WHITE PRIVILEGE CONFERENCE

"When someone with the authority of a teacher describes the world and you are not in it, there is a moment of psychic

disequilibrium, as if you looked into a mirror and saw nothing.”

- Adrienne Rich

What is White Privilege?

"I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group“

– Peggy McIntosh

"A young [black] man walks through chest deep floodwater after looting a grocery store in New Orleans..."

"Two [white] residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans..."

What is White Privilege?

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of

my race most of the time.

What is White Privilege?

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well

assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

What is White Privilege?

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

When I am told about our national heritage or about

"civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it

what it is.

What is White Privilege?

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

I can go…into a supermarket and find the staple foods which fit with my cultural

traditions, into a hairdresser's shop and find someone who

can cut my hair.

What is White Privilege?

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on

my skin color not to work against the appearance of

financial reliability.

  “I am a human being, and I want to stop giving up some of my humanity by oppressing others.”

– Heather Reekie

"I believe that white allies can "get it" if we define "getting it"

as becoming attuned to the subtle effects of racial bias in

everyday interactions and environments."

    from White Anti-Racism: Living

the Legacy.

"A single bracelet does not jingle" - African Proverb  

“It is not upon you to finish the work.Neither are you free to desist from it.”

—Rabbi Tarfon

Deficit Ideology: Stereotypers Are Us“Achievement Gap” or “Opportunity Gap”

Dr. Paul Gorski (http://www.edchange.org/)

Stereotype: LazinessAh, but: According to the Economic Policy Institute

(2002), poor working adults spend more hours working per week on average than their wealthier counterparts.

Stereotype: Don’t Value EducationAh, but: Low-income parents hold the exact same

attitudes about education as wealthy parents (Compton-Lilly, 2003; Lareau & Horvat, 1999; Leichter, 1978; Varenne & McDermott, 1986).

Stereotype: Substance AbuseAh, but: Alcohol abuse is far more prevalent among wealthy people than poor people (Galea, Ahern, Tracy, & Vlahov, 2007). And drug use equally distributed across poor, middle class, and wealthy communities (Saxe, Kadushin, Tighe, Rindskopf, & Beveridge, 2001).

Deficit Ideology = If only “they” were more like US. “Strategies seem to want students in poverty to assimilate into a system they experience often as oppressive, and calls on predominantly middle-class teachers to facilitate and enforce this assimilation” (Gorski)

Deficit Ideology: Stereotypers Are Us“Achievement Gap” or “Opportunity Gap”

Dr. Paul Gorski (http://www.edchange.org/)

“The truth is in your reflection.”

- Mufasa (Lion King)

Equity IS a mind-set,

NOT a strategy

Educational equality is not the same as educational equity. Equity is about looking at inequalities in our classrooms and making changes to reflect/support the needs and strengths of various ethnic groups.

Equity VS. Equality

Culturally Responsive ClassroomPractices

Tips for developing equitable practices in your classroom

1. Implement these tips daily2. Reflect on your experiences

1. Welcomes students by name as they enter the classroom

2. Uses eye contact with high- and low-achieving students

3. Uses proximity with high- and low-achieving students equitably

Equity Training and Development TeamOffice of Organizational Development

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland

How is white privilege working in this scenario? How are other kinds of privilege working in this

scenario? How is oppression working (of various types)?

If you were on the receiving end of this behavior how would you feel?

If you were a witness to this scene how would you feel and what could you do to make it better?

If you were hearing this story from a student who was concerned about it , how could you coach them or be an ally for them?

Imagine this if you invert the minority and majority status of these scenarios.

Privilege Scenarios : All sorts of people, all sorts of places*these are real scenarios recounted by first year UW students *

Right side of room = scenario 4 Left side of room = scenario 6

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

Make that change

Make that change

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to CHANGE his ways. No message couldn’t be any clearer. If you want to make the world A BETTER PLACE, you better look at yourself and then make that CHANGE.” – Michael Jackson