DiAngelo lists the following ways that whiteness shapes the lives of white people in the U.S.
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Belonging: As I move through my daily life, my race is unremarkable. My presence is not questioned. I belong!
Freedom from the burden of race: I don't have to worry my race will be held against me. Race just isn't my problem.
Freedom of movement: I am free to move or sit in virtually any space & will be seen as normal, neutral, valuable. I won't be the only white person there. I am not being surveilled or singled out. My presence is not questioned.
"Just people": My race is held up as the norm for humanity. I am the default; others are "diverse" or "multicultural."
White solidarity: Maintains status quo; this requires silence & tacit agreement to remain racially united.
The "good old days": The past was great for white people, white men in particular.
White racial innocence: I grew up in segregation and thus have been sheltered of race. It's not my fault if I say or do something insensitive since no one taught me. If I get in trouble, I am likely to get the benefit of a doubt. It's not my fault!
Segregated lives: There are few if any people of color in my neighborhood / church / work / department / circle of friends / movies or tv shows that I watch. That is no loss to me.
-Paraphrased from DiAngelo's White Fragility
WHITE FRAGILITY
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Readings & Discussion Questions
Topic Leader: Susan Vega García
Meeting: June 13, 1:00-2:00, Rm 304
Please read the following & be prepared to discuss at our meeting:
Chapter 4: How does race shape the lives of white people? -- pages 51-69
Chapter 5: The Good / Bad Binary -- pages 71-87
Chapter 6: Anti-Blackness -- pages 89-98
You can always read more from the book at any time, but these are the Chapters we will focus on in our discussions for today.
