Module 5: Responses to Race
Part 6: White Fatigue
White people engaged in learning more about racism can become resistant due to being overwhelmed. Joseph Flynn describes how white fatigue can explain this resistance and provide a path toward promoting justice. This part draws on the research of Dr. Flynn to explore white fatigue.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand white fatigue and its impacts on racial progress.
2. To apply the concept of white fatigue to educational systems as a tool for evaluating classroom practices and necessary changes.
3. To consider the next steps to overcome white fatigue and move toward antiracism.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand white fatigue and its impacts on racial progress.
2. To apply the concept of white fatigue to educational systems as a tool for evaluating classroom practices and necessary changes.
3. To consider the next steps to overcome white fatigue and move toward antiracism.
&1: wHITE fATIGUE
White people that move beyond fragility may still be resistant to engaging in conversations about race. There may be an understanding of the impacts and importance of the issues surrounding race and racism, but White people may become overwhelmed and fatigued by the conversations and work to be antiracist.
Fatigue may appear as resistance or be heard in questions such as, “Why are we still talking about race?” White people may also “shut down” when issues of race and racism are presented. Reactions such as these and more are termed “white fatigue” by Joseph Flynn. The resources below describe Dr. Flynn’s view of racism and white fatigue.
Read:
White Fatigue: Naming the Challenge in Moving from an Individual to a Systemic Understanding of Racism
ttps://www.academia.edu/19246531/White_Fatigue_Naming_the_Challenge_in_Moving_from_an_Individual_to_a_Systemic_Understanding_of_Racism
Fatigue may appear as resistance or be heard in questions such as, “Why are we still talking about race?” White people may also “shut down” when issues of race and racism are presented. Reactions such as these and more are termed “white fatigue” by Joseph Flynn. The resources below describe Dr. Flynn’s view of racism and white fatigue.
Read:
White Fatigue: Naming the Challenge in Moving from an Individual to a Systemic Understanding of Racism
ttps://www.academia.edu/19246531/White_Fatigue_Naming_the_Challenge_in_Moving_from_an_Individual_to_a_Systemic_Understanding_of_Racism
| white_fatigue_naming_the_challenge_in_mo__2_.pdf |
The Interview Series: Dr. Joseph Flynn Part 2 of 3
http://aatchome.org/the-interview-series-part-2-of-3-dr-joseph-flynn-aatc-president/
Read/Listen:
Racism, “White Fatigue”, and Our Role as Americans
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/post/racism-white-fatigue-and-our-role-americans
White Fatigue Author Explains How White People Can Understand and Confront Racism
https://will.illinois.edu/21stshow/story/white-fatigue-author-explains-how-white-people-can-understand-confront-racism
Watch/Listen:
EDHeads Special Edition: What Is White Fatigue?
Watch: https://www.facebook.com/thegoodtalknetwork/videos/edheads-special-edition-what-is-white-fatigue-award-winning-author-joseph-flynn-/168312357937871/
Or
Listen: https://thegoodtalk.libsyn.com/podcast/edheads-special-edition-white-fatigue-w-dr-joseph-flynn
Reflect:
To learn more, you can read White Fatigue: Rethinking Resistance for Social Justice by Joseph Flynn (citation below).
Flynn, J. (2018). White fatigue: Rethinking resistance for social justice. Peter Lang.
White people can progress and move from responses that hold back racial progress to being supporters of change. The first step in becoming active is that of an ally. Allyship is the focus of the next part.
http://aatchome.org/the-interview-series-part-2-of-3-dr-joseph-flynn-aatc-president/
Read/Listen:
Racism, “White Fatigue”, and Our Role as Americans
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/post/racism-white-fatigue-and-our-role-americans
White Fatigue Author Explains How White People Can Understand and Confront Racism
https://will.illinois.edu/21stshow/story/white-fatigue-author-explains-how-white-people-can-understand-confront-racism
Watch/Listen:
EDHeads Special Edition: What Is White Fatigue?
Watch: https://www.facebook.com/thegoodtalknetwork/videos/edheads-special-edition-what-is-white-fatigue-award-winning-author-joseph-flynn-/168312357937871/
Or
Listen: https://thegoodtalk.libsyn.com/podcast/edheads-special-edition-white-fatigue-w-dr-joseph-flynn
Reflect:
- When have you experienced resistance to racial conversations and action that could be characterized as white fatigue?
- How does white fatigue impact educational systems? How could educator responses to racism be classified as white fatigue?
- How did or could you respond to white fatigue?
- What are two steps you could take to be sure white fatigue does not continue to impact your practice?
To learn more, you can read White Fatigue: Rethinking Resistance for Social Justice by Joseph Flynn (citation below).
Flynn, J. (2018). White fatigue: Rethinking resistance for social justice. Peter Lang.
White people can progress and move from responses that hold back racial progress to being supporters of change. The first step in becoming active is that of an ally. Allyship is the focus of the next part.
