TRANSFORM AT ION

VOL 13
ISSUE

SUMMER 1998

MOVING BEYOND WHITE

TWOYEARS
PROJECT

GUILT
WOMENS
WITH

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BETTY COLE FREDDIE COLT
LITTLE LITTLE

1996 AGO IN THE SUMMER OF

WEPUBLISHED
ENTITLED

IN THESE PAGES AN ARTICLE BY

BOARD

MEMBER AMY EDGINGTON

GROWING UP
AND

RACISM

PERSONAL ROCK

ODYSSEY

THAT ARTICLE HAS THROUGH WORDOF MOUTH PROMOTION BY OUR MEMBERS ORGANIZATIONS

NIXON

NOW BEEN

SENT AROUND THE COUNTRY TO INDIVIDUALS

ENGAGED IN

THE

AMY EDGINGTON
CELIA WILDROOT

STRUGGLE AGAINST HER TO READ

RACISM IN IT
DISCUSS

AMY PUT

OUT

CALLFOR WHITE

WOMENTO COMETOGETHER
THIS EDITION

WITH

AND

BOOKS VIDEOS ETC

BY WOMEN OF COLOR IN
ITS

ANIY

HOT SPRINGS
LITTLE

WORK HAS BROUGHT HER AT PRESENTS IDEAS THIS READING LIST

CONCLUSION ARE TWO OF AMYS POEMS AND

ANNETTE

SHEAD

ROCK

AMY

IS

POET AN ANTIRACIST
LIBRARY

WORKER AN AN

INCREDIBLE

RESOURCE FOR THOSE RIGHTS ACTIVIST

CAROL NOKES

LITTLE

ROCK

WORKING ON LESBIAN

BATTERING

ASSISTANT LIFELONG

ARTIST

DISABILITY OF ARKANSAS

PRECIOUS WILLIAMS SARAH FACEN

LITTLE

OGDEN
ROCK
LITTLE

AND

WITH THE EXCEPTION

OFAFEW YEARS

RESIDENT

SANDRA MITCHELL

ROCK ROCK

OR THE PAST YEAR IVE HAD THE PRIVI GROUP OF WHOREAD AND DIS WHITE WOMEN
LEGE OF BELONGING TO

WHAT
GUILT
IS

GUILT

IS

TAMMY ROBERSON
DEEDEE GREEN

LITTLE

CONSTANTLY

HEAR THE IDEA EMOTION

THAT

DESTRUCTIVE

IM

LITTLE

ROCK

CUSS AFRICAN AMERICAN

LITERATURE LOT

ON

THE
IT

MONTHLY BASIS BOOKS WEVEREAD AND

VALUABLE
TO

LEARN

FROM

POSED BY OTHERS IN ORDER TO MANIPU BAD REPUTA LATE US GUILT HAS SUCH
TION

ALSO FIND TALK WITH

NOWADAYSTHAT WE CAN
ANYONE
US
OR ANYTHING GUILTY

FEEL

IN

MEET AND IVE

STANTLYJUSTIFIEDINREJECTINGORAVOID ING THAT MIGHT

INSIDE

OTHER WHITE
THE ISSUE

WHOCARE WOMEN

ABOUT

OF RACISM

BEEN RE

MAKE
GUILT

FEEL

FROM OUR BUT

PAR
SEE

MOVING BEYOND WHITE GUILT

PAGE

MINDED THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS OF WHAT AN ENORMOUSSTUMBLING BLOCK

GUILT

ENTS TO THE ISSUE OF RACISM AS

LIKE

MIXTURE

OF POSITIVE

ELE

CAN BE FOR WHITE PEOPLE

MENTS
DIS

HAVE
SEE AS

FREQUENTLY

