Essay Questions

What is the fundamental rule applicable of “aversive racism” applicable to its foundation?

The foundation of “aversive racism” is that it a form of racist thinking and discourse that applies to well-education progressives who are aware of the very real existence of pervasive racism in America. In other words, “aversive racism” is the not type of racism exhibited by those with rebel flags draped across the rear window of their pick-up truck who wholeheartedly reject even the possibility of systemic racism among law enforcement. Good intentions and cultural awareness are not enough to keep racist attitudes from seeping into the thought processing of this group of people, however. The fundamental rule which protects the foundation of this form of racism is simple: race is never directly mentioned to maintain an unspoken agreement of plausible deniability that race is ever an issue.

What metaphorical image does scholar Zeus Leonardo use to illustrate the idea of complicity in the concept of “white privilege.”

“White privilege” is the term that is used to describe inherent social advantages that come with being white rather than a person of color. The privilege can extend from being treated in a more positive live by the judicial system to simply entering a store without being suspected of potentially engaging in shoplifting to being moved to the front of the line of job candidates solely on the basis of skin pigmentation. Leonardo argues that every white person enjoys the benefits of white privilege to one extent or another at one time or another, yet almost feel any personal responsibility in it existing in the first place. To illustrate the fundamental problem here, he compares the enjoyment of those benefits to walking “through life with other people stuffing money into his or her pockets without any awareness or consent on the walker’s part.”

White fragility is not manifested similarly among women and men. How is it expressed differently among women and men?

The author argues that white fragility expressed by women usually takes the form of tears or some other overly emotional response coupled with self-centered attempts to make their suffering the framework of the narrative. By contrast, men typically take the opposite approach positioning themselves as more dominant and intimidating. This approach is demonstrated in a variety of ways including attempts to control the discourse by through volume and by making sure they get the last word or, alternatively, by projecting a stone wall of righteous silence and withdrawal from the entire conversation. White women and men both will make attempts as self-victimization, but whereas the woman is looking for sympathy, the man will put on an over-the-top display of outrage at being the target of “reverse racism.”