Preventing White Supremacy: An Applied Conceptualization for the Helping Professions
Preventing White Supremacy: An Applied Conceptualization for the Helping Professions
Unmasking Truths: From power dynamics to social justice – redefining narratives and shattering myths for a collective future
Go Deeper
explore foundations and source materialZero-Sum Equity
Raea Rasmussen, David E. Levari, […], and Heather L. Urry, White (but Not Black) Americans Continue to See Racism as a Zero-Sum Game; White Conservatives (but Not Moderates or Liberals) See Themselves as Losing (2022) <Spoiler alert: White liberals see themselves as winning>
Robert Wright, [Ted Talk] The Logic of Non-Zero-Sum Progress (2008)
Pulling the Thread [Podcast], Heather McGhee: How to End Zero-Sum Thinking (2021)
De-Centering Whiteness
Jeff Hitchcock, De-Centering Whiteness (1998)
Maren Oberman, De-Centering Whiteness (2020)
The genius of Derrick Bell
Brown v. Board of Education and the Interest-Convergence Dilemma (1980) <the paper that introduced the theory of Interest Convergence>
Faces at the Bottom of the Well (1992)
The Urban Agenda, Community Service Society (1994) [Video] <incredible interview with Bell>
Confronting Authority (1994)
Space Traders (1994) [Video] <if you haven’t read the short story, you should. Otherwise, they dramatized it in the mid-90s>
The Derrick Bell Reader [Ed. Jean Stefancic] (2002)
Debunking Misconceptions
Nancy Isenberg, White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America (2016)
Kazu Haga, Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm (2020)
Ann Todd Jealous and Caroline T. Haskell [eds], Combined Destinies: Whites Sharing Grief about Racism (2013)
Lynn Burnett, Cross-Cultural Solidarity: History; in the service of solidarity (2015) <Make sure to check out the page on White Anti-Racist Solidarity. The whole database is updated regularly>
Critical Race Theory and Core Principles:
Introduction to Critical Race Theory (CRT) and its core principles.
Interest Convergence and Historical Examples:
Practical applications of Critical Race Theory (CRT).
Derrick Bell and Interest Convergence
Zero-Sum Ideologies and Power Dynamics:
Zero-sum thinking and its limitations.
Balancing intervention and prevention in social justice.
Misconceptions and Social Work:
Different definitions of racism among White people.
The limitations of safe(r) and brave(r) spaces.
Reverse Racism and Public Perception:
Why Critical Race Theory (CRT) doesn’t always make sense to White Americans.
Funding disparities in race-specific work.
The Intervention vs. Prevention Binary:
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Reflection Questions
slow down and think, feel, and make meaningHow might considering Interest Convergence inspire you to critically assess the true motivations behind racial justice advancements, and what proactive steps can you take to address these motivations?
In what ways do your beliefs about fairness and equality align with your actions in everyday life, particularly when considering the Critique of Liberalism?
Reflect on significant historical events and consider how your views on racial and social justice have evolved. How has Revisionist History influenced this transformation?
What new insights does engaging with Critical Race Theory provide about your role in supporting or hindering racial justice within your community, and how do these insights align with your personal beliefs about fairness and equality?
Take a moment to examine your personal biases towards race. How might these biases affect your understanding of Critical Race Theory, and what steps can you take to broaden your perspective?
Consider how the concepts of Structural Determinism challenge or affirm your views on societal frameworks. How can this understanding enhance your role in promoting racial justice?
Critical Race Theory
How has your understanding of racial equity been shaped by the concept of Interest Convergence, and how might this influence your future advocacy efforts?
When considering historical civil rights progress, what role do you believe White self-interest has played, and how can you foster authentic collaboration moving forward?
In what ways can aligning the interests of White individuals with those of minoritized groups drive collective liberation and enhance your growth in equitable practices?
Reflect on times when zero-sum thinking has influenced your perception of racial justice. How can you shift towards a more inclusive and cooperative mindset?
