[WAsummit] Using the language of privilege

[Timothy Wise]

I can send you a copy Nancy...for $25 if you give me an address

tim wise

On Sep 28, 2009, at 3:26 AM, Nancy wrote:

> Lou - I checked it out - and the video is more than our group can  
> afford, but the transcript is FREE, so we can use that - not as  
> powerful as the guy directly, he's such a good speaker, but thanks -  
> it will be good. nancy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Louis Schoen
> To: White Anti-racist Summit
> Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 9:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Using the language of privilege
>
> I'm not aware that it's available on line.  I bought it from the  
> Media Education Foundation in Massachusetts 800 897 0089 or www.mediaed.org 
> .  Moderately priced, as I recall.
>
> Lou
>
> On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 8:14 PM, Nancy <narvold at sfo.com> wrote:
> Is Tim Wise's DVD on line anywhere - at least the short piece?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Louis Schoen
> To: White Anti-racist Summit
> Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 1:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Using the language of privilege
>
> The detail you present parallels my own presentation, Nancy.  The  
> Tim Wise DVD I mentioned emphasizes, essentially:  Don't dwell in  
> guilt but accept personal responsibility for addressing the systemic  
> realities that have given you privilege and implanted supremacist  
> assumptions either subtly or overtly.
>
> Lou
>
> On Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 5:58 AM, Nancy <narvold at sfo.com> wrote:
> 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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