The Tale of the White Fish
Dec 15, 2015
Racial Identity Stages
PEOPLE OF COLOR
1. Pre-Awakening2. Awakening3. Immersion4. Disintegration5. Pseudo-Communitarian6. Humanitarian
WHITE PEOPLE
1. Pre-Awakening2. Awakening3. Revisioning4. Reversal5. Pseudo-Communitarian6. Humanitarian
1. PRE-AWAKENING
• Very little thought is given to race
• If they identify with any group it is with their ethnicity (but not as “white”)
White people are often caricatured as all being in
this stage – and many are
They are blissfully ignorant of what it means to be “white”
They have no problems
2. AWAKENING
• See that there is an “us” and “them”• Begin to see whiteness and think about white
culture• Can take one of three paths:
A. Tendency to avoid racial issues (risks)B. Deny inequality and obstruct “minority
empowerment”C. Seek a deeper understanding of race issues
2. AWAKENING
A. Avoid racial risks and remain stuck in this stage
This is the beginning of political correctness.
“California Street Sign”
The PSU-UP undergrad population is about 77 percent white. What percentage of the people in
the photos of the 2009-2010 Strategic Plan publication are white?
a. 94 percentb. 86 percentc. 72 percentd. 61 percente. 48 percent
2. AWAKENING
B. Deny inequality and obstruct the improvement of race relations
Lots of people in this stage join “racist” groups and organizations
Neo-Nazi Knuckleheads
2. AWAKENING
C. Seek a deeper understanding race issues and lay the foundation to move forward to next stage
• Address race issues and racism (can be jagged)• Learn the language of race communication– “When is it okay to use racial and ethnic signifiers?”
Have you been in some sort of non-physical confrontation with other white people
since the start of the semester?
a. Yesb. Noc. No but I would have had I not
“bitten” my tongue
Feeling some guilt is probably inevitable for most of us because:
• guilt is just a small step away from feeling “bad” about something
• it is an integral component of our Judeo Christian culture
• it is a much used parenting tactic
How people of color help keep white people at this stage:
1. White concern (and WG) is dismissed2. Keep white people on edge (anger)3. Talk about the past and inequality4. People of color sometimes (secretly) feel
good when whites struggle- “It’s about time you struggled.”
How would white people at the Revisionist Stage react to
Black People Love Us?
a. Laugh and find it funnyb. Maybe laugh a little but be uncomfortablec. Find it insultingd. Be confused because they wouldn’t get
the humor
4. REVERSAL
Discomfort leads white people to:• get angry at people of color• fall back into old patterns
Discomfort stems from not being seen as an individual
While I was growing up I didn’t think about the fact that I was white. I noticed other people who were not white, but I didn’t call myself white – or “German” or “German American,” which is my family’s culture. Then when I got to college I started to hear people refer to themselves by their color or race, especially people of color. Everyone was “black” or “Asian” or “Mexican” or “Haitian.” This seemed odd to me but it was also kind of cool and motivated me to look into my own family’s history. I got into being German and learned about my past.
After being in this class I have started to think about being white and how being white matters to my own experiences in the United States. I have also been able to see the privileges that come with whiteness. I don’t personally feel privileged and my family is not rich and I have never had the thought that I receive advantages over someone of color, but I also see that my race is advantaged as a group. I don’t like that and the more I have learned the more I have felt guilty for being white. I feel angry toward all of the racist white people who have discriminated against other races, especially Native Americans.
But after hearing so many things about what white people have done I’m starting to resent the people who talk about race constantly and keep throwing it in my face. It’s not my fault that I’m white and I don’t feel like I’m better than anyone else. I’m just trying to do the best for me without hurting anyone else but it seems like other races want to stand in my way by constantly reminding me that I’m white and don’t deserve what I have….I want to be seen as me, as an individual who is trying to change the world and who is not racist and not like other white people. It seems like we’re not getting anywhere or making progress.
Some things that white people say at this stage:
• “Why can’t you (people) just change and then this problem of racism would go away.”
• “I don’t have to put up with this.”• “I’m not the only problem.”• “Minorities are just as racist as white people.”
Why the anger at this stage?
Don’t Call Me White Lyrics
4. REVERSAL
Discomfort leads white people to:• get angry at people of color• fall back into old patterns
Discomfort stems from not being seen as an individual
5. PSEUDO-COMMUNITARIAN
Refocus on institutional structures of inequality and difference
White people can get stuck here and over-associate with people of color
- seek approval from people of color
UNIVERSITY PARK - Fall 2010(Undergrad Enrollment)
Total Undergrad Student Population: 37,988
Percent PA 2005Black: (3.8%) [10.5%]Asian/P.I.: (4.7%) [2.2%]Hispanic: (4.4%) [3.8%]Nat. Am: (0.1%) [0.2%]White: (73.4%) [82.9%]International: (9.0%) [NA]Mixed: (1.7%) [NA]Unknown: (2.9%) [NA]
Which racial identity stage best matches where this person is at?
a. Pre-Awakeningb. Awakeningc. Revisioningd. Reversale. Pseudo-Communitarian
6. HUMANITARIAN
White people move into this stage when they begin to: - trust themselves for answers- look toward more evolved whites for
guidance
They develop a full awareness of race and embrace all cultures (including white culture)
Which racial identity stage best matches where you’re at?
a. Pre-Awakeningb. Awakeningc. Revisioningd. Reversale. Pseudo-Communitarian
or Humanitarian
What would a white person at Stage Five think about this commercial?
a. Totally offendedb. Maybe offended but probably uncomfortablec. Not offended but doesn’t think it’s funnyd. Thinks it’s funny
VIDEO:
“Russell Peters”(36:20 – 44:30)
Russell Peters on white people
“Rockin’ the Suburbs”Song Lyrics