Making Whiteness Visible

Last night after watching the “Making Whiteness Visible” presentation and contemplating what I had seen, I realized the drastic difference in my mood and perspective from beginning to end. At the beginning I didn’t agree with what was being said, but learned that I was just misinterpreting. I first thought that they were contradicting themselves by saying that to end racism they need to focus on whites. When I first heard this my thought was “hmm, end racism by focusing on one race?!” and it didn’t make sense to me. I also caught myself rolling my eyes to the thought of “white privilege” because I had the mentality of now in today’s society we are all equal. After watching the video, and staying for the discussion I know realize the point of this presentation.
I always thought and was taught that we are all equal and hard work is what gets people where they are. I still hold true to this, but now only to a certain degree. I think that hard work will get you far, and shows character but now I also know the advantages some have over others just because of subconscious embedded racism. Even though it’s not as obvious and intense as before, it’s just as meaningful and its impact is just as grand when it’s done subconsciously.
Now how do we stop it? My interpretation from the movie was to educate whites. One point that stuck out to me was how whites think that they aren’t racist because of simple acts, such as being nice to minorities, or hiring them. Holding a conversation with a minority or even having multiple friends that are of color does not mean that embedded within you there isn’t a slight chance of prejudice. The video stated whites need to face themselves and really dig to find if they are in fact slightly racist and vanquish the thought. I’m not at all saying every white person in America is a temperamental racist just waiting to blow, but after watching the video and doing a self-evaluation I’ve found and can recall memories of racism occurring in my household and within myself. I would never ever consider myself racist, but was shocked to recall memories of racism, from authority figures, with in me. To stop it we need to face these memories and feelings instead of suppressing them.