Module 5: Responses to Race
Part 3: White Guilt
Recognizing the vast and lasting systems of racism can prompt feelings of shame or guilt. Addressing white guilt is important in the process of developing and moving to antiracism. This part looks at white guilt and the process of moving past guilt.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand white guilt or shame.
2. To apply the concept of white guilt as a tool for evaluating classroom practices and necessary changes.
3. To consider ways to move past guilt or to use guilt to become antiracist.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand white guilt or shame.
2. To apply the concept of white guilt as a tool for evaluating classroom practices and necessary changes.
3. To consider ways to move past guilt or to use guilt to become antiracist.
&1: White Guilt
Once white people begin to understand racism, there can be feelings of guilt. White people may feel guilty about the treatment of People of Color throughout history. Additionally, white guilt may be associated with one’s actions as they realize how they may have acted in racist ways due to socialization and the systems in which White people have lived.
Racial Equity Tools overviews how white guilt can represent progress in racial awareness. However, we cannot allow white guilt to paralyze our actions in being antiracist.
Read:
The Anatomy of White Guilt
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/anatomy_white_guilt.pdf
Racial Equity Tools overviews how white guilt can represent progress in racial awareness. However, we cannot allow white guilt to paralyze our actions in being antiracist.
Read:
The Anatomy of White Guilt
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/anatomy_white_guilt.pdf
| the-anatomy-of-white-guilt.pdf |
The United States has a racist history and this cannot be changed, but we can be aware of responses and how to build the present and future. While white guilt and shame may be part of racial identity development, it is detrimental to remain in these feelings. The following resources will help to prompt thinking about dealing with white guilt to move to antiracism.
Read:
What Do I Do With My White Guilt?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spirit-in-session/202006/what-do-i-do-my-white-guilt
White Shame: How to Convert Guilt into Action
https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/white-shame-anti-racism-efforts
I’ve Never Experienced White Guilt
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2018/ive-never-experienced-white-guilt
Read/Watch:
Reconciling White Privilege and White Guilt - And How To Use Them For Good
https://www.wgbh.org/news/2018/04/25/local-news/reconciling-white-guilt-and-white-privilege-and-how-use-them-good
Read:
What Do I Do With My White Guilt?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spirit-in-session/202006/what-do-i-do-my-white-guilt
White Shame: How to Convert Guilt into Action
https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/white-shame-anti-racism-efforts
I’ve Never Experienced White Guilt
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2018/ive-never-experienced-white-guilt
Read/Watch:
Reconciling White Privilege and White Guilt - And How To Use Them For Good
https://www.wgbh.org/news/2018/04/25/local-news/reconciling-white-guilt-and-white-privilege-and-how-use-them-good
Reflect:
- Have you experienced white guilt or shame? If so, how did you respond?
- How could white guilt impact classroom practices, including teaching, learning, expectations, and other norms?
- How can you promote your personal growth beyond white guilt? How could you help others in their personal growth?
Dr. Carol Anderson’s work on white rage will be explored in the next part.
