White Racial Identity Development

3/1/2009

White Racial Identity Development, according to the reading from Tatum.

I. Abandoning Racism
-Contact: Actually more of a "pre-encounter" phase. This would be someone who doesn't really see race and thinks that white is "normal."
-Disintegration: This usually happens when that person develops a relationship with a person of color. They realize that there are differences and they see inequalities.
-Reintegration: The person gets frustrated and blames the victim.

II. Developing a Positive White Racial Identity
-Pseudo-Independent: Understands the power structure, develops coalitions with groups of color. They're trying to find out who they are by surrounding themselves with people of color
-Immersion / Emersion: Immerse oneself in their own culture and family history.
-Autonomy: A positive sense of White racial identity is developed and secured.

I'm really glad I was exposed to learning about White racial identity development because I was starting to feel like White people don't develop a racial identity based on the readings from class. However, I can easily place myself in this White Racial Identity Scale. I would consider myself to be in the "Disintegration" phase. I think before taking this class I was in the contact phase. I didn't really think of myself as White and I never considered race. This class has taught me to take a different perspective in my evaluations of the world around me and has exposed me to learning more about people who are different than me.

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm passing judgment, but some of the people in the video we watched in class (Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible) seemed absolutely ridiculous. Mostly the people in the Pseudo-Independent stage, I guess, really. There were people who acted like they were all high and mighty just because they were taking a step toward racial equality and they're not people of color. I remember one person who talked about being at a race conference and they were one of few White people there. She said something along the lines of, "Hey at least I'm here, there's obviously not as many White people who care about these issues like I do." Some of these people seemed like their involvement in racial equality movements were so superficial, and for the wrong reasons. It was like they just wanted to be given a pat on the back for their hard work.

And I know not everyone has to go through all the stages listed above, but it kind of bothers me that so many White Folks go through this Pseudo-Independent stage. I'm thinking (hoping, maybe) that when I complete my White Racial Identity Development, I will skip the Pseudo-Independent stage because of my knowledge of it. I think it is possible to be involved in multicultural activities and join coalitions with people of color at the same time you're attempting to understand who you are as a White person by learning more about your cultural heritage (like in the Immersion / Emersion stage). I don't think its necessary to try to find out who you are by immersing yourself in a totally different culture. It doesn't work. That was already proven in the Racial Identity Development Theory for People of Color. Why would White people be expected to make that failed attempt? Obviously it's important to promote racial equality, which is part of the Pseudo-Independent stage.

Learning this theory makes me interested in becoming a more fulfilled person by understanding who I am as a White Person, not just as a person, or whatever. White racial identity and White pride are not fostered in our society because they have historical ties to White Supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. We need to not be afraid to have racial pride or not fear racial development. It's time we as a nation grow up.