Re: To White Academia

Re: To White Academia

TIFFANY WEBSTER, SON GRADUATE

In response to reading of the ‘White Academia’ interview, I approached this reading with no prior knowledge or information to what this interview would be about as I had not read the title, nor did I know who was being interviewed as it is anonymous. As such, I began reading.

The questions were direct and to the point. Some might say cut throat. Automatically rendering the interviewee in an exposed and vulnerable position. The first thing I had noticed upon reading the first sections is, I would find myself attempting to decipher and figure out who the person was more than analysing the actual content and their answers. I noticed I would listen to the language and choice of words, examining if they spoke like someone I knew. Here, upon reflection, I realise that if I had recognised this individual, it would automatically affect how I received this piece of writing and interpreted this interview, as my own bias would also come to light.

I could sense their discomfort, and that they couldn’t escape the awkwardness that these questions were forcing them to respond so openly to. These were questions that they perhaps had never paused to think about nor even had a reason to, because maybe up until this very moment, they hadn’t ever actually been asked to be accountable for themselves.

As the interview unfolds and more layers are peeled back, the questions dig deeper and the thought patterns of this individual become more apparent; telling me more and more about this person and how they process their thoughts and reasoning. The individual being interviewed seems to be thinking out loud and also answering the questions as transparently and honestly as they can or know how to, or so I gather from their responses. I’m taken on a journey through their threads of thought that seem to be unravelling as the questions dig deeper into their cognitive understandings. I myself, notice that I’m witnessing this individual gradually realise how they have been navigating their systemic social surroundings, from the workplace, to their personal social friendship circles.

‘Guilt doesn’t build solidarity. Guilt isn’t going to evoke sympathy from groups of oppressed people. Guilt shouldn’t get to put the important work and conversations about power and racism on hold. And it shouldn’t be expected that people of color hold that guilt – we are often holding enough already’ - Jones. M, (2015)

Their answer to what diversity meant to them and what social justice meant seemed like a textbook answer. The question I found myself asking, is whether or not the interviewee actually practiced these points and could give more than one example of how they actively practiced and lived this way. They couldn’t. I sensed that the interviewee picked up on their cognitive dissonance also. [1]

Ultimately, learning that the interviewee occupied a senior position within whichever institutional structure they occupy and having answered these questions so openly and honestly, was and is a good thing; but it should not stop there.

I witnessed the build up, the moment of realisation, then the understanding which lead into the ‘feeling bad’ moment and then finally ending with feeling grateful and thankful for the conversation. They had learnt something. This is great, but this is only the FIRST step.

Accountability often begins by simply accepting that none of us are perfect, and are going to mess up. It doesn’t mean we’re terrible people. It means that the work of dismantling oppression is a continuous process. - Jones. M, (2015)

I have seen many take this first step. This is not the first time I have read, watched, experienced and had these conversations myself within my own circles. It’s refreshing to read this from an individual of senior position, but it also makes it even more urgent for me to SEE the impact and effects of this conversation. As senior roles affect many people on a daily basis and entail power dynamics that differ from the conventional conversation on this topic with an ‘average’ individual that has different privileges and structural power.

The purpose of this interview for me was not to extract white guilt. [2] We have enough of that going around already. For me, my expectations at this point are actions. I need to see the repercussions that trigger actions brought about from this conversation, the realisation and the accountability that is being held. I want to read an interview in 18 months time which reveal the activities and demonstrates the ways in which this person has now implemented changes into their lives which reflects this new-found insight

For if my actions and decisions that I make today affect my tomorrow, then by this rule, the actions and decisions that individuals take in senior roles and positions will not only affect their own tomorrow, but also directly affect the tomorrow of many others.

Understanding this is vital.

We all have to do the work.

[1]. Cognitive Dissonance: Refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. This produces a feeling of discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.

[2]. White Guilt: Refers to the concept of individual or collective guilt often said to be felt by some white people for the racist treatment of people of color by white people and/or systemic both historically and presently. Also associated to the revelation of being complicant to structural racism and realising their own unconscious bias that they’ve been conditioned to practice, due to our current structurally racist socio-political framework.