Please use this discussion forum as a space to discuss what you found most impactful or challenging about Module 1. You can also ask questions, and engage with other participants.
After watching the workshop video I recognized that I was having a multitude of feelings. I have often struggled, and discussed this in one of my journal entries, with the balance between allowing my White guilt and fragility to overwhelm me to the point of utilizing my privilege to take a step back from the terrible things happening to People of Color in this country and around the world or using that guilt to lead me to action. Something I have heard many times from White folks and have honestly felt before in myself is that "we have to take care of our mental health too" or "I don't have the capacity to handle this right now in addition to the other heavy things happening in my life". I recognize that as a White person I am able to step away from injustices happening when I feel overwhelmed. I am able to get that self care typically when I need it. But that is where the White guilt comes in and I struggle because I know People of Color don't have that option to just walk away when they need a break. I am struggling with knowing how to make sure I don't burn myself out so I can continue to be a good ally but also making sure I am consistently and continuously doing this work.
Recognizing all of this is such an important step. One thing that helps me reduce burnout is setting a boundary for my news intake. For example, not reading anything news related or viewing social media after 9pm. This gives my brain a chance to unwind so I can rest. I'm not always successful with that boundary, but it is helpful. Also, having a network of folks who are also engaging is helpful, because there lies support. And ultimately yes, we all need to take care of ourselves. We can't be effective if we become so unhealthy because we've neglected our mental health, because all of this is tough on our mental health. I think recognizing your privilege is important, but the guilt that can come with that can lead us to self-neglect, as if we come to believe that any comfort we may feel is selfish. It is a delicate balance.
In one of the videos I watched, a panel speaker asked the question....."Who determines what is of value?" He answered his own question..."Whites want everything BUT THE BURDEN & RESPONSIBILITY." I would add to that awareness....."Many, if not most of the mental health issues whites have had to deal with from one generation to the next are connected to the reality that they "want everything but not the burden & responsibility". Whites don't want any limitations placed on THEIR FREEDOM. In a nutshell, it's called "greed", intertwined with many other factors.
Thank you for saying this. It really helps me conceptualize better and see where that “burnout” may really be stemming from. I will definitely examine that more in myself.
Module 3 has a lot of rich material in it for which I am grateful.
Many people do not understand the concept of interdependence. Many do not want to understand it because they have been conditioned and trained to "thrive" in their notion of separation. There is a great and profound truth in MLK, JR's words shared in one of the videos....."Until you are all you can be, I will never be all I can be". Wake up white people because always trying to keep POC's down-out-invisible-etc. only serves to keep YOU down-out-invisible,etc. HELLO!!! The other side of the coin is full of truth also. "Until POC's are all they can be, white people will never be all they can be." Keep waking up POC's, You have a tremendous wealth to bring to the table but watch out, don't let the whites steal it all from you.
After watching the first few videos about toxic white guilt, i find myself questioning every choice i've made- along the same lines as the argument "can true altruism exist".... all of my motivations are in question.
I have encountered the same thing, both at the beginning of my anti-racism work, and still throughout as I grow. I have been subject to call outs many times, and sometimes I have indeed messed up, but in every case, when your intentions are called into question either by another person, or just through the normal processing of your own behavior, it is a challenge. It is good that you are reflecting, and no matter how far along you are in this process, it will continue to be an important part of the work.
Letting it not paralyze you is the key. Take it in stride as an opportunity to just become more conscious of what you are doing, and why you are doing it. You are doing great work already.
I'm a proponent and ally of anti-racism. As a minority myself I cannot stand anywhere of racism occurring. For example, an article today in Task & Purpose (new media agency for the military) discussed about how lawmakers are trying to push for the removal of Nazi graves and tombstones found within graves of the United States Army Veterans. You would not believe the amount of support people are saying to keep the graves there as historical preserved sites. However, if it weren't for today's Neo Nazis plaguing the conservative political viewpoints of right winged organizations, perhaps my own standpoint of removing those graves might change.
Now i'm not saying remove history, but Nazi tombstones with Nazis have no right to be buried in American grave sites. If that was the case, many american soldiers should have been left buried in Afghanistan as a reminder to the enemy who we are (yet we don't do that because they are American). That being said, if we compare this scenario to the inequity of African Americans here in America, why is it that White Nazis and say, confederate soldeirs who are enemies to the United states) treated with more reverence and respect than those who were black panther or of other affiliated organizations? This is the injustice that honestly pisses me off and makes me wonder how blind many Americans are to the double standards that continue to be emulated in our political and social viewpoints.
In short, where is the balance between the two sides to talk about it and when is it appropriate? I love seeing the museum for African Americans being hosted to talk, and when it comes to my scenario, a similar thing should be done in hopes of talking and moving past history, but until that happens, people will continue to be blind to it, thus allowing Neo Nazis a continued voice in American society as well as biases.
This helped me to see how racism permeates our world today: "...African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you’re choking on it — until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands. But we have to stay vigilant, because it’s always still in the air." By: Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar Op-Ed, LAT 5/30/2020, "Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge" TYVM for offering anti-racist training - you're doing the hard and important and ever-shifting work of "getting the sun in." LINK: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-30/dont-understand-the-protests-what-youre-seeing-is-people-pushed-to-the-edge
Discussion Decorum: Participants will treat each other with respect. When disagreeing or debating, focus comments on the facts and training content, not personalities. No personal attacks. Purposefully rude or derogatory language will not be tolerated.
