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Whites examine white privilege
As he promotes the June 20 screening of “Mirrors of Privilege—Making Whiteness Visible” Noah Lewis of the White Privilege Anti-Racist Organizing and Discussion Group says he has gotten a range of reactions from the Black community, but one in particular stands out.
“I had a really great conversation with a Black woman, an older activist, who’s been around,” said Lewis. “I gave her a flier and invited her to the movie and she told us we are wasting our time. She couldn’t understand why we would want to talk to white people, that white people aren’t going to change their minds. It was a really great conversation because I totally understand where she’s coming from.”
As a white man on a mission to point out the realities of racism in America to other white people, Lewis knows all too well how frustrating changing minds can be.
“I think in a lot of cases it really is just simple ignorance because white people aren’t supposed to know that they’re benefiting from racism,” he said. “It’s a constant process—constantly reminding people of what’s going on because it’s so constant that (they’re) not supposed to know.”
Lewis, along with his friend Daniel Hammer, co-founded the White Privilege and Anti-Racist Organizing Discussion Group in Pittsburgh after taking a class of the same name at Oberlin College in 2006. The group states it is, “not an exercise in wallowing in white guilt or being good white people,” but an attempt to encourage discussion of the ideas of racial injustice, cultural appropriation, classism, racism, and anti-racist social justice movements among white people.
The group plans to meet every two weeks for 10 weeks starting July 8. The first five weeks will focus on gaining an understanding of white supremacy by having participants examine their personal lives to see how they may have benefited from racism. The second half of meetings will focus specifically on racism in Pittsburgh.
While they have yet to officially kick off the bi-weekly meetings, the group hosted a discussion following a film screening on May 29 that both Lewis and Hammer said they felt it was an overall success.
“I thought it was encouraging,” said Hammer. “It showed that there was a lot of interest in it and people were really interested in discussing these issues and learning more about (racism) and coming to terms with what they’ve experienced.”
“There was definitely some discomfort, and we expect that. That’s something we’re trying to provide a space for-that discomfort to be dealt with so people can get past it and start to address what is really going on.”
Lewis said he hopes the upcoming screening of “Mirrors of Privilege—Making Whiteness Visible” will draw the interest of people of all races, because it speaks to different groups in different ways.
“I think everyone can benefit from it because people of color can understand how clueless white people are and white people can see themselves on the screen and use it as a starting point to try to transform,” he said.
Hammer hopes the film makes viewers seriously question the idea of universal equality in America and urges them to look at their own lives in a different way.
“When we talk about the American dream and people don’t see the disparities in the way people are treated, and the disparities in wealth and education, they just think that must be because that individual isn’t living up to his full potential. I think that’s really problematic,” said Hammer.
“I think if people think critically about the dream, it makes them more conscious of what is real and what is more an ideology of the United States that may, actually, be more problematic.”
Although pointing out the notion of white privilege to people who vehemently deny its existence is an uphill battle, it’s one that Lewis says the group is ready to take on. While he respects the position of the Black activist who said he was wasting his time, Lewis believes his unique approach to combating racism can truly make a difference.
“In her experience, the foundation of the country is build on white supremacy and racism, so we’re trying to take apart the very fundamental foundation of this country and it’s sort of hopeless,” said Lewis.
“My motto is more, rather than tearing down the existing system, it’s trying to build up the one I want to see in place. I don’t see it as quite as hopeless as she does.”
The White Privilege and Anti-Racist Organizing Discussion Group will host the screening of "Mirrors of Privilege-Making Whiteness Visible" at 6:30 p.m. in the UCP Building, Centre Avenue and North Neville Street, Oakland. The documentary discusses perspectives on racism and white supremacy according to white people. For more information, visit www.animalfreedom.info or call Noah at 412-421-4568.
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