Using the Stories of White Anti-Racist Activism to Teach About Social Justice: A Report on Student Research and Reflecti

1. Using the Stories of White Anti-Racist Activism to Teach About Social Justice: A Report on Student Research and Reflection Pamela A. Taylor, Ph.D. Seattle University 2004

2. Think of a nationally known white person whom you would describe as a racist.

3. Now, think of a nationally known white person you would consider to be an antiracist activist, a white man or woman who is clearly identifiable as an ally to people of color in the struggle against racism.

4. Now, add a qualifier �still living,� who comes to mind?

5. Overview The eradication of racism is often thought to be the issue and problem of the oppressed. Historically, those held out as exemplars or role models in the fight for social and political equality have been predominately people of color. Students are often hard-pressed to find good role models upon which to pattern their lives. As educators we have a responsibility to guide students through the steps of not only defining what good role models look like, but finding examples that look like them. Chronicled in this presentation are snapshots of white anti-racist activists who have demonstrated moral courage in their fight against racism in the United States. All of these examples have been deemed worthy because of values embodied, contributions to their cause(s), obstacles overcome, and acts of moral courage.

7. �The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.� -Eleanor Roosevelt

8. Three Models of Whiteness Actively Racist White Supremacist Actively embraces the notion of superiority of whites and the inferiority of people of color What Whiteness? View (colorblindness): Refusal to acknowledge their racial category as personally significant. This failure to acknowledge the salience of skin color in the U.S. society is associated with the failure to acknowledge the reality of racism. Guilty White model Characterized by the heightened awareness of racism and the accompanying shame and embarrassment about being white. An internal focus on one�s own guilt by association� can be immobilizing, and therefore interferes with one�s ability to take effective action to interrupt expressions of racism. Tatum (1999)

9. The Model of White Antiracists People who protest against racism resisted the role of oppressor have been allies to people of color

10. Who are Anti-Racist Activists? People who have committed themselves, in thought, action, and practice, to dismantling racism. Their efforts are often driven by moral convictions that all humans are equal under God. They are white people on a journey toward acknowledging and affirming one�s whiteness which often means rejecting a culture of domination and silence about racism. Because it is hard, challenging work, they often look for ways to justify not doing it. Rather than finding ways to avoid being an activist, they look at what gets in their way.

11. Myles Falls Horton Founded the Highlander Folk School to provide interracial, residential workshops for empowering poor people During the Montgomery bus boycott, introduced Rosa Parks to Eleanor Roosevelt as �the first lady of the South� Assisted Black civil rights activists in developing the model for the�Citizenship Schools