[WAsummit] Using the language of privilege

[Nancy]

Lou - I agree with much of what you say. But as far as pushing whites past their guilt as quickly as possible, I think that is a mistake because it usually means they just protect themselves from their emotions, and the guilt sits there and festers. I think it is possible to mindfully let people know that while they didn't get to be racist or privileged intentionally, they have "caught" white supremacist and privileged attitudes and they do benefit from the system. The challenge as I see it is to develop some resilience in being mindful about whatever emotions come up - guilt, shame, fear, righteousness, apathy - and to see that they are just defensive reactions to confronting something so profound as racism in the US. In the UNtraining, we remind people that they are fundamentally good, well-meaning people, AND they are privileged and trained as white racists. We can and must struggle with that AND take action in whatever ways to alleviate racism around us. But there is real danger in whites thinking they are now the "good white people" who "get it" because they have completed a training, rather than to expect a lifelong practice of discovering and uncovering more and more of their own racism and privilege. We can support people in being willing to take that on fearlessly, at least sometimes. 
in solidarity, nancy

PS - I'm attaching an aricle by Carmen of the New Demographic - the link should take you to an article which probably won't surprise many of you, but is reflective of this conversation. check it out.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Louis Schoen 
  To: White Anti-racist Summit 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:57 PM
  Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Using the language of privilege


  Francie, I think it's crucial that we continue to be direct in confronting w.p. - especially in workshops - with both the "privilege" and "supremacy" words as well as "oppression," and asserting them to be real American cultural phenomena still (and perhaps even increasingly, under the huge impact of the Beck/Limbaugh crowd and their talk-alikes thanks to the Rupert Murdoch empire.  I heard tonight that Beck's is the third highest watched "news" show on television - the most watched presumably still Jon Stewart.  It could be legitimately argued, of course, that there's no longer any such thing as a news show on any commercial TV.)  


  The distinct advantage of "privilege" is that it underlines the personal impact of systemic racism.  I'm always quick to acknowledge that we were born with it and didn't necessarily seek it intentionally, and push them past the guilt reaction as quickly as possible.  (I've found a three-minute piece on Tim Wise's DVD "ON WHITE PRIVILEGE" very effective in affirming that.)


  Lou


  On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 3:05 PM, Frances Kendall <francie at franceskendall.com> wrote:


    Hello folks,
    I need some feedback, please. For the third time in 2 weeks, I have heard people say that “privilege” is no longer a useful word (when related to oppression, I guess) and that they would prefer me to use another word. My belief is that people are scared that the word puts whites off. Anybody else heard about this?

    Thanks.

    Francie

    On 9/21/09 12:49 PM, "Sharon Martinas" <cws at igc.org> wrote:


      Larry,
      I hope your health and work issues have improved since you last posted.

      I agree with you that this list serve, as a list serve, is unlikely to INITIATE an organizational action. Most of us has not worked together, nor do we necessarily have shared strategies about how best to challenge racism.  Many of the people on this list, myself included, just attended a white privilege conference and that's how we elected to participate in this list serve.

       But I believe the list serve is an excellent place for people to RESPOND to an action that is initiated by others who have and are actually working together-- often in the 'real' world.  People on this list serve can sign petitions, donate to ads, forward the action info to our own networks, raise the issues at events or meetings or classes or workshops we participate in.  In organizing language, we can help to build an 'anti-racist movement.' Or, in the powerful language of The People's Institute, we can 'network:'   we can help to build a net that works.

      Personally, I think it is helpful to know what a computer-based communication network can and cannot do.  In my view, we can help to 'mobilize' around anti-racist issues.  But not necessarily, as a list serve, to 'organize'.   For many of us, our capacities to 'organize' reside in our home-bases, the communities in which we live.

      much love and respect,  sharon

      On Sep 21, 2009, at 7:12 AM, Larry Yates wrote:


        Sorry folks, to have dropped a somewhat large message and then disappeared. I was dealing with a combination of work and health issues, and just had to put this "volunteer" email list to the back of the line. 

        I very much appreciated Tema Okun's input that Highlander is taking some action somewhat similar to what we discussed. Former Pres Jimmy Carter's words have also changed the discussion substantially. And someone had a contact with Color of Change, I believe. 

        I guess at this point my gut feeling is that we aren't going to organize something on this email list -- I counted 3-4 responses with a desire to be active, and I don't think it's enough -- but that this can be a good place for us to check in with each other about what is being done and what we ourselves try to stimlulate.

        I have heard that one Virginia group is considering assembling various white groups to speak up on the racism ex and implicit in teabagging. Joe Wilson's outburst is one catalyst. When there is more to say on that, I will share it. 

        I am grateful to have this place to discuss these matters, though we are not an organization. 





         
        Larry Yates
        PO Box 245
        Maurertown VA 
        540 436 3432
        llyates at shentel.net
        www.user.shentel.net/llyates <http://www.user.shentel.net/llyates> 
        ==================================

        "Better, I thought, for me in my rough being
        to force makeshift connections,
        patches, encounters, rows
        better to swim in trouble like a muddy river rising
        than to become at last all thesis,
        correct, consistent but hollow
        the finished ghost
        of my own struggle."

        from "The Homely War" 
        in the book of poems Living in the Open
        by Marge PIercy


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