Monday, February 8, 2021

The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture

 

The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture

From Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups, by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun, ChangeWork, 2001
 
Below is a list of characteristics of white supremacy culture which show up in our organizations. Culture is powerful precisely because it is so present and at the same time so very difficult to name or identify. The characteristics listed below are damaging because they are used as norms and standards without being pro-actively named or chosen by the group. They are damaging because they promote white supremacy thinking. They are damaging to both people of color and to white people. Organizations that are people of color-led or a majority people of color can also demonstrate many damaging characteristics of white supremacy culture.
 
1. Perfectionism
2.  Sense of Urgency
3. Defensiveness
4. Quantity Over Quality
5. Worship of the Written Word
6. Only One Right Way
7.  Paternalism  
8. Either/Or Thinking
9. Power Hoarding
10. Fear of Open Conflict   
11. Individualism
12. Progress is Bigger, More
13. Objectivity
14. Right to Comfort
 

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