Race & White Privilege

Race• A concept invented to artificially divide people (Wijeyesinghe et

al, 1997).

• Research - more difference within racial groups than across racial groups (O’Neil, 2009).

• Racial categories change over time. • Social construct

Term - “white”

• Created by colonial rulers (e.g. Virginia slave holders) in the 1600s.

• Purpose - differentiate European plantation owners from African slaves, indigenous peoples and poor white people.

• Used to separate the servant class on the basis of skin color and continent of origin

(Adair and Powell, 1988).

What does the term ‘people of color’ mean?• Used to refer to nonwhite people

• instead of the term "minority“ - implies inferiority and disenfranchisement.

• The term ‘minority’ – inaccurate• People of color - majority of the world’s population

• The term emphasizes common experiences of racial discrimination or racism

(Colours of Resistance, 2008)

“Othering”www.uvic.ca/cidis/docs/CitizenshipforWhomCopenhagenMay09.pdf Dominelli, L (2009) Durham University

• The divide within a population that looks at “us” and “them”• Exclusionary – creates hierarchies of superiority and inferiority• Inferior group often seen as less than – allows for the justification of

dominance eg slave trade (inferior), destruction of aboriginal culture (savage)

• “Privilege is never seen as privilege, but marginalization is always seen as marginalization” (Berg 2006)

White Privilege

• Hidden rights and advantages afforded White people on the basis of skin color

• Institutional rather than personal• Patterns set by history continue today

• Systemic discrimination of people of colour• & Privileges of those who are white

• Things to consider…..• White privilege -terrible sound to it – sound of racism• Privilege granted prenatally

• No one asked for this privilege, almost no one would deny anyone else equal opportunities if it were within their power to offer them.

• Not here to point any fingers of blame.• Here to help you understand what people of color live with,

the subtleties of life that many don't recognize or take for granted because we all only live life as it is offered to us.

• Take a leap of faith - it can open your eyes to what it is like to be a person of color.

What is it like to have White Privilege?• Invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each

day

• Allows us to not see race in ourselves and to be angry at those who do

• For those who are white but also fall into some other “ism” – the other ism can blind them to seeing the privilege of colour

• Can be more blind to the issue of race

The Perils of Colorblindness

• To claim to not notice others’ race - implicit ideology of white as the norm (O’Brien 46).

• Treats race as irrelevant• “If I see race, I must be racist. If I do not see race or other differences, they

will go away.”

• With colorblindness, we are told that we are all the same under our skin• Equal chances• Failure is the individual’s fault

The Perils of Colorblindness (continued)

• Colourblindness• Enables Whites to erase from consciousness

• History of racism• How that history impacts today - economically, politically, socially, and culturally

• Justifies withdrawal from social action• Assuming that racism will stop when people stop noticing racial and cultural differences”

(Dernman-Sparks & Phillips 1997)

Reverse Racism

• Can talk about discrimination• Racism

• A power structure where the oppressor suppresses a minority.• An ideology that breeds hatred based on skin color and a history of negative

stereotypes. • Has led to violence, a lack of opportunity and resources

University of KaLeo - Busting the myth of racism 2014

Count the ways in which we enjoy unearned skin privilege and are conditioned into oblivion about its existence….• Whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative

and average

• This same theory can also be applied to straight people in relationship to GLBT

• When we work to benefit others, this is seen as work that will allow “them” to be more like “us” people

Visible Minority Groups: 2006 Canada

• Canada• 18% of the population

• Asian 25%• South Asian 23%• Blacks 17%• Other 35%

• Toronto• 47% of the population

• Asian 24%• South Asian 28%• Blacks 18%• Other 30%

Visible Minority

• Defined by Statistics Canada as• "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in

race or non-white in colour“

• A four-fold increase since 1981 in people who identify themselves as visible

When most people generally think of racism: They think…..

• Of individual acts of discrimination against others• Overt, dramatic hate crimes perpetuated against persons of colour• It does not exist in good, decent and moral individuals• Consequently, we, personally are not racists nor do we engage in

such acts.

Keep in mind…..

• Racism acts at both unconscious and conscious levels

• Racism goes beyond the individual act of being mean

Historical Examples of Racism in Canada

• The Native Experience

• The African Experience

• The Chinese Experience

• The Jewish Experience

These experiences…..Provide a backdrop to help illustrate the different forms of racism

found in our society today..

Racial Tolerance Report

Canadian survey January 2007

Results:

• Almost half of Canadians admit to being racist• Most believe people are created equally• Majority of Canadians would react indifferently if they were to deal

with people of different ethnic background• Results change dramatically when looking at who their child would marry

Results (continued)

• Canadians are open to an Ethnic Prime Minister

• Canadians have the lowest opinion of the Arab community

Results (continued)

• Prejudices: Canadians• Have mixed feeling as to whether racism is a problem• See racism as declining• Most have witnessed racist comments or behaviours• 2/3 of minorities have been victims of racism• Most have not taken action against racist behaviours• Most have made ethnic/racist jokes

Three forms of Racism

• Cultural

• Institutional

• Individual

Cultural Racism

• Cultural values that reinforce the interests of the dominant group

• Assumes that the dominant group’s way of doing things is normal and important

• Dominant group has power to impose their ideology and values

Examples of Cultural Racism

• Advertising which represents only white people as the standard of beauty

• Criticizing a target group member for wearing ethnic clothing or not fitting in

Institutional Racism

• Laws and practices that segregate visible minority groups from equal participation in society

• More subtle, less visible, and less identifiable than individual acts of racism

• May be intentional or unintentional

Examples of Institutional Racism

• Stereotyping all members of a target group as dishonest, ignorant etc

• Failing or refusing to provide services to a particular racial group

Individual Racism

• Involves the expression of racist attitudes and behaviors by individuals or groups

• Examples:• Avoiding contact with members of a target group• Ignoring, silencing, and/belittling individuals who are experiencing prejudice

and racism • Offensive jokes, graffiti, e-mails and posters• Insults, name-calling, verbal abuse & threats

Anti Racism

• Refers to beliefs, actions and policies that work against racism

• Involves recognizing privilege and developing strategies to redress societal inequalities

Supporting Anti-Racism

• Increase your awareness• Notice and be sensitive to groups other than your own• Challenge your assumptions about people of different ethnicities • Ask questions to increase your understanding of another person’s point of

view• Be conscious of racist attitudes, language and stereotypes• Be ware that silence condones racist behaviour

Supporting Anti-Racism

• Take action• Learn about the impact of racism on others• Offer support to those being harassed• Speak up against racist jokes or comments• Challenge other’s negative assumptions about people of different ethnicities• Model racially inclusive and respectful language• Promote mutual respect between individuals who come from different

cultural backgrounds

Supporting Anti-Racism

• Become an ally of anti – racism• Recognize institutional barriers that prevent members of target groups from

having equal access to power and authority• Recognize ways institutional barriers maintain the power of members of the

dominant group