Being a Supportive Ally
White Privilege
In the U.S. and in many countries of the world, white privilege is the lived experience of greater social/political access, representation and entitlement, and material and economic security that people considered white have as a result of white supremacy. It's important to note that while many white people are oppressed on the basis of class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, culture, ethnicity, etc, it is still true that ALL white people benefit from white privilege in various ways.
Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin Di Angelo from GCORR
Reverse Racism is a term created and used by white people to deny white privilege. Those in denial use the term "reverse racism" to refer to hostile behavior by people of color toward whites and to affirmative action policies which allegedly give ‘preferential treatment’ to people of color over whites. However, while people of color can certainly exhibit prejudice against white people, in North America that prejudice is not supported by a system of institutional power. And despite some public opinion to the contrary, studies show the largest group to benefit from affirmative action policies is white women. (adapted from "Definitions & Descriptions of Racism")
White Fragility
White fragility is a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as tears, argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium.
White people in North America live in a social environment that protects and insulates them from race-based stress. This insulated environment of racial protection builds white expectations for racial comfort while at the same time lowering the ability to tolerate racial stress, leading to...White Fragility. (from DiAngelo, White Fragility)
The role you can play to fight racial injustice
The issues of race coming to the forefront of our public discourse highlight systemic societal problems. People who are most affected by injustice will continue to suffer if those with privilege remain paralyzed or unsure about what to do. No matter who or where you are, you can take steps to create positive change. Here are some steps we can take to move forward:
The work we do to understand ourselves and build more inclusive workplaces is only the beginning. The conversations we have with loved ones, including our children, are also a part of the work required to bring about change in the world.
Source: Maggie Theram: Everyday Feminism http://everydayfeminism.com/2017/02/allyship-is-proactive/
Listen weekly at https://changecatalyst.co/allyshipseries/
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This Libguide began with the main categories and many of the resources from of the amazing Simmons University Libguide (referenced above), and has grown to include sources from our ASM colleagues, as well as colleges, universities, associations and NGOs from across the globe. It is a work in progress with news, resources and links to actionable information.