White privilege is an absence of the consequences of racism. An absence of structural discrimination, an absence of your race being viewed as a problem first and foremost."
- Reni Eddo-Lodge
DAY TWO
White Privilege
 
We hope you enjoyed day one of the Challenge learning about race and race equity! For day two, we will be expanding the conversation around race to provide a broad overview of race’s presence in society. For this learning experience, we will be addressing white privilege’s role in society, alongside further resources discussing racism and ways we can begin to deconstruct it. We highly recommend starting with the first article below. It is a short read with great definitions for each level of racism.
 
Racial privilege: Race-based advantages and preferential treatment based on skin color (often experienced without any conscious effort or awareness)
READ
Undoing Racism by Design (3 Minute Read)
Read this article to understand the different levels that racism operates at historically and in the present day. It also discusses meaningful interventions.
 
Read the Talking About Race Toolkit to get perspectives on re-framing the conversation on race and moving toward policy solutions that work for everyone.
 
How Privileged are You? (5 Minute Read)
Take this BuzzFeed quiz to see how privileged you are compared to other quiz takers.
 
Read this article to get a glimpse into life-changing lessons on white privilege.
 
"Americans don't see me, or Ahmaud Arbery, running down the road - they see their fear." - Ibram X. Kendi, Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. This piece articulates the relationship between black people and American perceptions of them.
LISTEN
Comedian Chelsea Handler made a documentary on Netflix called, "Hello Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea", where she explored the idea of white privilege. Podcaster, Sam Sanders, talks to Chelsea about what she's learned since then and coming to terms with both her white privilege during the protests...and herself, in therapy.
 
Our recommended selection for today from United Way of Pierce County's "Soundtrack 4 Justice" playlist
"White Privilege" by Macklemore (4:21)
WATCH
KING 5 visits how we arrived at this point in American history and explains why race and white privilege matter.
 
Founded in 1981, Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity.
 
Dr. Robin DiAngelo is the author of "What Does it Mean to Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy". She has been an anti-racist educator and has heard justifications of racism by white men and women in her workshops for over two decades. The rationale, which she calls "white fragility," is a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.
NOTICE
 
Notice how characteristics of white supremacy culture show up in different settings.
CONNECT
Who's in your feed?
Follow Racial Justice activists, educators, organizations, and movements on social media. Consider connecting with any of the people/organizations you learn about in the daily resources. We'll provide some suggestions to widen the circle of who you follow.
 
Race Forward - Race Forward | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
PUT IT TO USE
Engage - Engaging in racially mixed settings can trigger age-old power and privilege dynamics. The goal is to be a learner more than a knower, precisely the opposite of what dominant U.S. culture teaches us to be.
 
Act - Interrupt the pattern of white silence by speaking openly with family, friends, and colleagues about what you're doing and learning during the Challenge.
 
Reflect - Difficult emotions such as shame and anger, though uncomfortable to feel, can guide you to deeper self-awareness about how power and privilege impacts you and the people in your life.

United Way of Pierce County has made its Equity Challenge Community Page available to United Way of Thurston County Equity Challenge participants. Visit this page to download the Reflection Log, a group Facilitator's Guide and more!
United Way of Thurston County solves complicated issues by convening community stakeholders and collaborating to develop short and long-term strategies. United Way is an excellent steward of donor dollars and is committed to transparency, accountability and sound fiscal management. United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community. Learn more: https://www.unitedway-thurston.org/