White Fragility: the term is meant to describe any defensive instincts or reactions that a white person experiences when questioned about race or made to consider their own race. White Fragility , views racism in the North America as systemic and often perpetuated unconsciously by individuals.
White Fragility serves to be a defensive response by a white person when their whiteness is highlighted or mentioned, or their worldview is challenged, whether this response is conscious or otherwise. Examples include a white man accusing someone of "playing the race card" or a white woman (Karen) crying to avoid conflict. The term proposes that white people are used to viewing themselves as "raceless" or the "default" race, and as such are insulated from feelings of racial discomfort. It describes racism as systematic rather than overt and conscious, arguing that racial segregation has shaped the United States. Research points that children aged 3 upwards believe it better to be white in North America.
Excellent conversation tonight with friends over this term. Imagine being shaped by a socio/educational system that tells you the great men in history were noble, benevolent creatures. Your parents were taught this, your Grandparents were taught this, it goes back several centuries. You're conditioned to believe in this. Then, as it turns out, these 'Great Men' were slave owners, traders, bigamists, hypocrites, blowhards and opportunists. Most likely, their great deeds were done by Black, Brown or Asian people and they just took the credit.
A couple of my friends were just gobsmacked and had no answers to give (this is a 'Face to Face' conversation, no anonymous board to hide behind). One was so incensed that he left the table (the rest of us paid his bill). Then my friend "Rick", super good guy, as Canadian as you can get, married to a Bollywood Beauty said: "I know I'm a suburban white guy that never had any sort of money or health problems. Somewhere down the line, I must have said or done something nasty to somebody. I'm hoping I didn't mean it. I hope I never do it again."
I paid for Rick's dinner.
White Fragility serves to be a defensive response by a white person when their whiteness is highlighted or mentioned, or their worldview is challenged, whether this response is conscious or otherwise. Examples include a white man accusing someone of "playing the race card" or a white woman (Karen) crying to avoid conflict. The term proposes that white people are used to viewing themselves as "raceless" or the "default" race, and as such are insulated from feelings of racial discomfort. It describes racism as systematic rather than overt and conscious, arguing that racial segregation has shaped the United States. Research points that children aged 3 upwards believe it better to be white in North America.
Excellent conversation tonight with friends over this term. Imagine being shaped by a socio/educational system that tells you the great men in history were noble, benevolent creatures. Your parents were taught this, your Grandparents were taught this, it goes back several centuries. You're conditioned to believe in this. Then, as it turns out, these 'Great Men' were slave owners, traders, bigamists, hypocrites, blowhards and opportunists. Most likely, their great deeds were done by Black, Brown or Asian people and they just took the credit.
A couple of my friends were just gobsmacked and had no answers to give (this is a 'Face to Face' conversation, no anonymous board to hide behind). One was so incensed that he left the table (the rest of us paid his bill). Then my friend "Rick", super good guy, as Canadian as you can get, married to a Bollywood Beauty said: "I know I'm a suburban white guy that never had any sort of money or health problems. Somewhere down the line, I must have said or done something nasty to somebody. I'm hoping I didn't mean it. I hope I never do it again."
I paid for Rick's dinner.
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