AVOIDED

AND REMORSE AND NEGATIVE ELEMENTS LIKE FEAR AND

CONSCIENCE

CUSSIONS OF GUILT

BECAUSE OF WHAT TENDENCY

IN

RESENTMENT

READING LIST PAGE

PERVASIVE

WHITENESS
PAGE WISHLIST

AMERICA TO PSYCHOLOGIZE INDIVIDU ALIZE AND DEPOLITICIZE EVERY ISSUE

NEVERTHELESS
IN

CONSCIENCE
BECAUSE

OFTEN
IS

FEEL

GUILTY

MY

CONSCIENCE

TELLING

ME

BRIEF

COMMENT

MY

EXPERIENCE

IAMINTHEWRONGNOTBECAUSESOME
ONE
IS

DOES HAVE POLITICAL CONSE GUILT SUBSTITUTE QUENCES IT CAN BECOME

FOR CHANGE OR AN EXCUSE NOT TO CHANGE IT CAN ALSO BE THE STARTING

MANIPULATING
REJECT

ME

IF

CONSIS

TENTLY

MY OWN JUDGEMENT OR
IT

AVOID

FACING

PAGE

10

WITHOUT
EASIER

WIND UP CONSCIENCE AND NO ONE IS

THEN
WILL

POINTFORTHEACCEPTANCEOFRESPONSI
BILITY

TO MANIPULATE

THAN

PERSON

AND MEANINGFUL

CHANGE

WHOHAS NO

CONSCIENCE
CONTINUED ON PAGE

CONSCIENCE SHOULD NOT BE LIKE MOST PEOPLE STATIC THING BEGAN

TO ACQUIRE

SHAMEGRIEFFORTHEOTHERPERSONS PAIN
IS

CIIATION
LEADERSHIP

ADOPTED BY

THE WHITE RIGHT THAT

GOOD THING
FOR

IT

REFLECTS

MY
THE

OF THE CHRISTIAN

ONE IN CHILDHOOD

CAPACITY

FOR EMPATHY

WHICH IS

WING
HAVE

THESE

WORDS IMPLY

WHEN
ITY

STARTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBIL

FOUNDATION

AN

ETHIC

OF LOVE

WHITE PEOPLE AND

SUFFERED
IF

PEOPLE OF COLOR

FOR DELIBERATE

WRONGDOING

BUT SHAME TURNED BACK ON MYSELF SELFESTEEM

ABILITY
IT

HOWEVER IF WE ARE TO BECOME FULL ADULTS WE HAVE TO STRETCH AND

GROWMORALLY BY TAKING RESPONSI OF HARM BIITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES

MY ATTENTION AND MY BRUISED

EQUALLY

UNDER RAC
THE

ISM

THAT

WERE TRUE GIVEN

OUR CULTURE

UNDERMINED
WITH THE

MY
PER
FRE

POWER THAT WHITE PEOPLE HAVE AND

TO EMPATHIZE

HOW HIGHLY

VALUES

SON

WHO WAS

TRULY INJURED

WE DO UNINTENTIONALLY
OF OMISSION OTHERS
EFITING

AND FOR ACTS

FAILING TO STOP

QUENTLY

SHE HAD

TO TAKE CARE OF

COMFORT AND PERSONAL HAPPINESS WEWOULD HAVE WIPED OUT RACISM OUT CENTURIES AGO NO MATTER HOW AGONIZING OUR REMORSE MAY BE IT DOES NOT BEGIN TO COMPARE WITH THE INJURY RACISM INFLICTS ON PEOPLE
OF COLOR OR TO CANCEL OUT THE PRIVI LEGES DOMINATION BRINGS
TO

