compiled by Heather Howe 3 -Chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: Scott & Zelda & Gatsby & Daisy Speaker: Kay Lukes Noon _ in the Alice McKay rm. 3 -Dakota Hamilton will read from her book Freedom is Just Another Word. 7:30 pm @ VPL, central branch, Alma VanDusen rm. 4 -Musician installation and performance by Italian Visual Composer, Walter Marchetti. Morris and Helen Belkin Gallery @ UBC. For info. call: 822.2759. 6 -The Vancouver Institute Lecture Series 6:15. pm in: the Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @ UBC. For more info. call: 822.1444, Madame Justice Rosalie Abella, Ontario Court Of Appeal. 10 - Chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: The Order of Heaven and the Chaos of Hell: Medieval Perceptions Of the Hereafter. Speaker: Barrie Brill. 12pm, in the Alice McKay rm. 13 -The Vancouver institute Lecture Series 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @UBC. For more info. call: 822.1444 7 7 ~ Chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: Quest for the Northwest Passage: Folly or Science? Speaker: Norm Carsley. 12pm, in the Alice McKay rm. 2 0 -The Vancouver institute Lecture Series 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @ UBC. For more info. call: 822.1444 Drs. Patrick and Edie McGeer, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Alzheimers Disease. 2 4 -Chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: Should Creation Myths be Taught in the Schools? Speaker: Dale Beyerstein. 12pm, in the Alice McKay rm. 2 6 -New Accents on British History Series Reformation and Political Culture in Sixteenth Century Provincial. Robert Tittler (Prof. of History at Concordia University). 5:30 pm @ SFU Harbour Centre. For info call: 291.5100. 2 7 -The Vancouver institute Lecture Series Mr. Knowlton Nash Broadcaster, Suffice of Trivia Pursuit, 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2 Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @ UBC. For more info. call: 822. 1444. 28 Influx: Magazine February 1999 Privilege (continued from page 26) So how do white people expose and examine our own white privilege? Often white people admit rather liberal- ly to the existence of racism and the disadvantages it causes for ‘others’, yet those same white people are unwilling to admit or recognize the advantages it causes for them. White privilege is "denied and protected" and "carefully taught not to be recognizable" (Peggy McIntosh) A lot of white people are extremely uncomfortable and even ignorant towards the fact that they are "participants in a damaged culture" (Peggy McIntosh). The guilt and accountability of complicity in a centuries old racist world order seems overwhelming for the average well intentioned white liberal. Failure on behalf of white people to recognize their role in a white supremist culture will only serve to perpetuate the problem. We also need to examine so called ‘white racism’ or hostility towards white people. Is this truly racism? By defi- nition racism is the belief that one groups inherent superiority justifies their right to rule or discriminate. Are those people who express hostility towards whites in a position of power or authority over white people? Does this minimize or excuse white supremacy? Hostility towards whites, it seems to me, is a very natural and justified reaction to centuries of oppression and is absolutely different from white supremist racism. In the words of the black American poet Nikki Giovanni, "We - are right in our moral outrage and in our expression of it." A common white response is the inability to distinguish on the basis of race for fear of being obviously racist. The old color blind approach, as in, "I didn’t even notice she was Asian." To borrow a quote from the Radical Women Manifesto, "(analysis) that is not based on respect for the different levels of oppression within society is arrogant, false, and eventually self-defeating." These taboos which stall any serious discus- sion of race serve only to perpetuate racism and protect white people from the discomfort of having their power challenged. I am reminded of how the black feminist author Bell Hooks pointed out that when we "work to shift paradigms, to change consciousness (this work) cannot necessarily be experienced immediately as fun or positive or safe." "Shifting paradigms" is extremely challenging and demands that we critically exam- ine our own beliefs, giving up old ways of thinking. She con- cludes that "fun" or comfort are not effective criteria for eval- uating serious consciousness raising. Perhaps