Whites Challenging Racism Study Group

Overview

• Racism, white privilege, and white supremacy
• Overcoming barriers & fears to anti-racist action
• Family histories
• Gentrification
• Prison industrial complex
• Cultural appropriation
• Intersections with other oppressions such as classism and sexism
• Racism & resistance in Pittsburgh, past and present

Background

Frequently Asked Questions

How come it's just white people?

This group is about white folks taking on the work of talking to other white folks about racism. We want to help remove the misplaced and unfair burden of it generally being people of color who have to raise the issue of racism by studying it ourselves. Since it is not the responsibility of people of color to educate white people about racism, we want to help facilitate this learning process among other white folks without burdening people of color. We rely on readings rather than asking people of color to recount their experiences of racism or spend their time educating us. We are doing our best to remain accountable to people of color, and we welcome advice and feedback from anyone willing to offer it. 

What is the purpose of this group?

The goal of this group is not to have white people become more sophisticated about talking about racism, but to help us all walk the talk. Although this is a consciousness-raising group and not an activist group in and of itself, we hope to keep the discussions firmly grounded in what's going on around us and implicate ourselves in the perpetuation of racism. Learing about racism does not happen in a vacuum, and new understandings come with changes in behavior. We hope this group encourages us all to involve ourselves (or stay involved) in anti-racist work in Pittsburgh, particularly where that work follows leadership of color. You will also be helping to enlarge an anti-racist white community to support you in your work. As Kwame Ture & Charles V. Hamilton wrote in Black Power: The Politics of Liberation, "One of the most disturbing things about almost all white supporters has been that they are reluctant to go into their own communities--which is where the racism exists--and work to get rid of it."

This is a big commitment. Why is it so much?

To think about it in another way, we will only be meeting for a little over a day -- 25 hours total. Given how pervasive racism is in our society, the time we spend together will only begin to scratch the surface. If we step back, we can see that white folks have the privilege of dealing with racism only when we choose to and to do so on our terms. While it's easier not to think about it, it is our hope that the group will provide motivation for white folks to explore these issues -- issues that people of color have to deal with on a daily basis.

Isn't 2.5 hours a long time to meet?

The summer 2007 group was scheduled for 2 hours, but we consistently went for 2.5 hours because people weren't ready to end the discussion after 2 hours.

This sounds scary. Why should I subject myself to this group?

If you've come to this page, you probably have some desire to learn more about racism. We guarantee that you will gain a new understanding of yourself and white folks' (perhaps unwitting) contribution to racism. If you are concerned that you might find out that you are racist, think about which is worse -- for you to go on perpetuating racism or to become aware of it so that you can do something about it. Exploring these ideas in a supportive environment is a great way to deal with those nagging questions in the back of your mind.

I'm already committed to anti-racism. Should I participate in this group?

We greatly appreciate and encourage anyone who has experience with these issues to participate in the group. We hope to create an atmosphere that enables the participants to motivate, support, and challenge one another.

I'm not racist, and I'm busy with activism on other issues. Should I make time to participate?

Yes! Taking the time to reflect on one's activism is an important aspect of all activism. The group will examine different types of activism and how activists of that type can operate from framework of racial justice. Let us know what kind of activism you are involved in, and we can be sure to specifically cover it. If your work does not include an explicit anti-racist commitment, there's a good chance racism is being perpetuated inadvertently.

I'm too busy to participate right now. Is there any way I can be involved?

When organizing this group, we tried to make sure the format of the group worked for people. If folks are interested in a group that meets less frequently, we are happy to try to arrange another group. If you want to do the readings on your own, we would be happy to discuss them with you and direct you to further resources.

Is this just going to be a bunch of rich white men listening to themselves talk?

No! We'll lay out the clear expectation at the beginning that everyone gets to have their chance to speak, and this can only be achieved when others stay quiet and listen. We will make every attempt to ensure no one is taking up too much space.

Why is an animal rights group organizing this?

Why not? AnimalFreedom challenges speciesism and human supremacy in the context of working to end other interconnected systems of oppression based on sex, gender, race, class, sexuality, age, ability, religion, nationality, and ethnicity. Eventually we hope to offer a session that is specifically geared toward issues of racism within the animal rights movement, but currently, it is a general group for everyone.

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