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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

The Four Faces of Racism

Constructed Racist Oppression
is an historical construction and systemic (not just personal or individual)
penetrates every aspect of our personal, institutional, and social life
includes prejudice against people of color in attitudes, feelings, and behaviors
includes exclusion, discrimination, suspicion, fear or hatred of people of color
has personal, cultural, and institutional manifestations
people of color seen only as a member of a group, not as an individuals with full personhood
low expectations by white people for children and adults of color
fewer options and choices open to people of color

Internalized Racist Oppression Experienced by People of Color
internalized negative messages
lowered self-esteem, sense of inferiority, wrongness
limited choices: “ act in (white)’ or ‘act out(disrupt)’
limited imagination of possibility, expectations, potential (limited by oppression and prejudice)
cycles through generations

Granted White Privilege Experienced by White People
“an invisible, weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas,
clothes, tools and blank checks” (Peggy McIntosh)
options, possibilities, “the existence of abundant choice” (Joan Olsson)
“to be white in America is not to have to think about it” (Robert Terry)
seen as an individual; what we do never reflects on the white race
can judge racism from own worldview without penalty
live in a world where personal worth, rightness, and personhood are continually validated
although hurt by racism, can live just fine without ever having to deal with it

Internalized White Supremacy Experienced by White People
my world view is the only world view
the standards and norms I live by are the univeral standards and norms
my achievements have to do with me, not with my membership in the white group
assumption that who I am is OK, inflated sense of self, illusion of superiority (Kay Hagan)
I have the right to be comfortable and if I am not comfortable, then someone else is to blame
I can feel that I personally earned, through work and merit, any/all of my success
equates individual acts of unfairness against white people with systemic racism against people
of color
I have many choices, as I should; everyone else has those same choices
I am not respnsible for what happened before, nor do I have to know anything about it

Adapted from Joan Olsson, Cultural Bridges

Dismantling Racism Project 39 Western States Center