that’s why this kind of activism is sometimes called ‘the Struggle’ and not the ‘Get-Along Gang Discussion Group’. , One prerequisite for ending white privilege and racism is collective critical exchange. Critical consciousness raising on a radical grass-roots level is perhaps the most important venue for real social change. White people must actively listen when being criticized for oppressive behavior, especially from oppressed groups. White people need to cir- cumvent defensiveness and empathize with People of Color who have the patience to point out our oppressive behavior. . (What a tedious task! We should also appreciate them for doing so, but more importantly, take the time to explore our behavior on our own initiative). White people have to critically examine Eurocentricism and the way in which, "whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit oth- ers this is seen as work that will allow ‘them’ to be more like us’." (Elizabeth Minnich) These are only a few ideas or start- ing points to embark from. In examining racism we must also consider its inter-relation to class and gender. We also have to be aware of ‘common sense’ racism. A person could oppose ideological or institutional racism and be oblivious to his or her everyday oppressive behavior towards People of Color. We also have to examine the way in which racism has become increasingly institutionalized, "sequestering itself, for example, within the concept of crime." (Angela Davis) In order to end racism, white people must have the responsibility to speak out against and stop all racist behavior, including white privilege. The success of European and Western societies success was won by, and is still upheld on, deeply rooted racist principles. It’s inevitable that those ide- ologies manifest on every level of life; social, cultural, political and personal. "Ignorance, feigned or real, " (Pearl Cleage) is no excuse for white supremacy to continue. A complete restructuring of our society is the only way to eradicate such deeply rooted, illegitimate inequalities within our cultures and within ourselves. Bibliography Wordsworth Concise English Dictionary, 1988. Radical Women Manifesto, 1984. Lectures On Liberation by Angela Davis transcribed from “Recurrin; Philosophical Themes In Black Literature” her course taught at UCLA dur- ing the fall quarter of 1969. Year 501: The Conquest Continues by Noam Chomsky, Black Rose Books, 1989. Talking Back, ae Feminist, Thinking Black, by Bell Hooks. South End Press 1989 Racism 101 by Nikki Giovanni. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh (photocopied source, original publisher unknown.) Pearl Cleage Design image by Renan Costa Lima Ken cle vecumlveenomstnsiaiabin ot ‘compiled by Heather Howe 3 -Chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: Scott & Zelda & Gatsby & Daisy Speaker: Kay Lukes Noon in the Alice McKay rm. 3 -Dakota Hamilton will read from her book Freedom is Just Another Word. 7:30 pm @ VPL, central branch, Aima VanDusen rm. 4 -musician installation and performance by Italian Visual ‘Composer, Walter Marchetti Morris and Helen Belkin Gallery @ UBC. For info. call: 822.2759. 6 -The Vancouver Institute Lecture Series 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @ UBC. For more info. call: 822.1444, Madame Justice Rosalie Abella, Ontario Court Of Appeal 10 - chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: The Order of Heaven and the Chaos of Hell: Medieval Perceptions Of the Hereafter. Speaker: Barrie Brill. 42pm, in the Alice McKay rm 13 -the vancouver institute Lecture Series 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @UBC. For more info. call 822.1444 17 . chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: Quest for the Northwest Passage: Folly or Science? Speaker: Norm Carsley. 12pm, in the Alice McKay rm. 20 the vancouver institute Lecture Series 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre @ UBC. For more info. call: 822.1444 Drs, Patrick and Edie MoGeer, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Alzheimers Disease. 24 chaos & Creation Series VPL, central branch Topic: Should Creation Myths be Taught in the Schools? Speaker: Dale Beyerstein. 12pm, in the Alice McKay rm. 26 new accents on British History Series Reformation and Political Culture in Sixteenth Century Provincial. Robert ler (Prof. of History at Concordia University). 5:30 pm @ SFU Harbour Centre. For info call: 291.5100. 