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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

Distancing Behaviors
( adapted from Edler’s unpublished paper Distancing behaviors among white group dealing with
racism)

The behavior What it is

Requiring clear definitions of racism (or sexism, etc.) before
Definitions committing to analysis or action (when clear definitions of religion,
politics, morals, etc. are not required in similar situations)

A demand that people of color be present for white people to
Where are understand themselves or commit to analysis or action (when we
the others? don’t demand the presence of poor people or politicians to analyze

or act on poverty or politics)

This ‘ism’ The suggestion that there is little reason to concentrate on a
isn’t the only particular ‘ism’ when there are others just as serious
problem

The A tendency to talk about the problem without taking any action; a
distinguished competition over who has the best analysis;

lecturer

The proposal that ‘love’ is the solution, or ‘changing the schools’ is
The instant the solution , or a focus on one strategy which makes good sense
solution but remains centered in how things should be rather than how they
are
When one or a few white people target another white person for
Find the inappropriate comments or ideas, leaving those doing the ‘accusing’
racist feeling righteous but actually closing down any opportunity for
meaningful discussion

Target the Asking people of color to answer questions and represent all people
expert of color with their answers

Claiming the real problems are ‘in the South,’ or somewhere else; or
Geography claiming, for example, that racism isn’t a problem for you because
there were not people of color in your community growing up.

Dismantling Racism Project 52 Western States Center