Post 6 blog

 While white vulnerability is not racism, it may contribute to racism by rejecting white domination and racial restrictions. By developing racial stamina, whites can better address racism and work to become anti-racists. this DiAngelo article defines white vulnerability and explains why it is a problem. White vulnerability refers to the discomfort that whites experience when witnessing discussions around racial inequality and injustice. For example, people of color may find it difficult to talk to whites about white privilege and superiority. Whites may become defensive, and people of color may feel obligated to comfort Whites because we live in a White dominated environment. White vulnerability is different from white privilege and white supremacy. White privilege is the idea that whites have advantages in society that others do not. White supremacy is the belief that people with white skin are superior. Whites can be defensive when faced with racial challenges, and white vulnerability is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear and guilt, and behaviors such as arguments and silence. In turn, these behaviors help restore white racial balance and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white vulnerability develops, how it protects against racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

DiAngelo, Robin, and Alex Tatusian. White Fragility, Public Science, New York, NY, 2016, p. 57.