Module 5: Responses to Race
   Part 4: White Rage

Throughout history and continuing in current times, people of color have been met with barriers and obstacles to their advancement in society. Whether through overt violence, societal beliefs, or policies that maintain systemic racism, the resistance faced by people of color is characterized as "white rage" by Carol Anderson. This part explores Dr. Anderson's concept of white rage through resources featuring Dr. Anderson's voice.

Suggested Goals:
1. To understand the concept of white rage and its impacts on the attempts of people of color to advance in society.
2. To apply the concept of white rage to educational systems as a tool for evaluating classroom practices and necessary changes.
3. To consider next steps to overcome white rage and move toward antiracism.

&1: White Rage

Carol Anderson describes white rage as the continual struggle for equality against the white backlash and anger. White rage is embodied in the push back to advancements or attempted advancements by people of color. The anger and resentment of white rage may be exhibited by physically violent acts. However, this rage is often manifested through policies and social structures that continue to remove rights and oppress people of color. This can be seen in Jim Crow laws as a continuation of oppression after the end of slavery and in the war on drugs as a way to disenfranchise Black citizens. 

The following resources will introduce you to Carol Anderson and some of her work on white rage.

Read:
8 Questions with Dr. Carol Anderson
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/harrison-barnes-carol-anderson-interview

Interview with NBCC Criticism Finalist Carol Anderson
https://newschoolwriting.org/interview-with-nbcc-criticism-finalist-carol-anderson/

Read/Listen:
Writer Carol Anderson Says White Rage Is Dividing Us
https://www.wvxu.org/post/writer-carol-anderson-says-white-rage-dividing-us#stream/0

The following videos are longer, but allow the viewer to hear directly from Dr. Anderson. Some of the content presented in these resources is repeated, so you may want to begin by choosing one of the videos to watch to gain an understanding of Dr. Anderson and her work.

Watch:
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Nation’s Divide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBYUET24K1c

Carol Anderson on White Rage
https://www.c-span.org/video/?419681-4/washington-journal-carol-anderson-discusses-white-rage

Emory Professor Carol Anderson on “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/5/5/emory_professor_carol_anderson_on_white

Reflect:
  • Where have you witnessed reactions that could be characterized as white rage?
  • How does white rage impact educational systems?
  • Where do you identify white rage in your life (past or present)? How did or could you respond to white rage?
  • What are two steps you could take to be sure white rage does not continue to impact your practice?

To learn more, you can read White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson (citation below).

Anderson, C. (2016). White rage: The unspoken truth of our racial divide. Bloomsbury.

The next part will look at white fragility as expressed in the work of Dr. Robin DiAngelo.