Tim Wise is a White Anti Racist who speaks vehemently about White Privilege and what White people can do to help bring about equity in this country. He discusses the history of Whiteness, the barriers and struggles, and challenges all of us to change.
In this Blog I invite you to view the video of Tim talking about White Privilege and post your remarks regarding your reflection of what you heard. Use this opportunity to interact with your colleagues and hear the multiple perspectives that exist amongst you. This is the time to begin your Courageous Conversation...respectfully.
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In some ways I feel Tim is preaching to the choir! I have seen him speak before and have found myself quoting him in conversations. I am still upset and outraged about LA. And now with the oil spill what will the impact be? A ruined shore, a loss of habitat and species, and likely still no homes to live in. Maybe we can put the BP execs up in the trailers from FEMA.
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ReplyDeleteI find it hard to fathom the depths to which people, collectively, will go to manipulate others. I don't disbelieve the message, I just have a hard time wrapping my brain around such large scale intentional destruction.
ReplyDeleteDivide and conquer, in terms of haves vs. have-nots, continues, as evidenced by the Tea Part folks, most of whom are advocating against tax increases for the wealthy.
ReplyDeleteI need to learn to question more, look for other sources of information outside of national newspapers and news programs. This is an excellent example of counter-storytelling.
ReplyDeleteAs a very fair skin (white) Latina women, I find myself in a world I do not belong. Still fighting for those of color, I have been asked why? I want to bring equity in my classroom and among my peers.
ReplyDeleteI think Tim's example clearly illustrates that the race, not poverty, is the issue.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why it is so easy to instill a sense of superiority, or hate toward other races. It is frustrating that, when presented with something to distract us and allow us to exist in a bubble where we don't have to cross over an invisible boundary, many will run toward that idea and shun the very skills of critical thought and evaluation that we hold to be most important.
ReplyDeleteThis shows the permanence of racism. They were all in the same boat economically but yet the whites didn't see that. They fed into the propaganda of the upper class white that they were somehow different. Argh!
ReplyDeleteMy first thoughts after seeing this movie were that as a culture, we definitely feel like we're entitled to get to a life of leisure without any effort. I'm not sure if that's primarily a "white" kind of goal, but I just look at all the celebrity magazines, shows, and the general obsession we have when celebrities "fall from grace," and I think it's because we all feel like we're going to get there some day. We're "practicing" and learning how to act by obsessing over everything they do, and yet, when a celebrity loses, we gloat, because I think somewhere in our heads, we know that it's not true.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I thought about was that there has always been a real need to keep people down. As he said, we need poor, uneducated people to do the jobs that the rich people don't want to do. That's why I think the immigration debate is ridiculous... who's going to mow the lawns, clean the toilets, etc, if we can't get poor immigrants to do it? The argument of people losing jobs to immigrants is silly, imo, because the white people supposedly displaced probably wouldn't want to do those jobs in the first place, especially not for the pay that immigrants are given.
This leads me, finally, to education. Who are we kidding when we say that we want all children to have a decent education? Do the people in charge _really_ want that? How will we keep people disenfranchised and willing to be subjugated if they know too much? Ignorance is the tool by which elites keep people down, and I can't see that changing that serves those in power. Maybe this is why education is constantly underfunded despite the lip service from politicians, most of whom are white and rich.
This was a fascinating commentary of white privilege and the counter story behind the response to Katrina. It never ceases to amaze me how less powerful people are able to be convinced that a minority population is responsible for poor economic climate.
ReplyDeleteNazi Germany comes to mind where the Jews were blamed for economic troubles in the nation, thus giving fuel to white supremacy.
On the one hand I want to focus my own analysis on the effects of racism. I do, however, continually see the connection of the continuation of racism and the economical benefit of the elite.
ReplyDeleteWhite privilege? I just read an article about the many thousands of Irish illegal immigrants who live in New York. Apparently some prominent politicians are advocating to legalize these illegal immigrants. When the debate on immigration is heating up, how can we frame the discourse and leave out racial bias? Permanence of Racism, Whiteness as Property?
ReplyDeleteWe have all been drinking the "kool-aid" for way to long. We have to wake up and realize that are common interests outnumber by far the differences that those who are interested in holding power would have us believe.
ReplyDeleteThis commentary shows how the dominant powers use race, gender, and fear to divide people w/common concerns, like healthcare reform, poverty, and the AIDS crisis.
ReplyDeleteThis an example of a hybrid interest convergence to perpetrate the permanence of racism.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the segregation of our schools is reinforcing these concepts?
ReplyDeleteThe irony of using the poorest, least advantaged white people to oppress people of color is indeed, cruel. How does this relate to interest convergence? The examples from today seem similar to those used a few hundred years ago. The truth is they've never stopped.
