White Fragility: Why It’s so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism

2019 Journal of College and Character 1,175 citations

Abstract

In White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo deploys social reproduction theory to identify and account for the phenomenon she calls white fragility: the patterns of perceptions and behaviors exhibited by white people when confronted with evidence that they have perpetrated racism or perpetuated systems of racial inequality. These patterns and perceptions function to maintain and reinforce the racial status quo and insulate white people from self-examination. While not directly addressed to higher education professionals, DiAngelo's argument offers educators and administrators an opportunity for reflection and enhanced developmental practice in their work.

Keywords

RacismWhite (mutation)FragilityStatus quoSocial psychologyPerceptionArgument (complex analysis)PsychologyInequalitySociologyGender studiesPolitical scienceLaw

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Publication Info

Year
2019
Type
article
Volume
20
Issue
2
Pages
187-189
Citations
1175
Access
Closed

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Kent Andersen (2019). White Fragility: Why It’s so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism. Journal of College and Character , 20 (2) , 187-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/2194587x.2019.1591288

Identifiers

DOI
10.1080/2194587x.2019.1591288