SUCH AS

FROM DOING HARM AND BEN FROM WRONGS COMMITTED

CHALLENGES THE

BY OTHERS NOTHING
CONSCIENCES IN THIS

NI

OF WHITE PEOPLE

MORE
DID OR

UO

MATTER

HOWAGONIZING MAY BE
TO
IT

RESPECT THAN RACISM UNINTENTIONALLY

WHITE

WHEN
TO CLEAR

OUR REMORSE

PEOPLE

SAID SOMETHING RACIST

OFTEN TRIED

MY CONSCIENCE

BY CHANG

DOES NOT

BEGIN

COMPARE
RACISM
OF COLOR

FEAR
ISHMENT
FOR

LIKE

MOST PEOPLE
TO FEAR

INGTHEFOCUSFROMWHATLHADDONE OR FAILED TO DO TO WHAT MEANT

LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD

WITH THE INJURY

INFLICTS

PUN
FAR

DOING WRONGBUT

WHAT HAD TO ACCEPT

HAS
LITTLE

IS THAT

RACISM

ON PEOPLE

TO DO WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL

INTENTIONS SONAL

GOOD OR
AS

BAD

OUR

PER

OR TO CANCEL OUT THE

OUR RACISM PEOPLE OF COLOR USUALLY DONT CONFRONT US ABOUT IT OFTEN IT MAY NOT SEEM FROMPUNISHING

PREJUDICES

OR LACK THEREOF

WORTH THE

RISK OR EFFORT TO

DO SO

AS LONG
THE

WE SEE

RACISM ONLY AS

PRIVILEGES BRINGS

DOMINATION PEOPLE

NEVERTHELESS

WHITE PEOPLE HAVE

FEAR OF THE ANGER OF THINK
THIS

PEOPLE OF COLOR WHITE PEOPLE WE THINK WE CAN BY SHRINK OUR CULPABILITY BY LIMITING
THE

HARM DONE TO

AN EXAGGERATED COMES
PARTLY

TO WHITE

PEOPLE OF COLOR
THEFT OF THE

FEAR

DAMAGE WE DO AS INDIVIDUALS
FACT

LAND

FROM HISTORY OUR WE LIVE ON AND OUR

THAN 140
YEARS

RACISM PRIVILEGES US SO THOROUGHLY THAT MOSTWHITE PEOPLE BUT IN

OWNERSHIPLESS

AGOOF

AFRICAN AMERICANS

FOR

NEED DO NOTHING BUT

ENJOY THE

SIT

BACK AND

ME

BEFORE SHE COULD HOPE TO

GET HER

GENERATIONSWEVEBEENTAUGHTTHAT OUR PROSPERITY

ADVANTAGES OF DOMINATION THE CHALLENGE RACISM

MANY

POSES TO THE CONSCIENCES PEOPLE

IS

OF WHITE

MAYBE TENDED MY CHALLENGE WAS TO GET MY ATTENTION OFF MYSELF AND TO

ON THE PERSON HAD HURT WHEN DO THAT ACT AGAINST THE WHITENESS HISTORY AND CULTURE OF
FOCUS

OWN WOUNDS

DEPENDS ON MAIN
OVER PEOPLE
OF

TAMING
ARE IN

CONTROL

COLOR THATOUR LIVES ANDLIVELIHOODS DANGER

IF

TO RECOGNIZE THE FULL PRIVILEGES

TENT OF THE

WHITE
OF

EACH PREMACY BESTOWS ON

EX SU US

DARKSKINNED

PERSON EVEN LOOKS DAGGERS AT US AS IF HISTORY WERE NOT ENOUGH

REMORSE ONCE MYCONSCIENCE

TOLD

WHICH ALWAYS MAGNIFIES WHITE PEOPLES PAIN AND PUTS OUR NEEDS
FIRST

MODEM WHITE MEDIA

EVERY CORNER OF OUR SAGE THAT
SATISFIED

FORCES INTO THE

LIVES

MES
DIS DO
TO

ME WAS

IN THE

REMORSE FOR THE

WRONG FELT HARM HAD DONE

OF GRIEF

ANY AGITATED
BLACK PERSON

OR EVEN
IS APT

REMORSE

CONSISTS

AND

ICANTHINKOFNOBETTEREXAMPLE OF THIS THAN THE TERM RACIAL RECON

US BODILY

HARM

PAGE

TI

ON

SUMMER1998

LNTHEDAYSOFSLAVERYAFLDGENO CIDE WHITE POWER DECKED ITSELF IN HATRED AND BOLD ASSERTIONS
PERIORITY OF

INGS

AHEAD OF
BLISS

MY OWN OR TO

FORGO OF

WASNTRACISTWHITENESSTAUGHTME
TO THINK OF MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE
IT

CURRENT FUTURE

FOR THE PROMISE

TO TO IN

SU

GAIN

WHENIT COMES TO
LEARNING
IS THIS

RAC

THE LESS CIVILIZED FIND

WAS

SHOCK

TODAY MASK

AS BLACK

FEMI

ISM

AM STILL

LESSON

OUT

AFTER ALL

HAD

INVESTED

NIST BELL HOOKS POINTS

OUT THE MOST

WHITE

WHITE

PRIVILEGE

SOMETHING

PERSUASIVE

OF

SU

PREMACY IS FEAR MY FEAR OF THE ANGEROFDARKSKINNEDPEOPLECON VINCED ME WAS POWERLESS IT KEPT

ENJOY BESIDES THE COUNTLESS RIAL ADVANTAGES OF WHITENESS

GIVES SOCIAL

WE MATE
IT

THAT IDIDN SENSE OF SUPERIORITY OWN THE MORAL HIGH GROUND HAD TO CLIMB DOWN OFF MY HIGH HORSE

US

SENSE

OF ENTITLEMENT

AND

ACCEPT

THE

WORDOF
IS

PEOPLE OF

ACCEPTANCE
SUPERIORITY

MORAL AND IN AND PERSONAL

COLOR

ON WHAT RACISM
TO

AND WHAT HAD

TO

ME FROM
AND

SEEING

HOW MY
TO

ACTIONS

TELLECTUAL

WE NEED
LEARN

DO ABOUT

IT

INACTIONS

HELPED

MAINTAIN

SYSTEM OF SUPERIOR
BENEFITED

POWER THAT ME IMMENSELY TO MOVE

TO DOUBT EVERYTHING HAD TO GET OFF THE BEEN TAUGHT WHITE EXPRESSWAY AND TAKE THE

HAD

THROUGH THE LAYER OF FEAR THAT CAME HAD TO ACKNOWL WITH MY GUILT EDGE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE FAR REASONS TO REGARD MORE JUSTIFIABLE WHITE PEOPLE WITH TERROR

