Common Expressions of White Privilege and How to Counter Them
Abstract
When facilitating workshops about the social dynamics of racism and privilege, it is important to remember that those dynamics are always in the room and can trigger responses in both the participants and the facilitators. Skilled facilitators not only recognize expressions of white privilege and counteract them, they also use these instances as an opportunity to grow the understanding of workshop participants. In this article, we will share several ways we’ve seen white privilege manifest itself in workshops and strategies we’ve used to successfully deepen, rather than shut down, the conversation. Topics covered include dominating the conversation; reframing or invalidating the experience of people of color; valuing the product over the process; believing that logic, reasoning, and linear thinking do not involve emotion; being agenda bound; and distancing oneself from other white people.
UDP journal is a project of the annual White Privilege Conference, a program of the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS).
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While the advice and information in this journal is believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors, the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Views expressed by authors do not necessarily represent the views of the Editors, Editorial Board, Reviewers, WPC, Matrix Center, nor UCCS.
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