The Challenge of White Dialectics: Making the "Invisible" Visible

Autor/in	Sue, Derald Wing
Titel	The Challenge of White Dialectics: Making the "Invisible" Visible
Quelle	In: Counseling Psychologist, 39 (2011) 3, S.415-422 (8 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0011-0000
DOI	10.1177/0011000010390702
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Whites; Advantaged; Socialization; Social Attitudes; Fear; Conflict; Self Concept; Defense Mechanisms; Resistance (Psychology); Consciousness Raising + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? White; Weißer; Socialisation; Sozialisation; Social attidude; Soziale Einstellung; Furcht; Konflikt; Selbstkonzept; Abwehrverhalten; Resistenz; Bewusstseinsbildung
Abstract	In this article, the author comments on the substance of Todd and Abrams's study on "White Dialectics: A New Framework for Theory, Research, and Practice With White Students" (2011). The study is a major contribution to the importance of raising awareness of how Whiteness, White privilege, and one's own complicity in the perpetuation of racism are cloaked in invisibility and secrecy. Although it would be unfair to attribute deliberate and intentional efforts by all White people to avoid or conceal an honest examination of race and racism, the six White dialectics identified by the authors are consistent with the internal Herculean struggle to make the "invisible" visible (Sue, 2004). Although Todd and Abrams propose a number of White dialectics, the author believes that there exists a superordinate dialectical challenge that resides in the social conditioning of Whites that is responsible for the tensions and struggles identified by the authors. Here, the author discusses four White fears that resist dialectical change: (1) fear of appearing racist; (2) fear of realizing one's racism; (3) fear of confronting White privilege; and (4) fear of taking responsibility to end racism. She believes that these four fears are at the heart of the White dialectical struggles identified by Todd and Abrams. It might prove beneficial to explore their applicability to the conceptual framework they propose. By identifying the forces that contribute to the dialectical struggle, everyone is in a better position to devise specific strategies aimed at overcoming the dialectical fears and tensions experienced by trainees. The author agrees with Todd and Abrams that "mindfulness" is an important condition to foster among students and trainees. Making the "invisible" visible is the first step in the dialectical struggle toward positive change. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10