INVOKING : ...Dealing with White Faces in Black Spaces 2019 People of Color Conference - Seattle Shanelle Henry, Greens Farms Academy (CT) Antonio C. Williams, William Penn Charter School (PA)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
How are these opportunities to free How might we support ourselves from the people of color who constraints, and pushback in defense of individuals, that bind us the spaces they jeopardized when white consider sacred? folks access these spaces?
Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People - by Kelsey Blackwell People of color need their own spaces. PERIODT. ● We need places in which we can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space we occupy. ● We need spaces where we can be our authentic selves without white people’s judgment and insecurity muzzling that expression. We need spaces where we can simply be — where we ● can get off the treadmill of making white people comfortable and finally realize just how tired we are.
Valuing and protecting spaces for People of Color is not just a ‘kind' thing that white people can do to help us feel better; supporting these spaces is crucial to the resistance of oppression.
● It's not just important, it's essential, for marginalized groups to have safe spaces to engage with others who not only understand what they go through, but who also share those experiences. ● HBCUs, BGLOs and PoCC are forums where PoC feel protected from microaggressions, stereotypes and marginalization; can live without judgment and intrusion from those who do not identify as PoC; and, are crucial to the resistance of oppression and creation of Illustration: Mikyung Lee for Guardian US broader social change. “Racialized people experience systemic discrimination on a daily basis, on many levels, and in ways that white people may never encounter. The whole point of [having] these safe spaces is to remove that power dynamic. That's partly what makes them spaces for healing .” -- Aeman Ansari, ‘Ethnic Minorities Deserve Safe Spaces Without White People,’ HuffPost Blog
Even if white people can’t access an embodied understanding of why spaces exclusively for People of Color are needed, they can still cultivate genuine compassion for our experience of needing them, and they can trust our voices enough to support these spaces (without being in them). If the idea and/or presence of spaces designated just for people of color engenders feelings of discomfort, insecurity, shock or anger, seize the opportunity to look deeper within yourself and ask— WHY ?
White HBCU Non- Fraternities Sororities Folks Grads Affiliated 1. What are your 1. What are your 1. What are your 1. What are your 1. What are your feelings about white feelings about white feelings about white feelings about white feelings about white people in these people in those people in these people in these people in those spaces? spaces? spaces? spaces? spaces? 2. How might this also 2. How might this also 2. How might this also 2. How might this also 2. How might this also relate to the relate to the relate to the relate to the relate to the presence of white presence of white presence of white presence of white presence of white people at PoCC? people at PoCC? people at PoCC? people at PoCC? people at PoCC? 3. Do you feel that 3. Do you feel that 3. Do you feel that 3. Do you feel that 3. Do you feel that these spaces are these spaces are these spaces are these spaces are these spaces are threatened, and threatened, and threatened, and threatened, and threatened, and somehow changed, somehow changed, somehow changed, somehow changed, somehow changed, by the presence of by the presence of by the presence of by the presence of by the presence of white people? Why white people? Why white people? Why white people? Why white people? Why and how? and how? and how? and how? and how? 4. How do we 4. How do we 4. How do we 4. How do we 4. How do we maintain the safety maintain the safety maintain the safety maintain the safety maintain the safety and integrity of and integrity of and integrity of and integrity of and integrity of spaces for People of spaces for People of spaces for People of spaces for People of spaces for People of Color? Color? Color? Color? Color?
Thank you for coming! Black Greeks (Divine Nine) in Independent Schools Join us for the Black Greeks (Divine Nine) in Independent Schools Happy Hour tonight from 5:00PM – 7:30PM at: 1506 6th Ave, Seattle, WA.
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