Influence of Whiteness
Consider: Whiteness
White dominant culture
 describes how white people and their practices, beliefs, and culture have been normalized over time and are now considered standard in the United States.Â
ACTION
Please continue to get comfortable in your vulnerability as we reflect upon and answer the following questions:
- What are your thoughts and feelings after reviewing the materials? What surprised you? What did you learn?
- Toni Morrison said, “In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.” How can we normalize cultural practices that are not related to white-dominant culture?
- Reflect on Painter’s statement, “Neither scholars nor ordinary people have been able to agree upon the definition of white people — who is white and who is not — nor on the number of races that count as white.” Explore how “whiteness” has been used to advance power and privilege.
- Explore how we can dismantle white dominant culture, which Shyong describes as something that is “everywhere and nowhere at the same time, that influences everything but is rarely directly named or discussed.”
- Answer the questions: What’s next and what will you commit to do?
