“Engaging White Fragility” J.C. Austin DisGrace Conference Montreat Conference Center Montreat, NC

Who’s a Racist?

The “White Concept of Race & Racism” Racism is: a problem of individuals, not systems a problem of bad people, not good ones a problem of intent, not impact   Therefore: Systems can’t be racist Good people can’t be racist If my intentions aren’t racist, my words and actions can’t be racist Race = Non-white identity Whiteness is just “normal” (normative)

Definition of White Fragility When even a relatively small amount of racial stress quickly becomes intolerable for white people Triggers a range of defensive moves designed to restore the white sense of racial equilibrium: Anger Silence Minimizing, contesting, or delegitimizing examples of racial injustice Privileging white emotions over needs of others

Pop Culture and White Fragility

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

White American Views on Race PRRI Study: Two-thirds of white Americans believe the death of black men at the hands of police are isolated incidents, white Christians are even higher, around 72% Half of white Americans think that non-white Americans receive equal treatment in the criminal justice system Almost 50% of white Americans believe that discrimination against whites has become as large of a problem as that against people of color Over 50% of white Americans think that American society has mostly changed for the worse since 1950

Theological Resources Doctrine of original sin Doctrine of total depravity Liturgy of confession

Pastoral Problem of Fear Fear of admitting lack of equal opportunity in USA Fear of losing current power and privilege Fear of being “misunderstood” in race conversations

Transcending Fear Through Story Creating Your Racial Autobiography What are your earliest memories related to race? As a child, what were you taught about how to relate to people of different races? What did you learn that you weren’t explicitly taught? What experiences with racial identity did you have in middle and high school? College and/or early adulthood? What experiences have you had in your life with being in the racial minority? What emotions did you have during and after those experiences? If you have none, why do you think that is? How often is your race a factor in how you are treated in your daily life? What are some examples of how that happens?

Putting It Into Practice “Tell a story about a time, any time, in which race was a significant factor in an experience you had.”