White exceptionalism - the belief that you as a person with white privilege are exempt from the effects, benefits, and conditioning of white supremacy, and therefore that the work of antiracism does not apply to you
"Rather, it is often the white liberals who believe that their progressive ideologies separate them from the racism of the extreme right"
"Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection"
Below I have also linked an episode of "The Stoop" that I have found to be quite powerful. It is not directly related to white exceptionalism, but I am trying to continue to digest content I otherwise wouldn't have:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-25-you-may-not-get-it-but-i-love-you/id1257335400?i=1000431266426
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-25-you-may-not-get-it-but-i-love-you/id1257335400?i=1000431266426
The last couple I think I found the most profound. "You're going to have to be genuinely curious about what is happening. Also, not operating from a place of anxiety and guilt, otherwise you're not going to get anywhere." They talk about coming at it with truth, and I think these prompts have been a powerful way to call it out. A resounding theme that comes thru is we need that WHY to continue to grow and change. We called it out in the early here, and in that episode the why is love. We need more of it to progress.
In what ways have you believed that your exceptional, exempt, "one of the good ones", or above the conditioning of white supremacy?
This reading has made it abundantly clear I am not above white supremacy. I think compared to my past self, I'm doing better than I was before. I have not tried to burden any of my BIPOC friends with my thoughts, learning, or questions as I dive into this material. I don't think I'm exempt from doing this work, but I'm saddened that it has taken me this long to prioritize it. I do go back to being taught to treat people equally and how I would want to be treated. I don't think that precludes me from these perceptions, and I am willing to put forth effort to grow.
In the past I have noticed protests and issues rising, yet I would not participate. My perception was I am not racist. I am not doing racist things. I am not a part of this problem.
In what ways have you acted out of a sense of white exceptionalism when in racial conversations with BIPOC?
I think I have tried to push the conversation towards noticing the steps I am trying to take to change my behavior, rather than listen to and then support what they are actually saying. I see it in work all the time, people waiting for their turn to speak. I think I acknowledge what was said, but I'm not really digesting it. I very well might be more harmful than not unless I change that behavior.
Reread the extract from Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter and think back on the topics we have covered so far in this book. How has your white exceptionalism prevented you from showing up in allyship to BIPOC?
This hits hard because I can immediately resonate with it. I'm a part of the "white moderate" who needs to change his complicity in a system of oppression. I think I have tried to defend my position rather than change my behavior and act in constructive fashion. Hopefully this is not just an attempt of me evolving.
Think back to your childhood. How did society teach you white exceptionalism?
Because we weren't actively making it worse it was ok.