Module 1: Socialization & Identity
Part 4: Racial Identity development
Racial identity development is important for all people. However, members of the dominant culture may not be faced with consciously recognizing many in-group memberships, especially when it comes to considering race.
You can learn more about racial identity development, including whiteness and white racial identity development in the document below.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand stages of racial identity development.
2. To define and understand the social construct of whiteness.
3. To understand the impacts of whiteness on society, including considerations of how whiteness is part of educational systems.
4. To begin to consider how understanding whiteness and racial identity can become a catalyst for change in education.
You can learn more about racial identity development, including whiteness and white racial identity development in the document below.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand stages of racial identity development.
2. To define and understand the social construct of whiteness.
3. To understand the impacts of whiteness on society, including considerations of how whiteness is part of educational systems.
4. To begin to consider how understanding whiteness and racial identity can become a catalyst for change in education.
&1: Racial Identity
Members of the dominant culture may not be faced with consciously recognizing many in-group memberships, especially when it comes to considering race. In the United States, white is most often (if not always) the default when considering race. Applying what we know about socialization, some aspects of racial identity may be developed unconsciously, especially for those that are in-group members of the white, dominant culture.
The National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) presents an overview of race, racial identity, and racism. The next section will go more in-depth into race and racism, but the NMAAHC provides an overview with an opportunity to reflect in “Talking About Race: Race and Racial Identity” (linked below).
Read:
Talking About Race: Race and Racial Identity
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/race-and-racial-identity
Regardless of conscious or unconscious development, a white racial identity does exist. The following resources explore theories and stages of racial identity development.
Read:
Summary of Stages of Racial Identity Development
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/Compilation_of_Racial_Identity_Models_7_15_11.pdf
The National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) presents an overview of race, racial identity, and racism. The next section will go more in-depth into race and racism, but the NMAAHC provides an overview with an opportunity to reflect in “Talking About Race: Race and Racial Identity” (linked below).
Read:
Talking About Race: Race and Racial Identity
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/race-and-racial-identity
Regardless of conscious or unconscious development, a white racial identity does exist. The following resources explore theories and stages of racial identity development.
Read:
Summary of Stages of Racial Identity Development
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/Compilation_of_Racial_Identity_Models_7_15_11.pdf
| summary-of-stages-of-racial-identity-development_compilation_2011v2.pdf |
Racial Identity Development
https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/cmn214/Class%203/Racial%20identity%20development.pdf
https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/cmn214/Class%203/Racial%20identity%20development.pdf
| racial_identity_development.pdf |
Helm’s White Racial Identity Development Model
https://www.boisestate.edu/mss/tunnel-of-oppression/inside-the-tunnel/helms-white-racial-identity-development-model/
Debby Irving, author of Waking Up White, discusses her story of understanding racial identity. As you watch the video, consider how the ideas from the previous readings are demonstrated in Debby Irving’s story.
Watch:
Finding Myself in the Story of Race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD5Ox5XNEpg
https://www.boisestate.edu/mss/tunnel-of-oppression/inside-the-tunnel/helms-white-racial-identity-development-model/
Debby Irving, author of Waking Up White, discusses her story of understanding racial identity. As you watch the video, consider how the ideas from the previous readings are demonstrated in Debby Irving’s story.
Watch:
Finding Myself in the Story of Race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD5Ox5XNEpg
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, explores the importance of racial identity development. Module 9 from Project READY: Reimagining Equity and Access for Diverse Youth explores ideas around and importance of racial and ethnic identity development. You can engage in learning more through the readings and videos presented in the module (linked below).
Read/Watch:
Racial and Ethnic Identity Development
https://ready.web.unc.edu/section-1-foundations/module-9-racial-and-ethnic-identity-development/
Reflect:
- Consider your own racialized identity. What new insights do you have? How do you feel race is part of your identity?
- How could reflecting on your racialized identity impact your practice?
Understanding your own racialized identity can be beneficial in becoming an antiracist educator. Later sections will explore antiracism in more detail, but it is important to consider whiteness as White educators. Teaching Tolerance provides some insight in Emily Chiariello’s article, “Why Talk About Whiteness?” (linked below).
Read:
Why Talk About Whiteness?
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/summer-2016/why-talk-about-whiteness
Building from Chiariello’s expression of the importance of talking about whiteness to support progress, it is important to understand more about the definition and central role of whiteness in society. The NMAAHC provides an overview of whiteness and opportunities to reflect in “Talking About Race: Whiteness” (linked below). Take time to read and watch the videos to understand more about whiteness and related attributes.
Read/Watch:
Talking About Race: Whiteness (The first video by Robin DiAngelo was included earlier in this part. The videos are included below, but the site offers additional information and insight as well as points of reflection.)
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/whiteness
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read:
White Identity in America is Ideology, Not Biology. The History of Whiteness Proves It.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/white-identity-america-ideology-not-biology-history-whiteness-proves-it-ncna1232200
What Is Whiteness?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/202006/what-is-whiteness
Watch:
History of Whiteness: Through the Looking Glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_0ChxXdhWo
Robin DiAngelo presents a deeper discussion of whiteness in the video linked below. If you have time, listen to Dr. DiAngelo’s perspectives on whiteness experienced in our daily lives.
Watch:
Seeing the Water: Whiteness in Daily Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lv3xoiuDtM
Reflect:
- What new realizations did you develop about whiteness and racial identity?
- Why is it important to know about whiteness?
- How could knowing about whiteness impact your actions and practice?
Understanding whiteness can provide an informed perspective for engaging in necessary action for change. Sandra M. Lawrence and Beverly Daniel Tatum discuss white racial identity and antiracist education in their article, White Racial Identity and Anti-Racist Education: A Catalyst for Change (linked below).
Read:
White Racial Identity and Anti-Racist Education: A Catalyst for Change
https://www.teachingforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ec_whiteracialidentity_english.pdf
| ec_whiteracialidentity_english.pdf |
Reflect:
The next part will look at the complexities of identity, including intersectionalities.
- How can recognizing white racial identity be helpful in changing to antiracist education perspectives and practices?
- If you are a white educator, how can you change your beliefs or pedagogies as a result of reflecting on white racial identity?
The next part will look at the complexities of identity, including intersectionalities.
