DOWNERS GROVE – "Fifteen Characteristics of the White Supremacy Culture" as advocated in a 2001 workbook by Kenneth James and Tema Okun entitled "Dismantling Racism" were discussed last week at a western suburban high school. The photo, taken by one of the students sitting in the lecture, made its way to the parent's Facebook page.
Students in the largely white student body learned that perfectionism, sense of urgency, paternalism, fear of open conflict, individualism and power hoarding are all "damaging" things to be rejected and reasons to despise and change themselves.
The workbook from which the list is derived explains:
This is a list of characteristics of white supremacy culture which show up in our organizations. Culture is powerful precisely because it is so present and at the same time so very difficult to name or identify. The characteristics listed below are damaging because they are used as norms and standards without being pro-actively named or chosen by the group. They are damaging because they promote white supremacy thinking. They are damaging to both people of color and to white people. Organizations that are people of color led or a majority people of color can also demonstrate many damaging characteristics of white supremacy culture.
A briefing of the James-Okun perspective on White Supremacy is available through the Minnesota Historical Society. The briefing lists each of the 15 characteristics and suggested "antidotes" to correct the problematic attitudes and perspectives those in the "white culture" display.
The assessment concludes with these words:
One of the purposes of listing characteristics of white supremacy culture is to point out how organizations which unconsciously use these characteristics as their norms and standards make it difficult, if not impossible, to open the door to other cultural norms and standards. As a result, many of our organizations, while saying we want to be multicultural, really only allow other people and cultures to come in if they adapt or conform to already existing cultural norms. Being able to identify and name the cultural norms and standards you want is a first step to making room for a truly multi-cultural organization.
All perspectives the west suburban students are to ponder.
The five largest ethnic groups in DuPage County, IL are White (Non-Hispanic) (65.9%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (12.2%), White (Hispanic) (10.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (4.7%), and Other (Hispanic) (3.15%).
The Minnesota Historical Society file is also available to download.
