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Guests Christine Schmidt and Rudy Lucas join co-hosts Patty Olwell and Sue Marriott in a wide-ranging discussion on racial identity just after the election. Privileged white people talking about race can be awkward – we discuss how our natural sense of safety is part of our privilege and letting ourselves step out and get uncomfortable is necessary to even begin to dig in and get the compassion, understanding and necessary context to be able to be useful in these times. The safety bubble has popped and it could not be more obvious given the current political climate of division that a shaking and awakening is necessary.
What is Racial Identity
Rudy and Christine walk us through some of the steps necessary to look at aspects of racial identity, both white and black. We discuss immunity by color, invisibility, access, race avoidance, colorism, recommended study and literature, history and context, and we barely scratched the surface with this conversation.
This quote stands out because of it’s clarity and it’s importance!
In response to question about reverse racism, Rudy responded:
“There is no such thing as reverse racism, because the determining factor is access to power. Oppressed populations never have been known to have any kind of power sufficient to have their feelings thoughts and wishes codified into the law….”
And he concluded –“People can be guilty of prejudice, discrimination, judgement… but racist they cannot be in the absence of power. “
Rudy Lucas
Racism must have the weight of history and institutional power under it to exist. Which is why those of us with history and the laws on our side can’t complain now that we are uncomfortable and see it as equal to an oppressed person’s suffering.
The conversation ranged and covered many topics but Christine and Rudy recommend as next steps that you view these two videos:
- Fusion Video-How Microagressions Are Like Mosquito Bites
- Jay Smooth-How to Tell Someone They Sound Racist
RESOURCES:
Additional resources for this episode:
- Janet Helms-Black and White Racial Identity: Theory Research and Practice
- Peggy McIntosh- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
- Paula Rothenburg-White Privilege: Essential Reading on the Other Side of Racism
- Janet Helms and Donelda Cook-Using Race and Culture in Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Jay Smooth – cultural commentator check him out! Highly recommended.
- Alice Walker- Anything We Love Can Be Saved
- Alice Walker–Hard Times Require Furious Dancing
- William E. Cross-Shades of Black: Diversity in African-American Identity
- William E. Cross-documented his personal experience in scholarly publications such as The Negro to Black Conversion Experience in 1971
- Alice Walker: Definition of Colorism: In search of our mothers’ gardens: womanist prose.
- Kenneth and Mamie Clark: Doll Study
- Authors to read:James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Howard Zinn, Michelle Alexander, Carol Anderson, Robin DiAngelo, Maya Angelou
- Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society (EGPS)Workgroup for Racial Equity
- EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity Resources List
- People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond:Undoing Racism Workshop
- These and other resources have been collected for you on our Resources page!
