Discussing Whiteness

These resources have been compiled to accompany several series of discussions on the concept of whiteness as it exists in the US, California, Humboldt County, and especially within HSU. These discussions began as part of the 2016 L4HSU summer workshop series and has been extended through other series on related topics.

Currently, there is a weekly series of discussions on whiteness and anti-racism titled Whiteness Accountability Space: Processing Emotions and Moving to Anti-Racist Action.

Everyone is welcome to these sessions intended to provide a space for White folks to process feelings around anti-blackness, police brutality, and systemic racism in order to move toward anti-racist action. These sessions will encourage participants to stay connected to their feelings and their bodies as we discuss and share.

The purpose is to allow for people to discuss whiteness and critically reflect, process, and ask questions with the intention of mitigating harm caused to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues, community, and students when White people participate in conversations and spaces that are diverse. These sessions will be facilitated by White facilitators.

This is a weekly series to hold a space for what can be difficult conversations. Though we encourage people to join as often as they can, there is no expectation that anyone should attend every week or even more than once. Everyone is welcome and can join at any time.

To support people who have several daily Zoom or other online commitments, these sessions begin at 12:05pm and end at 12:55pm to allow for people to move from previous and following appointments.

Facilitators: Meridith Oram, Tim Miller, Loren Collins, Len Wolff, Chuck Powell

Other Events

For the most up-to-date information and calendar of other related events, please the Library's calendar of events.

The resources are intended to inform people about the issues surrounding whiteness (white privilege, white fragility, white spaces, etc.) and to bring up questions and challenge us about our role in our communities and in our day-to-day lives. These discussions are uncomfortable and challenging by design- beware of triggers and emotionally-charged content. However, you are encouraged to get uncomfortable. By engaging in these honest discussions you will exercise your 'racial stamina' and become more comfortable with being uncomfortable.