Talking about racial justice cannot happen without taking account of whiteness and white privilege. Naming whiteness, describing how it operates in people’s lives, and examining how its benefits shape perceptions of the world is difficult work. It needs to start with what Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz calls “archaeology of the self” – a deep analysis of personal experiences, upbringing, and early encounters with difference. I gave this presentation to the members of East Alabama chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice on September 14 2020 to guide participants through a self-reflection on how socialization forces have affected their perceptions of difference. This presentation also invites them to explore how naming those influences opens up opportunities for creating change.
Elena Aydarova 