTERESTED
OTHER WHITE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ON ISSUES OF RACISM WE BEGIN TO TAKE
DEFINED VISION
LEADERSHIP AND RISKS AS WE WORK WITH OTHERS TO ACHIEVE
COLLECTIVELY
MOVE
TO
OF AN ANTIRACIST
ORGANIZATIONCOMMUNITY
COLLECTIVE
IN
THIS
STAGE
ACTION
WE
IN INDIVIDUAL
PARTICIPATE
PERSONAL
INSTITUTIONAL
WORK TO MAKE
WITH
OUT OF THIS
STRATEGIC
ANTIRACIST
ANALYSIS
AND COLLECTIVE ACTION
AND CULTURAL LEVELS
CHANGES IN ORGANIZATIONS
AND VISION
ARE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT BUILDING
RACIST
COMMUNITIES
WITH PEOPLE
ALLIANCES
RACISM
OF COLOR
ON
THE
CONSISTENT
AND WHITE
ANTI
ACTIVISTS
SEEK STRUCTURAL
CHANGE
WORK COLLECTIVELY
THAT
THIS
OF OUR MISTAKES
TO ADDRESS
WITH OTHER WHITE
DAIM OUR IDENTITY
ADMIT
TO ADDRESS
WHITE
AS
AND THOSE
ANTIRACIST
ALLIES
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
IN
RACIST SOCIETY
LEARNING
FROM MISTAKES
PERSON
WORK REQUIRES
RACISM
INSTITUTIONAL
AND
ARE
MORE FORGIVING
OF OTHERS
IN THIS STAGE WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND AS BEVERLY DANIEL TATUM SAYS THAT THERE
OF WHITE PROTEST AGAINST RACISM
OF WHITES WHOHAVE RESISTED
THE
HISTORY
HISTORY
WHOHAVE BEEN ALLIES TO
ALDERFER WHOSAYS THAT AT THIS
ROLE OF OPPRESSOR
AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR
WE HAVE
108 TATUM
IS
ALSO
MORE COMPLETE
QUOTES CLAYTON
STAGE
AWARENESS OF OURSELVES AND OF OTHERS TO THE DEGREE THAT WE NEITHER NEGATE THE
OF EACH
UNIQUENESS
PERSON REGARDLESS OF THAT PERSONS GROUP MEMBERSHIPS NOR DENY
THE EVERPRESENT EFFECTS OF GROUP MEMBERSHIPS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL
112
ITS
REALLY
AT THIS
STAGE THAT
WE ALSO
HAPPENING ON OUR
LOT OF DECONDITIONING
OUR INDIVIDUALITY
WITH OTHER WHITE
AND
OF THE
ABILITY
ANTIRACIST
BEGIN
OWN THIS
IS
TO REALIZE
WAYS US
TO
ALLIES
DO IT
THAT
WE CANT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
NOT NECESSARILY
AN EASY TRANSITION AND REQUIRES
CULTURE HAS TAUGHT US THAT OUR STRENGTH IS IN
OURSELVES
REACH OUT TO BE IN RELATIONSHIPS
WE
AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
CHANGEWORKWWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 16
SOLID
WHAT IS HAPPENING
ANALYSIS
OF
RANGE OF
PEOPLE
WE WORK TO MAKE
CONSISTENT
THAT
STRATEGIC
WITH AN ANTIRACIST
INCLUDES
THE
VOICES
AND EXPERIENCES
BROADER
OF
CHANGES IN OUR ORGANIZATIONSCOMMUNITIES
VISION AND ANALYSIS
THAT IS COLLECTIVELY
BUILT
WE ARE
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT BUILDING
MEANINGFUL ALLIANCES WITH OTHER WHITE ANTIRACIST ALLIES
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WE TEND TO AVOID WORKING OUT OF
SENSE OF URGENCY IN THOSE
SITUATIONS
WHERE URGENCY REINFORCES OUR WHITE PRIVILEGE
AND POWER WE WORK WITH
ALLIES
TO
SEEK
STRUCTURAL
WHICH
ADDRESS
INSTITUTIONAL
OUR
RACISM WE WORK
CHANGES
WITH
OUR
TO DEFINE
ALLIES
WE UNDERSTAND
AND
LIVE
THE BELIEF
VALUES WHICH ADDRESS
THAT ALL WHITE
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO WALK UP TO ALL WHITE
THEM WE TRY TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT WORKING TO
PEOPLE
RACISM
CULTURAL
ARE RACIST
AND
PEOPLE
BUILD WHITE
DOES NOT MEAN THAT
WITH
SHARE THIS INSIGHT
ANTIRACIST
WE NO
ALLIES
LONGER
SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM OTHER WHITE PEOPLE INSTEAD WE TEND TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SIMPLY EXTENSIONS OF EACH OTHER AND SEE THE BELIEFS FEARS AND
RACISM OF OTHER WHITE PEOPLE AS REFLECTIONS OF OUR OWN WE CLAIM OUR IDENTITY
AS
WORK TO
RACIST SOCIETY
AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING OURSELVES
PERSON IN
AS PART OF THE WHITE GROUP BOTH IN TERMS OF THE POWER AND BENEFITS
WE RECEIVE AND IN
OF
THE
TERMS
POTENTIAL
POWER TO ORGANIZE OTHER WHITE PEOPLE TO ADDRESS RACISM WE
WHITE
BEGIN
WHITE
TO FEEL
PEOPLE
AND SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF
