White Fragility Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

Overview

Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue.

Key Characteristics

• Emotions: anger, fear, guilt
• Behaviors: argumentation, silence

Functions

• Reinstates white racial equilibrium
• Prevents meaningful cross-racial dialogue

In-Depth Exploration

• Examines how white fragility develops
• Explores how it protects racial inequality
• Discusses what can be done to engage more constructively