Here’s a compelling essay about the “subtle linguistics of polite white supremacy.” It reminds me a lot of what constitutes “MN nice” in some circles.
Category Archives: news
Visualization of US segregation
Here’s a set of stunning visualizations via mapping technology of segregation in the US.
Twin Cities 1935 maps and consequences
Vivian and I have often used the 1935 city planning map of Minneapolis in our dismantling racism work, and now here is the one for St. Paul, as well, along with thoughtful analysis of how transportation planning cut up vibrant and robust African-American neighborhoods.
Sensible responses to white nonsense
Those of us who carry white privilege can do more to counter some of the ignorance out there. Here’s a great start!
Social construction of race
Here’s a very useful and concise “explainer” concerning the social construction of race in the US.
White privilege weariness
A great reminder of the ways white privilege can capture a discussion, even with the best intentions. Austin Channing wonders…
One day I would like to try hosting a workshop where people of color tell their stories, and thats it. Period.
Where people of color talk, vent, laugh, cry and affirm one another’s racial realities.
Where white people don’t talk, don’t justify, don’t question.
Where white people are given different rules that require seeking permission to participate.
Where white people are expected to connect the dots themselves, to own their learning, to manage their emotions.
I wonder if white privilege could be taught by eliminating even the small privileges/rules that typically serve white folks well in a classroom setting.
This is not an exercise intended to be mean or to make white people feel awful. Nor is it an exercise to minimize the stories and experiences of white people. I just want to spend a little more time asking myself what it would be like for the priority to be reversed.
Rather than judging the success of my training on whether or not white people walked away understanding privilege; could I define success based on the emotional energy of people of color after the training is done? Could I so center the experience of people of color that they walk away feeling some measure of healing, of energy, of understanding about themselves and each other? Could they leave more alive then when they came?
Race Baiting 101
Matthew Cooke is a white documentary producer who has created a number of well regarded films, Deliver Us From Evil (about child sexual abuse in the Catholic church) among them. This week he released a short film he calls “Race Baiting 101” which is a compelling look at US history, and an argument for why white people need to band together with people of color against racism.
The Kids Who Die
In 1938 Langston Hughes wrote a poem about lynchings. This month it was set to a new set of images by Frank Chi and Terrence Green, showing how pertinent it remains. Please share it.
Kids talk about race
Here’s a powerful set of reflections from kids talking about race:
What is privilege? exercise and video
Many people in dismantling racism contexts do some kind of “privilege walk exercise” as a way to help participants see the diversity of experiences people bring into this work, as well as the systemic nature of racial oppression. Here’s a video which has been widely shared recently, talking about one such exercise. This link includes the list of questions used.