After watching the workshop video I recognized that I was having a multitude of feelings. I have often struggled, and discussed this in one of my journal entries, with the balance between allowing my White guilt and fragility to overwhelm me to the point of utilizing my privilege to take a step back from the terrible things happening to People of Color in this country and around the world or using that guilt to lead me to action. Something I have heard many times from White folks and have honestly felt before in myself is that "we have to take care of our mental health too" or "I don't have the capacity to handle this right now in addition to the other heavy things happening in my life". I recognize that as a White person I am able to step away from injustices happening when I feel overwhelmed. I am able to get that self care typically when I need it. But that is where the White guilt comes in and I struggle because I know People of Color don't have that option to just walk away when they need a break. I am struggling with knowing how to make sure I don't burn myself out so I can continue to be a good ally but also making sure I am consistently and continuously doing this work.
Recognizing all of this is such an important step. One thing that helps me reduce burnout is setting a boundary for my news intake. For example, not reading anything news related or viewing social media after 9pm. This gives my brain a chance to unwind so I can rest. I'm not always successful with that boundary, but it is helpful. Also, having a network of folks who are also engaging is helpful, because there lies support. And ultimately yes, we all need to take care of ourselves. We can't be effective if we become so unhealthy because we've neglected our mental health, because all of this is tough on our mental health. I think recognizing your privilege is important, but the guilt that can come with that can lead us to self-neglect, as if we come to believe that any comfort we may feel is selfish. It is a delicate balance.
In one of the videos I watched, a panel speaker asked the question....."Who determines what is of value?" He answered his own question..."Whites want everything BUT THE BURDEN & RESPONSIBILITY." I would add to that awareness....."Many, if not most of the mental health issues whites have had to deal with from one generation to the next are connected to the reality that they "want everything but not the burden & responsibility". Whites don't want any limitations placed on THEIR FREEDOM. In a nutshell, it's called "greed", intertwined with many other factors.
Thank you for saying this. It really helps me conceptualize better and see where that “burnout” may really be stemming from. I will definitely examine that more in myself.
Module 3 has a lot of rich material in it for which I am grateful.
Many people do not understand the concept of interdependence. Many do not want to understand it because they have been conditioned and trained to "thrive" in their notion of separation. There is a great and profound truth in MLK, JR's words shared in one of the videos....."Until you are all you can be, I will never be all I can be". Wake up white people because always trying to keep POC's down-out-invisible-etc. only serves to keep YOU down-out-invisible,etc. HELLO!!! The other side of the coin is full of truth also. "Until POC's are all they can be, white people will never be all they can be." Keep waking up POC's, You have a tremendous wealth to bring to the table but watch out, don't let the whites steal it all from you.
i HAVE NO MORE COMMENTS TO MAKE. i'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH mODULE 3
After watching the first few videos about toxic white guilt, i find myself questioning every choice i've made- along the same lines as the argument "can true altruism exist".... all of my motivations are in question.
Holly,
I have encountered the same thing, both at the beginning of my anti-racism work, and still throughout as I grow. I have been subject to call outs many times, and sometimes I have indeed messed up, but in every case, when your intentions are called into question either by another person, or just through the normal processing of your own behavior, it is a challenge. It is good that you are reflecting, and no matter how far along you are in this process, it will continue to be an important part of the work.
Letting it not paralyze you is the key. Take it in stride as an opportunity to just become more conscious of what you are doing, and why you are doing it. You are doing great work already.
I'm a proponent and ally of anti-racism. As a minority myself I cannot stand anywhere of racism occurring. For example, an article today in Task & Purpose (new media agency for the military) discussed about how lawmakers are trying to push for the removal of Nazi graves and tombstones found within graves of the United States Army Veterans. You would not believe the amount of support people are saying to keep the graves there as historical preserved sites. However, if it weren't for today's Neo Nazis plaguing the conservative political viewpoints of right winged organizations, perhaps my own standpoint of removing those graves might change.
Now i'm not saying remove history, but Nazi tombstones with Nazis have no right to be buried in American grave sites. If that was the case, many american soldiers should have been left buried in Afghanistan as a reminder to the enemy who we are (yet we don't do that because they are American). That being said, if we compare this scenario to the inequity of African Americans here in America, why is it that White Nazis and say, confederate soldeirs who are enemies to the United states) treated with more reverence and respect than those who were black panther or of other affiliated organizations? This is the injustice that honestly pisses me off and makes me wonder how blind many Americans are to the double standards that continue to be emulated in our political and social viewpoints.
In short, where is the balance between the two sides to talk about it and when is it appropriate? I love seeing the museum for African Americans being hosted to talk, and when it comes to my scenario, a similar thing should be done in hopes of talking and moving past history, but until that happens, people will continue to be blind to it, thus allowing Neo Nazis a continued voice in American society as well as biases.
What a powerful example from your own context. Thank you for sharing this..
This helped me to see how racism permeates our world today: "...African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you’re choking on it — until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands. But we have to stay vigilant, because it’s always still in the air." By: Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar Op-Ed, LAT 5/30/2020, "Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge" TYVM for offering anti-racist training - you're doing the hard and important and ever-shifting work of "getting the sun in." LINK: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-30/dont-understand-the-protests-what-youre-seeing-is-people-pushed-to-the-edge