How can examining your role in balancing the interests of White individuals and people of color lead to valuable insights and progress in racial equity?
Think about how the principles of Interest Convergence could impact your approach to intervention and prevention strategies in your professional or community settings, ensuring all interests are addressed.
Why is it crucial for various communities to find common ground when tackling issues like racial equity and justice?
Helping Profession Questions
How can the concept of Interest Convergence guide your approach to building equitable relationships with clients from diverse racial backgrounds in your professional practice?
In what ways can your understanding of Interest Convergence enhance your ability to advocate for systemic changes that benefit both your clients and broader communities within your helping profession?
Interest Convergence
How do you personally deal with the notion that one person's gain requires another's loss? Consider how this belief might affect your willingness to collaborate and share with others.
Reflect on your past experiences with zero-sum thinking. How have these experiences shaped your understanding of racial dynamics, and what strategies can you implement to encourage collaborative racial equity?
Identify external prompts that challenge the zero-sum mindset in your views on racial equity and justice. How can these prompts inspire actionable change in your personal and professional life?
Think about historical examples where communities thrived by uniting efforts rather than competing. How have these stories shaped your perspective on achieving common goals?
Consider how the idea of zero-sum thinking has influenced your actions and beliefs about racial justice. What changes can you make to enhance your understanding and engagement?
Reflect on your feelings when a friend reaches a milestone. Do you celebrate with them, or does it make you question your own success? What do these feelings reveal about your views on sharing accomplishments?
Helping Profession Questions
In your role within the helping professions, how might zero-sum thinking impact the way you approach client success and resource allocation? What steps can you take to ensure a more collaborative and inclusive approach?
Consider how zero-sum ideologies might affect your interactions with colleagues and clients. How can you work towards fostering an environment that emphasizes shared success and equitable outcomes in your professional practice?
Zero-Sum Ideologies
Reflect on an experience where you discovered that the idea of universal privilege among White individuals didn't fully represent the diverse experiences within your community. How did this realization change your perspective on privilege and diversity?
Consider how your background, including socioeconomic status and education, shapes your understanding of racial privilege and identity. What insights have you gained from this reflection?
Think about the balance you maintain between personal responsibility and collective action in anti-racism efforts. How do you navigate these roles in your daily life?
Explore the range of perspectives and levels of engagement with racial issues among White individuals. How does this diversity influence your approach to anti-racism?
Identify the roles you and other White individuals can play in contributing to anti-racism work. What actions can you take to make a meaningful impact?
Examine how you challenge zero-sum thinking in your views and actions related to racial issues. What strategies do you use to promote a more inclusive mindset?
Helping Profession Questions
Reflect on the assumptions about racial privilege and diversity among White individuals that you've encountered in your helping profession. How have these misconceptions shaped your interactions with clients and your approach to providing support?
Consider your experiences with common misconceptions about racial dynamics involving White individuals within your professional setting. How have you addressed these challenges, and what strategies do you employ to foster a more informed and inclusive environment for your clients and colleagues?
Misconceptions
Intervention vs. Prevention Binary
How can recognizing the complementary nature of intervention and prevention strategies reshape your understanding of your role in addressing White supremacy in society?
In what ways can intervention and prevention strategies collaboratively address racial inequality in your community, and how do you envision these strategies working together?
How might a deeper understanding of Interest Convergence assist you in developing a balanced approach that effectively integrates immediate interventions with preventive measures to combat systemic racism?
Reflect on the evolution of the approach to providing immediate help versus long-term solutions over your lifetime. What impacts have these changes had on your community?
What new insights have you gained about your personal role in actively preventing White supremacy, and how can these insights inform more effective actions towards achieving equity in your profession?
Consider the steps you can take to incorporate both intervention and prevention in your efforts to create a more equitable society. Which actions do you find most important?