MOVE THROUGH THE

LAYER OF FEAR THAT WITH

SCENIC

ROUTE

THROUGH

OTHER

CAME
TO

PEOPLES REALITIES FOUND HAD SWALLOWED THE

BELIEF THAT WHITE PEOPLE CANT HELP

MY

GUILT

HAD

BEING

RACIST

THAT

WE

ARE SO THOR

BEGAN TO QUESTION WHAT HAD

LEARNEDABOUTWHOWASMOSTLIKELY
TO

OUGHLY CONDITIONED

WE

CANT BE

ACKNOWLEDGETHAT PEOPLE
OF COLOR HAVE FAR

ANY

OTHER

WAY OF

COURSE

RE

DO ME VIOLENCE
OF

HAD

TO FACE

MY
MORE
TO

FEAR

PUNISHMENT

FROM OTHER
RANKS

SENTED BEING TOLD TO MAKE CHANGES BELIEVED WERE BEYOND MY CON CONFUSED BEING WHITE WITH WHITENESS WAS BORN WHITE BUT
TROL

WHITE PEOPLE FOR BREAKING AND OPPOSING RACISM WHITE PRIVI LEGE IS BASED ON WHITE SOLIDARITY MAINTAINED

JUSTIFIABLE

REASONS

LEARNED WHITENESS

IF

RACISM WERE

BY

COMBINATION

OF

REGARD WHITE

PEOPLE WITH

INEVITABLE

REWARDS FOR GOOD RACIST

IOR

BEHAV
AND BY
THOSE TERROR

NATURE
EFFORT

SIMPLY PART OF HUMAN THEN THERE WOULD BE NO WHITE PEOPLE NO PRESSURE ON

OR SILENT

COMPLICITY
VIOLENCE THE

TO INDOCTRINATE
RACIST

THREATS

AND

AGAINST

WITH

BELIEFS

WHO BREAK
NESS

CODES OF

WHITE
IMPORTANCE ITPUTS USINTHEWORDS OF NOVELIST JAMAICA KINCAID

EXAGGERATED FEAR OF BLACK ANGER IN PARTICULAR IS MEANT TO REINFORCE OUR LOYALTY TO

OUR

OBSESSIVE

US TO CONFORMTO WHITE SUPREMACY IN FACT AS BELL HOOKS MAINTAINS WHITE

REJECT

PEOPLE HAVE THE

ABILITY

TO

BE

WHITENESSBY
AT

ACTING AGAINST

WHITENESS

YOND
IN

CONFIDENCE

AND BEYOND
THAT
FELT

RACISM

DOUBT
RESENTMENT
FREQUENTLY CHILDHOOD RESENT SMALL WONDER THEN RESENTMENT EXPERIENCED

HAVE

EVERY OPPORTUNITY CHOICE CAN CONTINUE

TO

WEAR THE
OR

ARMOROF WHITE PRIVILEGE

WHEN CONFRONTED BY
DIDNT
OF

MENT

AS PART OF GUILT

WHEN WAS

PEOPLE OF COLOR ON RACISM

CAN DEVELOP TRUE CONFIDENCE BY FINDING OUT WHO WOULD BE IF

CAUGHT DOING

PLEASURABLE WRONG BECAUSE BECAUSE

IT

SOMETHINGBAD BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS

IT

WANT USED

TO GIVE

UP

THE PRIVILEGE

MOVED
OUT
IT

THROUGH THE WORLD WITH

PRETENDING THAT AS LONG AS

THE

NEVER

HURT OTHERS OR

WORD NIGGER

DIDNT

WOULD HURT

ME

IN

THE

LONG RUN GROWINGUP MEANT LEARN ING SOMETIMES TO PUT OTHERS FEEL

HAVE ANY POWER OVER PEOPLE OF COLOR DIDNT WANT TO GIVE UP THE WHAT WAS OR OF DEFINING PRIVILEGE SUMMER 1998

ACCEPTANCE
RESPONSIBILITY

OF

AS

LEAVE

BEHIND

THE

SHAME

PAGE

TRANSFORMATION

FEAR

AND RESENTMENT
GUILT

ATTACHED TUGS

TO

WHITE

EMPATHY

MORE

STRONGLY

AND

THE CALL OF CONSCIENCE

WHITE
COME FROM
OR LEAVE
CLAN

MORE CLEARLY THAN EVER CHOOSE DISLOYALTY TO WHITENESS

RINGS OUT

BECAUSE

EMBRACE AN

ETHIC

OF LOVE

CANT LOVE
ITS

INSTEADOF THEETHICOF NOT BECAUSE

THINK

WEAR

FLAG

DOMINATION SHARE WHAT

THE

COLOR RESEMBLES PANIC WITH

TINTED

BLOODSHED

PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE EXPERIENCED UNDER RACISM AND NOT BECAUSE OF GUILTRIDDEN MENTALITY

