What Does It Mean to Be White?
Developing White Racial Literacy – Revised Edition
Series:
Robin DiAngelo
Chapter 2: Unique Challenges of Race Education
Extract
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UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF RACE EDUCATION
I just see us all as part of the human race, not necessarily different groups of people. Whether people see it or not we are all the same with one objective, to survive. My neighborhood is mostly white. My family doesn’t talk about race because we have a lot more important things to do than worry about the color of people’s skin because I like all people. (ASR)
My neighborhood growing up was not racially diverse at all. Every family in my neighborhood was also Caucasian. Throughout my time in school I have continually been taught that skin does not matter. (ASR)
My neighborhood wasn’t very diverse at all, mostly white middle class. From my parents and schools I have been taught to be tolerant of other races and to accept others for their differences. (ASR)
Racism is among the most emotionally and politically charged issues in society. This makes it challenging to discuss for many reasons: widespread miseducation about what racism is and how it works; a lack of shared language and frameworks for discussing racism; deep institutional and economic investments in the maintenance of racism; ideologies such as individualism, meritocracy, and colorblindness; fear of losing face or self-concepts; and an emotional attachment to protecting (rather than expanding) our worldviews. ← 19 | 20 →
At the same time that most whites have a very limited understanding of race and racism,...
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