This would be a reaction video if I was into producing such a thing...
Thanks for publishing this article on my birthday. I take it as a birthday gift.
"White women do white supremacy…differently. White supremacy and patriarchal gender norms converge to create a toxic slurry of behaviors that impact what white women’s racism looks like. Oftentimes, the racism white women perpetuate is less visible, but it is dangerous to think that it is less pernicious."
No kidding. I think of it as pretty damn vicious experientially and historically.
"In the spirit of Tema Okun and Kenneth Jones’ foundational and critically important work on characteristics of white supremacy culture, I’ve compiled a list of characteristics that I have both observed in other white women and have participated in myself with insidious consequences."
So glad you named your source. It is rarely done.
"Naming these patterns is not about calling out other white women or distancing myself from whiteness. My own behavior reflects these patterns and has perpetrated harm in ways I did not comprehend in the moment. I have been called on these practices. Sometimes, I heard what folks were trying to tell me. In other instances, it’s taken me years to see the impact of my behaviors."...
"Sometimes, I heard what folks were trying to tell me. In other instances, it’s taken me years to see the impact of my behaviors."
And we often have hell to pay until you get it. And if you ever get it, we certainly don't experience reparative work from you. Yes, you too brothas.
This is not just about non-profits, it is about how white women move in the world in general according to my experience and historical perspective.
I love that this person started with Disavowal of Power!!! Also, while disavowing power, some women reap the work of marginalized women and men, claiming it as their own or least of all, without quoting the source of their knowledge. I have seen many in the global majority employ these bad practices as well when they are weilding power. Men of the global majority weild the most toxic of patriarchal behaviors on those over whom they power or influence. 😢. A lot of my responses also apply to how I experience these toxic behaviors from men and women of the global majority unfortunately. There is quite a lot of scholarship on how people of the global majority act out internalized racism/colonialism. 💔❤️🩹🖤
"I don't know", also covers a multitude of sins... Ask a toddler who got caught doing wrong...
I won't be holding my breath to see this antidote practiced: "Cultivating relationships with people who will give us honest feedback about how we wield power." They rather cut off an arm.
"Honesty about who has the decision making power, when decisions have been made, and whether or not additional input will change a decision." I would rather interrupting the pernicious behaviors they practice when denying their power. Denying power is sometimes just a cover for being vicious in wielding it in my experience, both historically and personally. There are too many examples to name here.
"Women have inherited patriarchal, capitalist models of leadership." Amen! And so have some people of the global majority unfortunately.
"Relationships aren’t cultivated." Actually, often when they are, they are to glean what they need and leave the source metaphorically gasping for life... I have also experienced this from some women of the global majority as well. 😢
"Regular check ins with staff, boards, and volunteers and reflect on the following questions: Does the way we conduct this meeting reflect our values? Are my values (and our organizational values) reflected in the way I am behaving and the choices I am making in this moment and in this situation?"
A brilliant consultant that we are working with in one of my endeavors posed this question in a different way. Yes, do your values and actions align? Do you check in with those impacted by them and listen for an honest answer? Often space for honesty is not provided so you get what you get... And many of us have not developed the words because of the incredible efforts spent surviving each day with sanity.
I rarely speak of the topic of interrupting or transforming anti-Blackness without mentioning Resmaa Menakem because I respect him and his work so much. It has allowed me much more capacity in facilitating and engaging conversations about this system.
When reflecting on this statement, "Crafting culture-building goals that center on transforming existing organizational patterns of white supremacy culture." I reflected on Resmaa stating the need for white people to get togehter to create anti-racist culture. I am VERY thankful to know that at least one of the people who sat in a book group with me for two years went on to be part of this sort of work when I stopped facilitating those groups. It is essential. The most I hope for isn't your behaviors to cease, but that you will be willing to acknowledge it without making us pay for your upset and for you to do the reparative work to address the harm.
"Articulating and developing accountability processes on benchmarks for gauging organizational transformation." KPIs and data are essential here and everywhere. As my stepfather used to say, "Figures don't lie, but liars can figure". Please don't continue to be that way when it comes to data in general, but about this specifically.
"Competing for who is the best white ally in the room (often by publicly dragging other white women), establishing anti-racism expertise, and urgently attempting to build relationships with people of color to make one’s immediate world less homogenous are ways white women show up as performative anti-racists."
You know who you are... cut it out... please.
"A deep desire to distance ourselves from white supremacy (rather than wrestling with our role in sustaining white supremacy) leads to performative anti-racism." Amen!!!
"Antidotes: Checking our egos by reflecting about our desires to generate kudos. Building meaningful relationships with other white people who are actively anti-racist. Resisting anti-racist self-promotion, especially to people of color. Sharing honestly and humbly about anti-racist efforts when asked. Practicing anti-racism in all white groups with our family, white co-workers, and white neighbors."
Amen... yes, please do...
Yes, on the overdelivering. Although I would say, "overworking". Thanks for the insight of why marginalized people of the global majority experience backlash when you are overworking. I just learned this after addressing someone about the symptoms and prepping to blog about this article.
"Patriarchy seeds a deep fear of conflict in women. Breeding fear of conflict is a tried and true strategy for keeping women in line." So true and I am certain Dr. Tommy Curry would appreciate my highlighting that this impacts men of the global majority as well. It is what all these years of murder, brutality and terrorism has been about. I appreciate becoming aware of his work as well. Women of the global majority have been making a lot of points when it comes to these topics, but who really heeds what we have to say? I do find Resmaa and Dr. Curry's work especially compelling though.
I just have to highlight this point, it is so powerfully true:
"Passive aggressive feedback, in-direct communication, or downright lying are ways white women retain a tight grasp on “niceness.” One insidious way white women prioritize niceness is by neutralizing discomfort. When critical feedback is offered, white women often turn the conversation towards “looking on the bright side.” Pointing out white supremacy is dismissed as “being negative.” This has the effect of shaming folks and dismissing essential information about an organization’s impact."
Oh, the lying... *eye roll* And "yes, please" to the antidotes.
"Trying to be 'down' takes up more time and attention than dismantling practices of institutional racism and resourcing others." Oh, Lord, the "resourcing others"... It is what I mean when I say, "I am not your mule".
(I could find many photos of Black women carrying a heavy load on the internet. Just because in agrarian societies, many people have to exert physical labor to get by, doesn't mean that is all we aspire to, or that we do not enjoy CHOOSING to do this. The operative word is choosing.)
"Naming how our ways of showing up have roots in the oppressive and violent structures of this place and time break open what is possible. When we know better, we can do better."
We need to do better. It is not sustainable and is downright destructive to our existence.
Deep appreciation to Heather Laine Talley and the ways she embodies not ripping people off in this last statement:
"***I am deeply grateful for Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun’s work. The structure of their article inspired this reflection, and their unraveling of white supremacy culture has changed me in fundamental ways and helped me see myself in ways I needed. These ideas were deeply shaped by conversations with Marsha Davis and processes facilitated by Tamiko Ambrose Murray and Beth Trigg. Jessica Fish offered incredible feedback, as did Kristin Wilson who also contributed several of the antidotes included above. I am appreciative to each of you."
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