311: Acknowledging and Navigating My White Privilege

For the better part of 2018, I was trying to figure out the best way to talk about race in The Shameless Mom Academy.  I was doing all the research, learning all the things, curating all the resources. 

I wanted to be able to have the most valuable, productive, well-planned conversation possible. 

Then I realized something. 

I was sitting up on my high horse of white privilege waiting to make this as comfortable as possible for me, so I could make it as perfect as possible for you. 

And that is NOT how this conversation should go.  This is not about my comfort.  This is not about tying anything up in a bow. 

And by waiting to have this conversation with you, I was not only sitting in my white privilege, I was continuing to make space for white supremacy at the expense of people of color, including my friends of color and Shameless Moms of color.

So, a few days ago, after an incident in this community that screamed of privilege, I knew I could not sit this out any longer.   By waiting to talk about this I was doing harm, I was being complicit.  I was part of the problem and not part of the solution.

I sat down and recorded this to share what I’m learning about white privilege, how I’m navigating it and what resources I’m finding to be the most informative and valuable.

My hope is that you find this informative and eye-opening.  After over a year of reading and research, I have been humbled over and over by how little I understood about white privilege and how much I was doing to contribute to the problem more than the solution. 

Please note the people and resources listed below.  These women have been instrumental in my learning over the last year - and have been powerful forces of education and support in countless conversations about race at the expense of their own time, energy, and resources.  They are heroes and warriors.

Resources:

Books:

Me and White Supremacy Workbook by Layla Saad

This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins

We’re Going To Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union

I’m Judging You by Luvvie

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

Hunger by Roxane Gay

This Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Becoming by Michelle Obama

People to follow on social media:

Layla Saad

Rachel Cargle

Ijeoma Oluo

Danielle Brooks

Sonya Renee Taylor

Lena Waithe

Laverne Cox

Tracee Ellis Ross

Issa Rae

Serena Williams

Ericka Hart

Jessamyn

Roxane Gay

Catrice Jackson

ShiShi Rose

Morgan Jerkins

Please note this list is not comprehensive.  These are resources that have been helpful to me.  I would love to know if there are others that have been helpful to you.

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