ReplyDeleteThis video certainly reflects this country is not "colorblind" and racism exists on a daily basis, sometimes minute to minute. Whiteness, no matter the economical status, is believed to hold power. Tim's passion shows the passion I should feel about moving this work forward and why.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to each of us to walk our talk and put and end to this.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the visible passion in Tim's voice and examples he used to expose racism practices through lecture forums.
ReplyDeleteSo is the foundation of racism greed? The white colonists created the circumstance to divide and conquer based on greed, and the desire to not work. Funny how morality can be tucked away when taking advantage of a variety of groups of people.
ReplyDeleteI was really interested by Tim Wise's use of "whiteness." I think that the phrase is sometimes confusing or misunderstood, but his use of it makes it really clear. Whiteness and white privilege is about power. The people who control the wealth and capital are the ones who define "whiteness" and cause others, white or not, to seek out whiteness to gain these privileges. Often, seeking this whiteness means looking down upon or separating oneself from non-white people and cultures. The story about Hurricane Katrina demonstrates this succinctly.
ReplyDeleteFrom this video it might be deduced that the problem has to do with class more than race. But who is the "dominant class"? What are the "powers that be"? White people. Whiteness as property is highlighted by the speaker and made contemporary with the Katrina example.
ReplyDeleteI feel that school wide Title I is a form of oppression, maintaining neighborhoods that stay deeply rooted in poverty to get more funds instead of assuming a more integrated city where people move in and out of poverty and not identifying any one neighborhood as high poverty.
ReplyDeleteThe video to me says: "Stop the denial"
ReplyDeleteWell put. It's irrational that people would not walk 50 feet to join hands with people that could help them but rather battled to belong to their white counter parts.
ReplyDeleteTim Wise..wow. He definetly depicts "Courageous Conversations" His speaking is quite moving and to say the least very powerful. If we all could have a clear picture of reality like Tim has maybe we could start a change in racism and make it last.
ReplyDeleteSadly, no surprises here.
ReplyDeleteThe depravity of racism is alive and well. How can such blatant racism go unchallenged? Is it because there is an intentionality in US racism that works to to keep the "system" going? Mr. Wise shared about New Orleans, but what about today's New Orleans- the Gulf oil tragedy. - Karl
ReplyDeleteHearing Tim Wise makes me think, how many other stories are out there that are untold similar to the untold stories of New Orleans? The themes of CRT are entrenched in much of what he spoke of. I understand how using technology and being in touch with others passionate about racism is a great way to hear the multiple perspectives and the counter story. - Danelle
El tema que trata este video no es nada nuevo. Las practicas aquellos en poder (politicos y burgueses) siguen siendo las mismas que has sido usadas en el pasado. No solamente racismo y pobreza han sido usados para manipular a la mayoria. Que tal el concepto de patriotismo? Si protestas contra los intereses de los ricos no eres patriota. Si no vas a la guerra (a defender los intereses de los ricos), no eres patriota.
ReplyDeleteI know about Howard Zinn . . . but as educators, where do we go to get the counter narrative? Tim synthesized a lot of primary source information . . . in this clip.
ReplyDeleteI've often considered that people in the U.S. differ from many other countries in our inability to accurately self assess our socio economic status. I think this contributes to Tim's discussion; people who are White grow up associating their identity with their experience of White privilege. I appreciated Tim's comments that the competition between low-income workers of different races is in many ways artificial.
ReplyDeleteAre we to believe that Tim Wise is accurate? Is this the counter story to our history books or is Tim Wise going in a different direction? Is he a liberal? Am I showing my naivte by asking? He is passionate and I agree with his analysis....
ReplyDeleteTim Wise, as a White anti-racist leader, is able to speak his truths about the presence of whiteness in a way that is more readily received by White people than it would be coming from a person of color. He clearly illustrates how the presence of whiteness and the priviledges that go with being white far out weigh poverty. Poor White people, because of their skin color, have been made to believe that they are better than people of color, although they may have the same issues/concerns. Until people are able to talk openly about the presence and role of whiteness, and those with the power and priviledge are willing to reject these priviledges, we will not be able to have honest conversations about race.
ReplyDeletewhen people feel as if they've earned their privilege, for example the privilege of leisure, they are inspired to go to great lengths to set up systems for keeping it in place - I think of wars and how leaders in power have waged wars forever for personal and economic gain, but have to figure out a way to convince someone else to do the actual fighting - it's how Tim explains racism, white rich folks had to figure out how to get their work done for them -
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised by this example of white privledge. At some point we will hear that the black people of LA blamed for the oil volcano erupting in the gulf.
ReplyDeleteWe just keep waiting for this to go away, but given the tenants of whiteness and permanence of racism, I don't have a lot of hope.
ReplyDeleteTim Wise is one of the few voices who dares to speak up and share with white people what is really going on in the US. Howard Zinn also comes to mind when he shared history from the "peoples" view point.
