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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