ON RACISM AND INTERNALIZED
WERE ALSO MORE AWARE THAN
EVER OF THE COMPLEXITIES
NOT
WORK WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS
RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS WORKAS
RESULT WE ARE LESS JUDGMENTAL AND MORE
ONE
FORGIVING OF MISTAKES OUR OWNAND
THOSE OF OTHERS
CONTINUE TO HOLD
RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF DOING ANTIRACIST
WE DONT EXPECT
PERFECTION OF
OTHERS OR DEMAND
IMPERFECTIONS
WE
OURSELVES AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE YET
ARE ABLE TO DO SO WITH LESS SELF
WORKING WITH OTHER
FOR
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
WHITE SUPREMACY
IT
ITS
IN
WE BEAR
THAT
OUR
OUR
COMMON HUMANITY
WE
LEONARD
PELTIER
AND MORE COMPASSION
COMMUNITY OF LOVE AND RESISTANCE
BEVERLY
DANIEL
TATUM
NOTES THAT
AWARDED WITH AN INCREASINGLY MULTIRACIAL
THIS STAGE WHICH WE ARE ALL STILL SEEKING
CHANGEWORK
THOSE WHO PERSIST
AND MULTICULTURAL
TO ACHIEVE
WE ARE
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PAGE 17
IN
THE STRUGGLE
EXISTENCE
LIVING
ARE
109
IN
AND WORKING IN
STRONG ANTIRACIST
CHALLENGES SUCH
IN
HAS THE
THIS
AND COMMUNITIES
ORGANIZATIONS
VISION BRINGS
STAGE
WE ARE
CONSISTENTLY
ORGANIZING
WITH
ALL
THE COMPLEXITIES
AND BUILDING
AND
COMMUNITY
THAT
HEAL THE REMNANTS
RACIST OPPRESSION AND
RACISM INTERNALIZED
WHITE SUPREMACY WE ARE CONSTRUCTING ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES
THAT CAN HELP US THINK CRITICALLY
AND DEVELOP AN ANALYSIS
AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE
COMMUNITY COUNTRY AND WORLD WE ARE CONSTRUCTING ORGANIZATIONS AND
OF
POWER TO
INTERNALIZED
COMMUNITIES
THE
WITH
CULTURES
COMMUNITY AND WHICH
WHICH BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
WITH THOSE OF
SUSTAIN LIFE
THE THINKING BEHIND
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF
LADDER TO BECOMING
WHITE ANTIRACIST
ALLY HAS BEEN
OF MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING
ANDREA AYVAZIAN IN
DEVELOPED OVER SEVERAL YEARS WITH THE CONTRIBUTIONS
HER CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE PDF DISMANTLING
RACISM CURRICULUM JANET HELMS IN
UPDATE OF HELMSS
WHITE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR RACIAL IDENTITY
MODELS IN HANDBOOKOF MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING SAGE 1995
AN
CHANGENORK
INCLUDES
TRAINERS
BREE CARISON
IN
THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS
MEREDITH
DEAN
TO THE
CHANGEWORKDISMANTLING
ME DUEKER
ALICE
RACISM
CURRICULUM
THIS
JOHNSON MICHELLE JOHNSON KENNETH JONES
PAUL KIVEL
JONNLUNSFORDKARIMAH MOORESUZANNE PLIHCIK
IN UPROOTING RACISM HOWWHITE PEOPLE
CAN WORKFOR RACIAL JUSTICE 1995 JOAN OLSSON IN DETOUR SPOTTING FOR WHITE ANTIRACISTS
CULTURAL
DANIEL
TATUM
ALL
THE
BLACK
KIDS
IN WHY ARE
BRIDGES PA 1997 BEVERLY
SITTING TOGETHER IN THE
CAFETERIA HARPERCOLLINS 1997 AS WELL AS THE HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS
IN THE WHITE CAUCUSES OF THE
RACISM WORKSHOPS THE THINKING
BEHIND THE LADDER IS IN CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT AND WILL
DISMANTLING
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THE COMING YEARS AS WE EXPOSE MORE PEOPLE TO IT AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR
IDEAS
AND INPUT
CHANGWORK IS
GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
CONSULTANTS TRAINERS
EDUCATORS AND ORGANIZERS
OUR MISSION IS TO HELP BUILD
SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE UNITED STATES WE
STRONG MOVEMENT FOR PROGRESSIVE
DO THIS BY HELPING TO BUILD AND CONNECT THOUGHTFUL CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
AND COMMUNITIES GROUNDEDIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY CULTURE AND
POWERANALYSIS
CHANGEWORK
CAN BE REACHED AT
WWWCHANGEWORKNET
CHANGEWORK WWWCHANGEWORKNET
PAGE 18