ReplyDeleteDominant power invariably uses its power to remain dominant. Divide and conquer is axiomatic for attaining and/or retaining power. Fear, greed, and ignorance are universal human vulnerabilities easily susceptible towards being manipulated to create division. It is little surprise that power would use these to retain or expand power.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance: Race exists (The term race is often used in biology taxonomicaly, as a synonym for subspecies. In this sense, human races are said not to exist, as all humans are classified as the subspecies Homo sapiens sapiens.)
Fear/Hatred: Race (a non-existent) is something to fear and must be defended against.
Greed/Desire: Race (a non-existent) is related to my security, safety, happiness, et.
Race does not exist. Racism DOES exist. It is as real as Ignorance, Fear/Hatred, Greed and Selfishness.
IMO at the root of fear, hatred, greed and selfishness is ignorance. I am ignorant of my inseparability with all that is and my self identification rooted in the illusion of separateness.
Great example of counter storytelling. We need to all hear and understand historical and current perspectives to rap our heads around the differences and get out of our box and do something.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate hearing the "counter-story" about the law passed after Katrina allowing rent only to blood relatives. Because it was appealed and then went away, most of us don't have that knowledge. It's not considered newsworthy enough to publish or air nationally. And that in itself is perpetuates Permanence of Racism.
ReplyDeleteThrough fear and hatred, people are able to perpetuate racism. Scapegoating is the same strategy Hitler used against the Jews. Too many cannot make the connections to prejudice, discrimination, racism,etc. to this day and age.
ReplyDelete"Tricking poor white folks that they have more in common with their white rich counterparts over their black neighbors is the method of divide and conquer." I really appreciated this perspective because it shows the power of whiteness even for those who are white. It shows how we can use choice words to sidestep the civil rights movement. This creates a lot of fear in me as I too was influenced by the "story" generated by those with the resource and power to tell it on a national level. This for me is where money does come into the conversation because if you have the money to tell "your" story, over and over again, until it becomes truth...you have the power of influence. If your story is but a whisper, it will simply fail to echo anywhere. Meaning that one's truth will never be heard, one's struggle will be dismissed as fallacy, and one's point of view misses a greater point.
ReplyDeleteTim's speech was powerful. He is speaking a truth that is not often heard. I was surprised to hear the information regarding the "no selling of property to someone other than a blood relative" in one of the parishes in LA., that was not something that is widely known--incrediable to hear this!
ReplyDeleteTim Wise on White Privilege puts racism into clear context. Being white, it's easy to be complacent that overt racism is a thing of the past. Tim's explanation of how racism influenced New Orleans after Katrina is shocking! I have not thought about the privilege of whiteness as being the lure to seperate poor blacks and whites in New Orleans. From this perspective, it looks and sounds as ridiculous as when whiteness was used during the Civil War. This makes me realize that times have not changed as much as I think.
ReplyDeleteThe power of our country belongs to the whiteness that we look over day to day. When will being a good human count in this country as the measure of success.
ReplyDeleteWhat a messed-up system. Are there other countries/cultures that are fairer that we could learn from?
ReplyDeleteHow emphatically we cling to our differences instead of examining and expoloring our similarities. The powerful few maintain their standing and are not questioned because the majority is fragmented.
ReplyDeleteTim's recounting of the tragedy in Katrina brings home the realities that we face in our respective communities each day. We must address the fact white privilege is fundamentally shaping our existing laws, our governance structure, our educational system, and how we interact with one another. This is overwhelming to me yet we must confront how these daily issues of institutional racism are dividing our communities.
ReplyDeleteI think Tim Wise powerfully highlights the relationship between racism and classism -- particularly in terms of how powerful and wealthy whites encouraged racism among working class whites in order to maintain their power and control. He very clearly described of how the "lure of whiteness" tricked people into aligning with those who are oppressing them and opposing those of other races with whom they have the most interests in common. I also thought it was enlightening to consider how this pattern repeats itself throughout history -- and can be currently seen in the rhetoric around immigration from Mexico and Central/South America.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't dispute anything Tim said it all sounds a little far-fetched. I feel bad in saying that because as a white male I am the target which is questioning the statements and it looks suspect at best. Perhaps I just need more time to understand and embrace the info.
ReplyDeleteReview history to understand current society. Practices related to race and privledge are deeply rooted within culture and habbit. Continue to question.
ReplyDeleteTim Wise has "done his homework" on this issue and is truly an expert as much as a white person can be! For those who want to explore the topic more, I strongly recommend his book "White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son".
ReplyDeleteHis argument about poor white people being tricked into thinking they have more in common with rich white people than poor minorities resonates with political arguments we hear today regarding taxation.
ReplyDeleteI heart Tim Wise. He speaks his truth, and I believe him. Whiteness is clearly a social construct designed to political, economic and social power in the hands of whites. His arguments about immigrants and the situtiona in Lousiana after Katrina provide strong evidence that institutionalized racism is alive and well in our social structures. I hope that I can keep building upon my strategies to talk with my colleagues who may still not see these inequities.
ReplyDeleteKristin