The University of Minnesota has warned against a “whiteness pandemic,” described as a “centuries-old culture” featuring “colorblindness, passivity, and White fragility, which are all covert expressions of racism common in the United States.”
According to the university’s webpage on the subject, calling out the “whiteness pandemic” moves “our gaze from the victims and effects of racism onto the systems that perpetrate and perpetuate racism, starting with the family system.”
“If you were born or raised in the United States, you have grown up in the Whiteness Pandemic, and you can play a role in halting and reversing this pandemic, especially if you are White because of the power and privilege you hold in this racialized society,” the webpage explains. “If you were socialized into the culture of Whiteness during childhood it is not your fault, but as an adult it is now your responsibility to self-reflect, re-educate yourself, and act. If you are a White adult, antiracist action involves an ongoing process of self-reflection in order to develop a healthy positive White identity while engaging in courageous antiracist parenting/caregiving.”
In order to combat the “whiteness pandemic,” the university suggests parents talk with their children about race and racism in order to be “personally committed” in their “antiracism journey.” They may also take part in racial justice efforts, utilize the “Me and White Supremacy” workbook, and consider support for organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the webpage explains.
The Whiteness Pandemic is funded by the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, a predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, a Provost Research Fellowship from the University of Minnesota, and an Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Minnesota.