27 the vancouver institute Lecture Series Mr. Knowlton Nash Broadcaster, author of Trivia Pursuit, 8:15 pm in the Lecture Hall 2 Woodward _ Instructional Resources Centre @ UBC. For more info. call: 822.1444, 28 Influx Magazine February 1999 Privilege (continued from page 26) So how do white people expose and examine our ‘wn white privilege? Often white people admit rather liberal~ Ito the existence of acim andthe disadvantages it causes forother, yet those same white people are unwilling admit or recognize the advantages it causes for them, White privlege is "denied and protected” and “arfuly taught not to be recognizable" (Peggy Melatosh) Alot of white people ae extremely uncomfortable and even ignorant towards the face that they are "participants a damage culture” (Peaay ‘Melntosh)"The guilt and accountability of complicity ina ‘entries od rciat world order seems overwhelming for the sverage well intentioned white bea ur on behalf of white people to recognize th role ina white supremist culture wil only serve 1 perpetu the problem. We also need to examine socalled ‘white racism’ ‘or ostlty towards white people Is dis rly racism? By de ‘tion racism isthe bei tht one groups inherent superiority justifies their ight to rule or dseriminate. Are those people ‘who expres hoslity towards white in a poston of power or authority over white people? Does this minimize or excuse ‘white supremacy? Honity towards whites, seems t0 mes 4 very natural and justified reaction to centuries of oppresion Sand i absolutely diferent fom white supremist rai. Ia the words of the black American poet Nikki Giovanni, "We are right in our moral outrage and in our expression oft." A ‘common white response i the inability to distinguish on the basis of race for fear of being obviously racist. The old color bind approach, an, I didn't even notice she was Asan.” “To borrow a quote from the Radial Women Manifest, "(analysis) thats not based on respect for the diferent levels of oppression within society i arrogant, fale, and eventually ‘etf-defeating” Thee taboos which stall any serous discus fon of race serve only to peretiate acim and protect white people from the discomfort of having thee power challenge. {Tam reminded of how the black feminist author Bell Hooks pointed out that when we "work to shift paradigms, to change Consciousness (this work) cannot necessarily be experienced Smmeditely as fan or positive or safe” "Shing paradigms” ‘Sextremely challenging and demands tha we crtealy exam ine our own belie, giving up old way of thinking. She con- ‘des that fun" or comfort ate not effective citeia for ev ‘ating serous consiousnes raising. Pechaps thats why this tind of activin s sometimes elle ‘the Strugle’ and not the "Geelong Gang Discusion Group’ ‘One prerequisite for ending white prvege and saci is calletive erica exchange. Critical consciousness ‘ising on a radical grase-rooe lve is peas the most fmmportant venue for rel socal change White people must actively listen when being ertiized for oppressive behavior, ‘specially from oppressed groups. White people need to c= ‘cument defensiveness and empathize with People of Color ‘wo have the patience fo point out our oppressive behavior. (QWhat a tedious task! We should also appreciate them for doing o, but more important take the time to explore our ‘behavior on our own nitive) White people have to rial ‘examine Eurocentricsm and the way in which, "whi ‘aught fo think of thi ves ax morally new, normative and erage, and also ideal, so that when we work to Benet oth- re this i con a work that wl allow them’ tobe more ike "as" (Eabeth Minnich) Tete are ony a few ideas or ing poins to embark from. In examining racism we must lso conser its intereation to class and gender We alo ave £9 be aware of common sense’ rac. A person could oppose ideological or institutional racism and be oblivious this oF her everyday oppressive behavior towards People of Col. ‘We also have wo examine the way in which racism has become increasingly instrtionalze, "sequestering ise for example, within the concept of crime.” Angela Davis) In order to end racism, white people must have the responsibility to speak out against and stop all uct behave, lncluding white pevlege-The success of European and Western toictics succes was won band i sill upheld on, deeply rooted racist principles. It's inevitable that dose ide ‘ologes manifest on every level of fe socal, clral, politcal Sand personal. "Ignorance, feigned oe real,” (Peel Cleage) is 'o excuse for white supremacy to continue. A complete ‘estrcturing of our society the only way to eradicate such ‘eeply rooted, legitimate inequalities wihin our cultures and ‘within ourselves, Bibliography Seat erin eta aT