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I'm thinking about all the kinds of support people relatively new to 'race talk' actually need.
One of the biggest steps that white people and anyone else new to conversations about racism can do is to examine #whiteness.
One of the biggest steps that white people and anyone else new to conversations about racism can do is to examine #whiteness.
Of course, it's important to read and hear from Black people. But attention to grasping the comprehensive power and influence of #whiteness on our whole society may often be overlooked.
So here's a thread of resources by white and Black folks talking about this very topic! A great starting point is the podcast series #SeeingWhite. It's impossible to go wrong here. https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/
Many of you will have heard of the book #WhiteFragility by Robin DiAngelo. I highly recommend it. Perhaps more valuable still is an accompanying discussion guide for educators by @ValeriaBrownEdu
http://beacon.org/assets/pdfs/DiAngelo-EducatorsProfDevGuide.pdf
http://beacon.org/assets/pdfs/DiAngelo-EducatorsProfDevGuide.pdf
Several white educators have spoken eloquently about recognizing their own whiteness. @JennBinis tackles the overwhelming whiteness (and woman-ness) of K-12 education: https://medium.com/identity-education-and-power/identity-in-education-and-the-responsibility-of-power-d9bbef4ea495
Scott Bayer @Lyricalswordz describes a defining moment in coming to terms with his own whiteness: https://movementmemoirsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/pushing-upstream/
Here are a few white educators talking about practicing anti-racist parenting: https://medium.com/identity-education-and-power/anti-racist-parenting-while-white-an-inquiry-25438aa008f9
And finally, written by a Black woman facilitator, Michelle Silverthorn @INwithMichelle this piece offers some clear steps in examining whiteness: https://forge.medium.com/mom-why-dont-you-have-any-black-friends-e59f37e62ed9
While I realize you are probably up to your ears in resources to learn from, I still want to respond. I also urgently want you to 'get it.' While this may not be my job, believe me when I say I am working in my own self-interest. No joke.