DOGOODERLIBERAL

LAM AN ENEMY OF WHITE

WANT TO BELIEVE FROM

IN

FM

DESCENDED

NESS BECAUSE AS LESBIAN

TIES AS

WOMANAS

AT LEAST

ONE REDNECKED WOMAN

PERSON WITH DISABII

CLAPBOARD HOUSE WANTING COLUMNS

HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ETHIC OF DOMINATION ON MY OWNBODY

FIGHT THE DOMINATORS
TO LOVE

WHO SPOKE OUT

BUT

AGAINST

SLAVERY

FOR THE RIGHT

TO TO

DONT KNOW HER ANYMORE

WITH THE

TO LIVE

MYSELF

OPENLY NOT PRE

BELIEVE

LOVE THOSE

CHOSE AND

THAN

KNOW WHORODE

KKK

TEND DESIRES
WILL THESE TINUE

DO NOT FEEL
WHILE

NEVER ACHIEVE
RIGHTS

OR DESERVE

WHORECEIVED WHOBETRAYED
ASK AND

AS

GIFT

MYSELF
ETHIC OF

THE SLAVES HER FATHER FATHERED

TO PRACTICE

AN

CON DOMI IMAG

THESE

THE BLACK

WOMAN

NATION OVER OTHERS NOR DO

INE THAT WILL EVER ATTAIN

SHE ONCE LOVED AS

THESE

CHILD

GOALS WITHOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR AS

QUESTIONS

MY AFFIES
AS AMERICANS WE ARE
TO REGARD ALL PROBLEMS TIONS AS INDIVIDUAL IN TRAINED

THE DEFENDERS OF WHITE HONOR TURN INTO AVENGING

SPERM

AND SOLU
BUT
OF ETHIC

IN NATURE THE

ORDER TO REPLACE

MY GUILT
LIKE
IS

IS

INDIVIDUAL

DOMINATION

WITH AN ETHIC OF LOVE

WHAT COATS MY THROAT

RED CLAY DUST PRIVILEGE COLLECTIVE

WE HAVE
WITH

TO BUILD BROAD COALITIONS

MULTIISSUE

AGENDA

AND
RE

EACH ISSUE ON

THAT AGENDA WILL

EFFORT QUIRE COLLECTIVE OF CHANGE IN IOR COULD

NO AMOUNT

SILENCE

PLEDGES ALLEGIANCE

MYINDIVIDUALBEHAV
IN

SISTERHOOD OF THE TREASON

DEMANDS PROOF
UNDERNEATH

MY SKIN

REMOVE THE PRIVILEGES HAVE ASAWBITESKINNED PERSON

RACIST

SOCIETY
IF

CHANGE

POSSIBLE

TAKE ACTION

ONLY WITH OTH

THE

IS

ERS TO ATTACK

AND DISMANTLE

AMY EDGINGTON

SYSTEM OF RACISM

WHITE AMERICANS

ARE TAUGHT TO

PAGE

TRANSFORMATION

SUMMER 1998

ADMIRE INDIVIDUAL

EFFORTS SINGLE RESULTS

OF WHITE

SOLIDARITY

THAT

RACISM

MINDED

FOCUS

AND QUICK

SHAME AND CONTEMPT

TO TO

ARE ATTACHED

DEPENDS ON RACISM IS SO HUGE THAT ALL MYACTS SEEM SMALL IN COM

PARISONBUT
OF LIFELONG
IT IS

WHAT DO WHAT AM

FEEL

REMORSE ABOUT

THAT REQUIRES US ANY CONDITION ASK FOR HELP SUCH AS CHILDHOOD

KIND PRECISELY THIS

OF WHYDO FEEL RESENTMENT WHAT CHANGES DO NEED TO MAKE WHAT DO NEED TO

SCARED

BUT POVERTY ILLNESS OR DISABILITY TO FIGHT RACISM WEWILL HAVE TO FIND

ALLIES

CHIPPINGAWAY THAT WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO DOING

LISTEN

KNOW WHO CAN

CAN HELP

HELP OTHER WHITE

ME HOW
PEOPLE

WHEN

AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR

AND
HELP

SAYS THATS
TAKE

PERSON OF COLOR RACIST ITS TIME TO

CLOSE LISTEN

CHANGE
TALK UNDOING RACISM CANNOT
ITS

OTHER WHITES

WEWILL

HAVE ON
FOR

TO

EACH OTHER STRUGGLE

FRONTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TIONS
IF

SEVERAL

