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What Is White Fragility?
White fragilityrefers to the discomfort White people may experience in reaction to discussions about racism.
In her book, DiAngelo focuses on white fragility as a response to racism against Black people.
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What Causes White Fragility?
“People are socialized to whiteness as a supreme standard or the norm,” Dr. Marsh notes.
Without that experience, White people can’t necessarily understand how ubiquitous racism is.
Critiques of White Fragility
The following are noteworthy critiques of DiAngelo’s “White Fragility.”
DiAngelo makes broad suggestions that Black people consistently become upset by the typical responses she classifies under white fragility.
Wharton asks, “How would she know?”
“I neither need nor want anyone to muse on how Whiteness privileges them over me.
But the problem with many anti-racist trainings, he contends, is that they attribute everything to race.
“Indeed, their teaching presents individuals as a racist myth.
In their model, the individual is subsumed completely into racial identity,” Chait writes.
“Her program treats individual merit as a myth to be debunked,” Chait argues.
Individual Work
Becoming defensive, in general, can be a real hurdle to openness and growth.
It contributes to your personal growth and anti-racist efforts to be open to feedback.
have a go at graciously accept feedback, and remember, it’s part of learning.
Be open to apologizing if you cross a boundary, and continue to learn.
Dr. Marsh adds, “It has to be an ongoing commitment to continue to grow in different ways.
Lean into the discomfort. "
Shaming someone does not really cause them to learn.”
Dr. Marsh adds, “People generally lack nuance when it comes to racism.
Education
Black history is majorly lacking in the American education system.
Activism
There are plenty of ways to become involved inracial justice organizationsor groups.
Try searching online for organizations in your area.
Groups often meet virtually to educate and organizesome even collaborate with other nonprofits to promote intersectional activism.
You may also use social media to follow activists who are promoting change in their communities every day.
Hold more space than you take up.
Reflect rather than resist.
DiAngelo, R. J.
(2019).White fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism.
London: Allen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Books.
Danyelle Solomon, C. (n.d.).Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, and Segregation.
Bulatao, R. (1970, January 01).Health Care.
(2020, July 20).Linguist John McWhorter Says ‘White Fragility’ Is Condescending Toward Black People.
Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi- Chicago Public Library.
