B7. Exploring, Understanding, and Resisting White Supremacy Systems: What is the Role of White People in Social Justice Movements?

The class sessions are primarily focused on understanding the structural foundation of racism quite apart from the bigotry and discrimination that flows from individuals, and how this oppression continues almost independently of the bigotry of individuals.  In order to understand how to dismantle these oppressive systems, white people MUST understand the racial component of their own identity, how they have been socialized into this system, and what they must do to live with authenticity and integrity as a white person in a society grounded in white supremacy.Only then will it be possible to form the cross-racial relationships and coalitions essential to dismantle supremacy systems and culture.

We will explore ethnic identity, “whiteness,” racial identity, “white fragility,” politics, the White Supremacy Culture, and how to have conversations about race.

Kenneth Wagner has a law degree from the University of Wisconsin and retired in 2016 from his professional career focused on intellectual property and government contract law. He is a lay leader in the Unitarian Universalist Association and has served in national positions.  He was one of the founding members of the New England Region’s Antiracism/Anti-oppression/Multi-cultural Transformation team called GRACE.  He is past president of Allies for Racial Equity.  He facilitates workshops focused on resistance to white supremacy.

NO REQUIRED BOOKS