View
43
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
What is white racial identity?. Background This presentation is based on the work of Dr. Janet E. Helms of Boston College - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
WHAT IS WHITE RACIAL IDENTITY?
WHAT IS WHITE RACIAL IDENTITY? Background
This presentation is based on the work of Dr. Janet E. Helms of Boston College
Helms’ work focused specifically on Whites and Blacks so in most cases I’ve kept that language, but believe that White Racial attitudes towards Blacks are also applied to other people of color.
Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality Race is skin color Ethnicity is cultural identification: Italian-American, Greek-
American, etc Nationality is location: A citizen of the United States Racism = Racial Prejudice + Power
WHAT IS WHITE RACIAL IDENTITY? Goals
Move beyond guilt, fear, shame, and fragmentation/compartmentalization
Recognize the damaging aspects of racism to White people
Achieve a positive White racial identity A positive recognition and understanding of how
Whiteness as a social construct and cultural entity affects one’s sense of self
HELM’S STAGES OF WHITE RACIAL IDENTITY
Contact
Disintegration
Reintegration
Pseudo-Independen
ce
Immersion/Emersion
AutonomyPh
ase
One
Phas
e Tw
o
Dr. Beverly Daniels Tatum, President of Spelman College (1992): “Though the process for racial identity as been presented in linear form, in fact, it is probably more accurate to think of it in a spiral form…[a person may] revisit an earlier stage as a result of new encounter experiences, though the later experience of the stage may be different form the original. “
Phase One
CONTACT
CONTACT: ACTIVE OR PASSIVE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE NOTION OF OTHER
Characteristics Naïve curiosity or
timidity and trepidation toward Blacks
Limited White Consciousness
No awareness of systemic or cultural racism
Focus on colorblindness
Examples: “I don’t see race.” “I’m not White, I’m
just a person.” “You don’t act like a
Black person.”
Phase One
DISINTEGRATION
DISINTEGRATION: A CONFLICT OF SELFCharacteristics Recognition of racism Recognition of moral
dilemmas associated with racism (conscious or subconscious)
“Incongruence” or “dissonance” results from needing to adapt self or reconcile conflicting ideas
Examples of dilemmas Sense of morality vs. immoral
system that asks Whites to treat Black people immorally
Belief in freedom and democracy vs. belief in racial inequality
Desire for love and compassion vs. need to keep Blacks ‘in their place’
Desire to treat others with dignity and respect vs. belief that Blacks are not worthy of dignity and respect
Belief that White person should be treated according to individual merits vs. belief that Blacks should be evaluated as a group
DISINTEGRATION: TWO-FACED RACISM Two-Faced Racism: Whites in the
Backstage and Frontstage (2007) by Leslie Houts Picca and Joe Faegin
626 White students 28 colleges (the same institutions our
students continue on to) Journal every day for 6-8 weeks to record
racialized events 7500 blatant racist actions recorded
DISINTEGRATION: TWO-FACED RACISMFRONTSTAGE – multi-racial
spaces White students
demonstrate a desire not to be seen as racist.
They claim to be “colorblind”.
They act politely and cordially around people of color.
They usually avoid overtly racist language, emotion, and behavior (But, be sure, overt racism still exists).
BACKSTAGE – all White spaces
Whites participate in racist discussions, jokes, and viewpoints – either as the main actors (protagonists), assistants, bystanders, and, rarely, dissenters.
Whites demean the very groups and people of color with whom they are cordial or even claim to have friendships.
DISINTEGRATIONCharacteristics Looks for remedy
Finds ‘normalcy’ in White Culture
OR Over-identification
with people of color (Acting paternalistically)
Examples From Mirrors of
Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
Phase One
REINTEGRATION
REINTEGRATION: RETREAT INTO WHITE CULTURE
Characteristics Fear of and anger
toward Black people A retreat from
situations involving race
Defensiveness about White Culture
Example: “I sometimes get angry
and feel like I am being attacked. I guess my anger toward a minority group would enter me in to the next stage of Reintegration, where I am once again starting to blame the victim. This is all very trying for me and has been on my mind a lot.”
REINTEGRATION: MOVEMENT INTO ANTI-RACISM
Characteristics Examination of
White self living in racist society
Resistance of racism
Anger at self and White society
Example: From Mirrors of
Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
Phase Two
PSEUDO-INDEPENDENCE
PSEUDO-INDEPENDENCECharacteristics Consciously act to
combat racism externally while working internally to recognize beliefs shaped by White Privilege
Redefine what it means to be White
Acknowledge responsibility to end racism
Example “I can clearly remember the
resentment I had for people of color. I think I am finally out of the Retreat stage. I am beginning to make a conscious effort to seek out information about people of color and accept their criticism…I still feel guilty about the feeling I had about people of color and I always feel bad about being privileged as a result of racism.”
Phase Two
IMMERSION/EMERSION
IMMERSION/EMERSIONCharacteristic Seek out accurate
information from White people and people of color
Learn about White historical, political, and cultural contributions to develop a positive White identity
Phase Two
AUTONOMY
AUTONOMYCharacteristics A self-actualized
sense of White identity
Work with other Whites and people of color to change systemic system
Example: From Mirrors of
Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
SOURCES Black and White Racial Identity: Theory, Research,
and Practice edited by Janet E. Helms White Awareness: Handbook for Anti-Racism
Training by Judith H. Katz Teaching/Learning Anti-Racism by Durman Sparks
and Branson Phillips Preventing Prejudice: A Guide for Counselors and
Educators by J.G. Ponerotto Two-Faced Racism: Whites in the Backstage and
Frontstage by Leslie Houts Picca and Joe R. Feagin
Recommended