DEEP BREATH MOUTH SIT DOWN AND

MY
BE

BE DONE ALONE

ME TO

IMPORTANT FOR FIND OTHER WHITE PEOPLE WHO

GENERA
RACISM

SHARE THE SAME GOALS

WE MUST
PEOPLE FEAR

WE REGARD FIGHTING

ALSO SEEK CONVERTS TO TRY TO TURN THE SOULS THE OF OTHER WHITE

AS AN INDIVIDUAL QUICKLY GUILT

ENDEAVOR WE WILL BY

BECOME IMMOBILIZED

FROM

RACISM

CYNICAL

HAD THE

TO LEARN

TO DOUBT

NARROWNESS MEANSPIRITEDNESS OF AND INDIFFERENCE TO THE KIND LOVEFORSELFANDOTHERSTHATVALUES

DIVERSITY

HOWWE CAN DEFUSE

NEGATIVE ASPECTS
GET INFORMATION
LEARN ABOUT
TO SEE
IT

EVERYTHING

HAD BEEN
OFF THE

OF GUILT

AND

FEELS IS

NO NEED

TO

THE MORE
THE LESS

TAUGHT

HAD TO GET

DOMINATE
WEST CALLS

THIS

HOW WHITE
WHAT CORNELL
OF

RACISM AN

TEND MORAL

PEOPLE CAN PRACTICE

AS

INDIVIDUAL

WHITE EXPRESSWAY AND

TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE

THE POLITICS

CONVER

PROBLEM AND

THE FEWER MISTAKES

SION
THERE ARE CLEARLY PEOPLE WHO ARE TED TO WHITE SUPREMACY THEY ARE
UNLIKELY TO BE
LET

MAKE AS

AN INDIVIDUAL

THE MORE

LEARN ABOUT RACISM THE LESS

WORK

MANY WHITE DEEPLY COMMIT

PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE TO DO TO

PLAIN THE TO

EX

THROUGH OTHER
REALITIES

PEOPLES

ME HOWTHEY

WORLD THE MORE

EXPERIENCE LEARN ABOUT

THE

SWAYED ITS IMPOR

THEY TO
TELL

TANT

TO

THEM KNOW THAT

THE ETHIC OF DOMINATION

MORE

FACE WHITE RESISTANCE IN EFFECT

THEM

UNDERSTAND WHAT
LIVING
CIST

WOULD GAIN BY
OF

IF
WILL

CANNOT CHANGE YOUR PUT MY BODY IN YOUR SHOULD MEASURE OUR

TO FIGHTING

IN

WORLD FREE

SUPREMA
CAUSE SCHOOL
LOT OF IS IN

MIND
SESSION

CAPABLE OF RESPECT FILLED WITH TRUE ING DIFFERENCES AND SELFRESPECT THAT DOES NOT DEMAND BLINDERS SUBMISSIVE

IM

IN

PATH WE

THE FIRST GRADE AGAIN TAKE

AND ITS GONNA TO MOVE ON TO STUDY

TRY TO PUT

COMMITMENT

RACISM NOT

BY HOW MANY

FROMANYONE DO SOMETHING THE STRONGEST ANTIDOTE TO GUILT IS ACTION THE LESS

GESTURES

THE NEXT CLASS INGS

MY FEEL
TELL

COUNT AS FRIENDS

PEOPLE OF COLOR WE OR LOVERS BUT BY

ON

THE BACK
IF

BURNER

HOWMANY
WILLING

MYSELF THAT

HAVE HURT

SOME

PEOPLE WE ARE TO SPEAK TO ABOUT RACISM WHITE

DO ABOUT RACISM THE GUILTIER FEEL WHITE SUPREMACY IS BUILT LARGELY ON THE COMPLICITY AND IN ACTION OF WHITE PEOPLE THE SIM
PLEST THING

ONE EVENINADVERTENTLY
TO BE TAKEN CARE OF FIRST EXPECT INSTANT

SHENEEDS
TRY NOT TO OR RES

BACK TO THE PAST

FINALLY WHITE
GUILT

FORGIVENESS

CANNOT TALK WITHOUT TALKING

ABOUT ABOUT

SUCH AS INTERRUPTING
LETTER TO THE

RACIST JOKE OR WRITING

MUST FOLLOW THROUGH ON ANY COMMITMENT MAKE TO CHANGE

TORATION OF TRUST

THE COLLECTIVE FOR ATROCITIES THE

GUILT OUR RACE BEARS SUCH AS SLAVERY AND

EDITOR

ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY IS BREAK WITH THE IMAGE SIGNIFICANT

