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Whiteness Paper 3. - White Culture and Racism
ABSTRACT
White culture is the dominant culture in the United States. Although racism exists on institutional, cultural and individual levels, recent attention has focused on the institutional level, neglecting the other two. Seeing white culture is difficult for white people to do, but necessary to gain perspective, to understand choices, and to work to eliminate racism. The author offers her personal experiences in developing an awareness of whiteness, then provides a detailed list of aspects and assumptions of white culture. White people must come to own their power, their identity and their stories. This task is complicated by associations of white identity with white supremacy, but nonetheless necessary. For white people interested in working on racism at the individual level, the author lists and describes eleven "new competencies." Finally, the author describes her experiences as an organization change consultant in United States corporations. Accountability is key. Measuring results, looking at attrition, providing positive and negative incentives, setting the right goals, and demanding results are each important for organizations seeking to change from a predominantly white cultural mode of operating to one amenable to a multiracial work force. In a large corporation, these changes can add millions in cost savings. Developing white awareness is key to organizational preparedness for the next century.
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