Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible
Urban Hiker
Posts: 1,312
Race has come up on here a bit lately so....
I’d like to know what the Moving Train thinks of this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2327437707_37aa7c3391.jpg?v=0
It’s an edited copy of a poster hanging around where I work.
All employees were required to attend the first series, ‘Race: The Power of an Illusion’. It ended up causing more racial tension than anything. It was very disappointing since it was pitched to us as opportunity to recognize institutionalized racial and SOCIAL inequities and train us to get people involved in making a change.
Most people came out of the first series feeling that there was a disproportionate focus on racism against African Americans. I work in a very ethnically diverse environment. I expected more representation of ethnic minorities in general, not one exclusive group. Also, in my sessions, when the older WHITE women brought up how they had been discriminated against throughout the years, what they had to say was dismissed as being “off topic”.
Now we are supposed to sit and see how privileged whites are and feel who knows what from there.
What do you all think of an employer making employees attend this? And, do you personally find the poster offensive or racist?
I’d like to know what the Moving Train thinks of this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/2327437707_37aa7c3391.jpg?v=0
It’s an edited copy of a poster hanging around where I work.
All employees were required to attend the first series, ‘Race: The Power of an Illusion’. It ended up causing more racial tension than anything. It was very disappointing since it was pitched to us as opportunity to recognize institutionalized racial and SOCIAL inequities and train us to get people involved in making a change.
Most people came out of the first series feeling that there was a disproportionate focus on racism against African Americans. I work in a very ethnically diverse environment. I expected more representation of ethnic minorities in general, not one exclusive group. Also, in my sessions, when the older WHITE women brought up how they had been discriminated against throughout the years, what they had to say was dismissed as being “off topic”.
Now we are supposed to sit and see how privileged whites are and feel who knows what from there.
What do you all think of an employer making employees attend this? And, do you personally find the poster offensive or racist?
Walking can be a real trip
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"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
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Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
I saved the location using Mozilla. I can make it publicly viewable on Flickr, but I might need to call my union rep first.
Edit: This thread seems like it's done, so I'm removing my flickr link.
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Huh, When I read it (and maybe my experience from the first sessions has left me biased), I think it's supposed to be about seeing how whites get everything handed to them and how they should feel about those who are not as "ethnically privileged" as they are.
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
What does Making Whiteness Visible even mean? Seems pretty divisive and ignorant to me. I can see how people would be defensive after seeing that. As if white people need special education on how not to be racist. fuck that.
Voting for the Green Party and knowing what's best for poor people:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/62-knowing-whats-best-for-poor-people/
Being an expert on other cultures:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/20-being-an-expert-on-your-culture/
Thinking they are saving the earth because they are vegetarians/vegans:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/32-veganvegetarianism/
That brings up a good point. When do we get to talk about speciism in the workplace? :cool:
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.