CAN TAKE CARE OF MY

GUILT

LATER

GENOCIDE OF INDIAN

PEOPLES

BY BREAKING

IT

DOWN INTO

PIECES

HISTORY THREATENS

TO CRASH

DOWN

PAGE

TRANSFORMATION

SUNUNER 1998

ONUSWHENEVERWEARECONFROFLTED WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL

IOR IN THE GUILT
IS

INCARCERATION AMERICANS IMMIGRATION

OF THE

JAPANESE
ANTISEMITIC
THAT HELPED

DID

WE

LEARN

THEIR

NAMES

IN

RACIST

BEHAV

AND

SCHOOL

COLLECTIVE HERE AND NOW

POLICIES TO

LIKE

THE LIVING

HERD OF ELEPHANTS IN ROOMTHAT WHITE PEOPLE

CONDEMN JEWS
CHAMBERS

HITLERS

GAS

HOW MANY AMERICANS KNOW THAT THE HYMN AMAZING GRACE

WASWRITTEN BY
SCRIBING LED SLAVE TRADER

DE

HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO IGNORE AND WE TEND TO GET FREAKED OUT WHEN

HIM

THAT RELIGIOUS CONVERSION THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO

SPEND

SOMEONE CALLS
TENTION

THE

DUNG

TO

OUR AT

WORKING TO ABOLISH
IN GREAT BRITAIN
IT

THE SLAVE TRADE SERVES THE

IN
FOR

SLAVERY AND GENOCIDE ARE PART

OF EVERY ASPECT OF CONTEMPORARY

AM AN ENEMY
WHITENESS

OF

TERESTS

OF WHITE

SUPREMACY

WHITE

PEOPLE

TO FORGET

BOTH OUR

WHITE RACISM ALL WHITE PRIVILEGES HAVE

THEIR

BECAUSE AS
LESBIAN AS

FRIGHTFUL

LEGACY OF RACISM

AND THOSE

ROOTS IN THESE HISTORICAL

ANCESTORS

WHO OPPOSED RACISM

THE

OUTRAGES AMERICANS PARTICULARLY TO WHITE AMERICANS ARE ALLERGIC LOOKING

ENDLESS
AT THE

WOMAN AS
PERSON WITH

FOR
FICTION

ME
AND

PERSONAL STORIES

POETRY OF THOSE
THESE ATROCITIES ARE THE

WHO
OR

PAST

WE GLORIFY

THE

DISABILITIES

EXPERIENCED

FRONTIER OF THE FUTURE

WE
LAND
THEIR

WHOSE ANCESTORS DID

MOST

HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN PUT ASIDE
PAST

HAVE EXPERIENCED THE

ETHIC
OF

THIS IS COMPELLING KIND OF HISTORY THE ONLY HISTORY NOT WRITTEN BY THE

AND BECOME WHATEVER

TO

THEY

DOMINATION

ON

WINNERS AND ITS

FROM WHAT WE

WISH

BE

THIS

DREAM

IS

ONLY

VERY DIFFERENT READ IN SCHOOL IT

TO

ATTAINABLE

FOR WHITE

PEOPLE
THEIR

HOW

EVER

PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NEVER

TO

MY OWNBODY

HAS THE POWER TO OPEN OUR EYES

THE CONCRETE DETAILS OF OPPRESSION

ALLOWED BEHIND

LEAVE

ANCESTRY

AND

TO THE

INTERIOR

LIVES

OF THOSE

THEM
OFTEN PROTEST IN

WE WERE TRAINED
WRITING
IS FULL

NOT TO SEE THIS

OF

WHITE PEOPLE

HOPE AND WIT

THAT THERE IS ANGER OR FRUSTRATION NOTHING WE CAN DO TO CHANGE

HISTORY
COLLECTIVE

BUT

IN

FACT

HISTORY

IS

OUR HEROES AND SHEROES

FINDING
ITS NOT JUST THE RACIST PAST THATS BEEN BURIED THE LONG HISTORY OF ANTIRACIST

DESPAIR AND COURAGE IT COLORS IN THE BLANKS IN OUR VISION OF WHAT IT

MEANS

TO

BE

HUMAN

MEMORY WE

ACTIVELY

WORK TO CHANGE HISTORY WHEN WE IGNORE IT OR REMAIN WILLFULLY

IGNORANT
TO HISTORY

MOVING ON

WORK

IN

THIS

COUNTRY

COLLECTIVEGUILTNI
AN EVEN BIGGER
INDIVIDUAL PIT TO FALL INTO THAN GUILT

