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

2. Who’s a Racist?

3. 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)

4. 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

5. Pop Culture and White Fragility

6. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

7. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

8. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

9. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

10. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

11. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

12. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

13. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

14. Pop Culture and White Fragility, cont.

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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?

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