Helping Profession Questions
How do you integrate both intervention and prevention strategies in your practice to effectively address systemic racism, and what challenges have you encountered in balancing these approaches?
As a professional dedicated to helping others, how does recognizing the false dichotomy between intervention and prevention influence your approach to fostering equitable outcomes in your work environment?
In your role as a helping professional, how can you leverage the principle of Interest Convergence to create initiatives that align immediate interventions with long-term prevention goals, ensuring sustainable social change?
Power
How might your interactions with diverse groups change if you viewed power as something to be expanded and shared, rather than taken or redistributed?
Reflect on a moment when you saw power as a limited resource. How did this perspective impact your relationships with non-dominant groups, and what lessons can embracing a collaborative view of power teach you?
Think of times when you felt that progress for marginalized communities might threaten your position. How can seeing power as an ever-growing resource help you foster equitable relationships?
Consider how narratives about competing for power have influenced your views on social justice. What steps can you take to adopt a mindset focused on collaboration and shared success?
Reflect on whether your belief in power scarcity might affect your participation in social justice activities. How can overcoming this mindset enhance your involvement?
Explore how aligning your goals with those of marginalized communities can lead to mutual success. How can this understanding help you grow as an ally and advocate for equitable power sharing?
Recall an experience where teamwork led to better outcomes than individual leadership. How did this influence your beliefs about the strength of collaboration?
Helping Profession Questions
Consider how your perspective on power as a finite resource might impact your interactions with clients or communities. How can embracing a view of power as expandable improve your effectiveness in fostering positive outcomes for those you serve?
Reflect on how adopting a collaborative approach to power can enhance your ability to support marginalized communities. In what ways can this mindset shift influence your professional practices and relationships within the helping professions?
What personal experiences have shaped your understanding of reverse racism, and in what ways have these experiences influenced your views on racial equality?
Consider the historical context and power dynamics often discussed in relation to reverse racism. How might a deeper understanding of these factors alter your perspective on racial issues and your role in advocating for equity?
Think about how your views on reverse racism have evolved over time. Which events or discussions have been pivotal in reshaping your perspective?
Reflect on your social justice beliefs. What insights have you gained about your racial identity, and how do you plan to contribute to a more inclusive society?
Given that some people believe in racism against White individuals, how can examining these beliefs promote personal growth and broader discussions on race?
Analyze your encounters with conspiracy theories such as The Great Replacement Theory. How can introspection aid in recognizing their impact on your beliefs and actions, and what measures can you take to challenge these influences?
Helping Profession Questions
How can your understanding of reverse racism influence the way you interact with clients who might hold these beliefs, and what strategies can you employ to ensure that your support remains equitable and effective?
In light of changing societal narratives around race and privilege, how can you adapt your professional practices to better address diverse client needs while confronting misconceptions about reverse racism within your field?
Reverse Racism
“De-Centering Whiteness”
How do feelings of being undervalued or excluded impact your willingness to participate in racial dialogues, and what constructive strategies can address these emotions?
Think back to a time when your input was overlooked in a conversation about race. How did this affect your participation, and what can you change to ensure both your voice and others' are acknowledged?
Reflect on any hesitation you experience regarding discussions on de-centering Whiteness. What are the underlying reasons for these feelings?
Consider how you can incorporate a range of cultural perspectives in your workplace, ensuring they have equal importance alongside White cultural norms.
Identify a moment when you felt your viewpoint was marginalized in race-related discussions. How did this influence your engagement, and what steps can you take to re-engage constructively?
What collective actions can be taken to move away from a zero-sum mindset toward a society where every voice is heard and valued?
Helping Profession Questions
How can you ensure that your professional practices in the helping professions respect and integrate the diverse cultural backgrounds of the individuals you serve, rather than defaulting to White cultural norms?
Reject the notion of either/or thinking for a moment and reflect on the ways de-centering Whiteness in your classes, offices, or group work has been helpful in some ways and not helpful in other ways.