Robin DiAngelo: Nice Racism
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Today, we are joined by Dr. Robin DiAngelo, an Affiliate Associate Professor of Education at the University of Washington, who has numerous publications and books to her name, all centered around social and racial justice. By coining the term “white fragility” in an academic article in 2011, she has widely influenced the global dialogue on race. Her book, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and remained there for three years! Our conversation today focuses on the themes she presents in her most recent book, Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm.
With over 20 years of experience as a consultant and educator on issues of racial and social justice, Dr. DiAngelo continues to question the notions and actions (or inactions) of progressive white people. In this episode, we cover call-out culture, clean power versus dirty power, and white shame, as well as some of the harmful ways in which white people aim to absolve their guilt.
Dr. DiAngelo makes the important distinction between an adversary and a problematic ally and points out the difference between shame and humility. Tune in to discover where white progressives are failing their intentions and what steps we need to take to move towards a truly anti-racist society.
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Key Points From This Episode:
What Nice Racism is about and how it differs from White Fragility.
How white progressives unconsciously perpetuate racism.
Call-out culture and the distinction between an adversary and a problematic ally.
How to frame “power” in the context of race and how white people can show up with clean power, as opposed to dirty power.
The unhelpful paralysis that accompanies the shame of whiteness.
How white people are born into racism and are conditioned not to grieve their lack of authentic relationships with BIPOC.
The critical distinction between shame and humility.
Why Dr. DiAngelo doesn’t buy into white people returning to their ‘ethnic roots’ as a substantial healing tool if used in isolation.
What Dr. DiAngelo wishes white people asked and understood.
The details of Dr. DiAngelo’s upcoming webinars.
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Tweetables:
“Progressive white people actually cause the most daily harm across race.” — Robin DiAngelo
“A problematic ally is somebody who means well, who is trying, who basically has a handle on the concept [of systemic racism], but fell into it.” — Robin DiAngelo
“If you understand systemic racism, you understand that none of us can be outside of it.” — Robin DiAngelo
“Silence from a position of power is a power move.” — Robin DiAngelo
“The antidote to shame and guilt is action.” — Robin DiAngelo
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Robin DiAngelo — https://www.robindiangelo.com/
White Fragility — https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780807047415
Nice Racism — https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780807074121
‘The Poetics of Position’ — https://www.robindiangelo.com/product/the-poetics-of-position/
Nice Racism: Webinar Series — https://www.robindiangelo.com/product/nice-racism-webinar-series/
Professor Loretta J. Ross — https://lorettajross.com/
‘I’m a Black Feminist. I think Call-Out Culture is Toxic’ — https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/17/opinion/sunday/cancel-culture-call-out.html
‘What if Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In?’ — https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/style/loretta-ross-smith-college-cancel-culture.html
Adrienne Maree Brown — https://adriennemareebrown.net/
John McWhorter— https://www.nytimes.com/by/john-mcwhorter
Leticia Nieto on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/leticia-nieto-79a75380/
Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment — https://beyondinclusionbeyondempowerment.com/
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