Whiteness in the University
As you read, there are many ways that whiteness continues to be the cultural norm that structures our educational experiences–including within higher education. Of course, this is not just about whiteness as a cultural norm, but as the basis for power within this institutional context. And, as tends to happen with privilege, the extent to which whiteness is privileged remains a largely silent and invisible (especially to those in power) topic.
We’re going to take a closer look at what it means to say that an institutional culture reinforces white supremacy as well as how this connects to the university.
White Supremacy Culture
Tema Okun describes characteristics of white supremacy culture on the website whitesupremacyculture.info (Links to an external site.). You may read the traditional PDF version (Links to an external site.) of this discussion. There is also an updated, but longer version (Links to an external site.). Whichever way you access it, take note of each of the characteristics, including what they involve and the suggested antidotes.
Whiteness in the University
Demerris Brooks-Immel and SJSU Sociology Professor Susan Murray interviewed white faculty, staff, and administrators in higher education to examine how they navigate whiteness in racially diverse educational environments. Read their article, and take note of the three main strategies Brooks-Immel and Murray describe white faculty, staff, and administrators using.
Assignment
Number and respond to the tasks below.
Choose an example from “‘I Know My Place'” that you think is an example of one of Okun’s characteristics of white supremacy culture OR an example of an antidote to that characteristic. Briefly:
Summarize the example and provide the page number it appears on in the article.
Name the characteristic of white supremacy culture (from Okun’s list) and why you think the example reflects the characteristic or an antidote to it.
Choose an example from your own experience as a college/university student that you think is an example of one of Okun’s characteristics of white supremacy culture OR an example of an antidote to that characteristic. Briefly:
Describe an observation you have made about colleges/universities you’ve attended.
Name the characteristic of white supremacy culture (from Okun’s list) and why you think the example reflects the characteristic or an antidote to it.
This assignment is designed to advance the following learning objectives:
Module Learning Objectives
Describe the strategies and tactics used by various cultural groups to push for social justice.
Describe the major historical instances of racial discrimination in the U.S. educational system.
Identify examples of the hidden racial curriculum in U.S. educational institutions.
Course-level Learning Objectives
Describe historical, social, political, and economic processes producing diversity, equality, and structured inequalities in the U.S.
Recognize and appreciate constructive interactions between people from different cultural, racial, and ethnic groups within the U.S.