ABOUT
IS

IT

TO

OUR FIRST KNOW IT TO

DUTY LOOK

HAS BEEN BURIED

AS WELL

SOME
THE
OF OF OF

WHITE

PEOPLE
IF

MAY KNOW
OF

BUT LISTENING
INTO COLLECTIVE STEP IS

TO

AT THE DEEPLY AND UNFLINCHINGLY OF ENSLAVEMENTS SUCCESSIVE

NAMES
THE ABOLITION

NOT THE LIVES

SOME

THE PAST IS THE FIRST STEP IN TURNING COLLECTIVE COUNTABILITY

LECTIVE

BLACK HEROES AND SHEROES THANKS

TO THE EFFORTS TO

GUILT

AC
COL

INDIANS LABOR

AND AFRICANS
OF THE

AT THE FORCED

THE NEXT

CHINESE
AT

WHO

BUILT

AFRICANAMERICANS BUT THE ABOLITION

EDUCATE

US
THE

RESPONSIBILITY

TO LOOK CARE

OUR RAILROADS IMPRISONMENT

INDIANS

THE

MASSACRES
TREATIES

OF SLAVERY

FULLY AT THE EXACTLY

HOWWE EXPERI

AND BROKEN
AT EVIL

MOST HOPEFUL EVENT

OF SOCIAL JUSTICE TO THE EFFORTS NORITY OF

IN THE HISTORY IN PART

ENCE PRIVILEGE
ABLE

HAVE SUFFERED

LYNCHING

WAS DUE

TODAY AND YET ARE FOR THE MOST PART TO REMAIN

AND SEGREGATION THE OF TWINS SLAVERY

STEP
THE

SIGNIFICANT

MI

BLISSFULLY ETY

UNAWARE OF

IT

IN

SOD

AT

OF WHITE

MEN AND WOMEN

DOMINATED BY WHITE PEOPLE

PAGE

TRANSFORMATION

SUMMER1998

THE GANG
YOUVE
IN

MOST IMPORTANTLY
GIN TO TURN COLLECTIVE
TO

WE CAN BE
GUILT

INTO

SEEN THEM ON THE CORNER OF CAPITOL

STRIPES

AND MAIN

COLLECTIVE

ACTION

TRANSFORM OR SUCH AS THE

PIN

WATCH

FOR

AND BLUE SERGES JAYWALKING BROADWAY THE 100 HAIRCUTS THOSE ITALIAN LEATHER SHOES
BULGES OF
CELL

OVERTHROW INSTITUTIONS
RACIST

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM MEDIA

TELLTALE

PHONES AND BEEPERS

AT THEIR

HIGHCALIBER

LAPTOPS SLUNG

SIDES

EVE
WITH

WHEN
KNOWS WHICH HOUSES BELONG TO THE GANG
LIVES

PERSON

OF COLOR

GLASSSTUDDED CONCRETE TOWERS WHERE NOBODY WHERE THEY PEDDLE JUNK BONDS AND
BAIL

SAYS

THATS

RACIST DEEP

ITS

OUT THE

LS TIME
TO TAKE

THE NEIGHBORHOOD
DOUBLE
LINE

IS

FULL

OF GRAFFITI

STANDS FOR THE GANGS MOTTO SNAKE BEHIND

HOW LONG
ON

CANYOU KEEP

BARS

BREATH CLOSE

MY MOUTH
LISTEN

SIT

WALL STREET SIGNS

FLY

ACROSS THE

DOWNAND

MONEY PITS
OF COKE

DEALS
IN

GO DOWN IN
WASHINGTON

LA
THE

WITH

FEW TINES

BECAUSE SCHOOL
SESSION

IS

IN

GANG ROBS

GROCERIES
THE KIDS

FROM

GRANDMA

LUNCH

MONEY FROM

THEY SEND TEENS

THE ASPHALT SKIES

BAGGY PANTS TO DRIVE BY PANAMA AND GRENADA JETS TOWRIDE

IN

OF

BAGHDAD AND MOGADISHU

ASSAULT GUNS CANT TOUCH FUELAIR

CLUSTER

BOMBS
SHELLS

MINES URANIUMTIPPED

COURTS PRISONS ANDPOLICE THATPUT THE POWER BEHIND WHITE PRIVILEGE

ITS HARD
FEELS

WORK AND ITS SCARY BUT IT WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN WAL

YES WE HAVE
YET
THE

GANG PROBLEM
STARTS

LOWING IN GUILT

EVE

TIME SHOOTING

AMY EDGINGTON

GANG BLAMES SOME OTHER COLOR

WITH

THEY MASK THEMSELVES

BUT

MI1ES
LIES

THEY SPEAK THROUGH MUFFLED

WE HOLD

THE GANG RESPONSIBLE

WE KNOWWHOTHEY ARE

AMYEDG
PAGE TRANS FONNATION

SUMMER 1998