Home > Work > Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm
21 " While class oppression was clearly visible to this participant, he resented any suggestion that racial privilege could be attributed to him or any white person, even as he and his coworkers were overwhelmingly white. "
― Robin DiAngelo , Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm
22 " Unfortunately, racism is not typically viewed as a deeply complex issue that mainstream culture does not prepare white people to engage critically with and thus requires ongoing study and engagement by white people to gain some measure of expertise. When it comes to racism, white people tend to hold up all opinions as equally valid. "
23 " There is deep racial resentment roiling just under the surface for many white people (and barely concealed resentment toward women under the surface for many men). Therein lies a confusing mix of guilt and shame, superiority and contempt. "
24 " So regardless of what is informing my silence—even if it is a sense of inferiority—it still functions to maintain white solidarity and uphold racism. "
25 " Yes, I have resentment about the deep injustices of patriarchy. But I can suffer under patriarchy and still perpetuate racism. "
26 " Some of the most intense white fragility erupts regularly on progressive Facebook groups such as Pantsuit Nation when white women are challenged racially. "
27 " When I am challenged by feedback from a person of color and do not understand the feedback or feel defensive about it, I change the roles in my mind. I imagine that I have just challenged a man on sexism and he is saying out loud to me the same things I am thinking about the feedback I just received. Changing the roles usually makes what is off in my thinking obvious. "
28 " The presence of these women of color provides an opportunity for men like Biden and Meadows to expand their understanding of the perspectives and experiences of BIPOC people and evolve in changing times. Yet rather than engaging with curiosity, openness and humility, they dig in deeper, protecting their limited understanding, refusing to listen or learn. "
29 " This move demonstrates an inability to think strategically about our own role in anti-racist endeavors, a lack of practice articulating what we think we know, and an unhelpful distancing from others in the struggle. "
30 " First, for a white person to interject with what they are interested in hearing—while a woman of color is speaking—is both silencing and entitled. This move says, “What you are saying is not of interest or value to me. Rather than appreciate this rare opportunity to hear a woman of color advocate for her community, I am going to insert myself into the middle of your talk and let it be known that I want to hear something different. I am entitled to do so because my interests are more important "