This document provides training materials on cultural sensitivity and race. It discusses white privilege and microaggressions. Part one focuses on defining white privilege and examples that demonstrate its existence, such as different treatment of armed white protesters versus armed black individuals. It also discusses biases against black men and fetishization of women of color. Part two discusses white supremacy more broadly and how it manifests subtly through colorism and criticism of natural black hair and skin conditions like vitiligo. The document stresses the importance of recognizing privilege and power differentials to develop cultural sensitivity.

1. TRAINING:
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY & RACE
Part One: White privilege/white supremacy
Part Two: Macro and micro aggressions
Materials:
1. Peggy McIntosh on white privilege
2. Sex, Lies, and Fetishizing Race (Feministe, Lekas Miller, Anna, July 9,
2012)
3. The Problem with Racial Fetishazation (Ravishly, Gladstone, Sarah, June
3, 2014)
4. Muslim Women Suffer Abuse For Wearing Hijab, Study Finds
(Huffington Post UK, Elgot, Jessica, November 11, 2013)
5. Neo-colonialism, the Last Stage of Imperialism (Nkrumah, 1965)
PART ONE
What does it mean to have white privilege?

2. What can we do about it?
Section1: Double-standards and the sexualization of women of color
What is still considered to be the most thought-provoking and controversial subjects of our time,
white privilege is the idea that an individual born as a Caucasian, particularly in Western
countries, holds power over those of color. Being white garners a respect and system of
advantage, a sense of immediate trust, opportunities abound, and sometimes the guarantee of
protection and dignity as a human being. Being a “model minority” (Asian) or being “white
passing” (a light-skinned African American favored in the system of colorism) approaches this
ideal, but does not quite meet it.
The recognition of white privilege by white individuals seeks to dismantle the myths of everyone
being capable of achieving the American dream via hard work. It seeks to dispel the “mission
accomplished” finality of our society and culture being “post-racial.” Above all, it shows us as
the compassionate, empathetic persons we truly want to be, rather than shallow “saviors.”
Let us examine some of the most common examples of possessing white privilege in America
today.
On the left are members of Open Carry Texas, who, before the company issued an anti-open
carry policy, could lawfully carry weapons in stores. On the right is John Crawford III, a 22-
year-old father shot to death by police in a Dayton, OH Walmart, for brandishing a plastic rifle in
its toy section. The officers who shot Crawford have not been charged.

3. One may also recall Cliven Bundy, the Nevada farmer who, along with a group of supporters,
pointed loaded guns at federal agents over a dispute that involved his not paying taxes for
allowing his cattle to graze on public land.
Juxtapose that case with that of Levar Edward Jones. Pulled over by South Carolina state trooper
Sean Groubert for failing to use his seat belt, Jones was shot twice when reaching for his driver’s
license, as directed. Jones has recovered from the shooting and Groubert faces the possibility of
20 years in prison.

4. In several famous studies, pictures of two men were put side by side. Young children of
elementary school level were then asked who was nice and who was mean. The results were
shocking. The following is only one example, but it is one of the most striking.
Two images were placed side by side. One was of an African American Ivy League professor.
The other was of mass-murderer Timothy McVeigh of the Oklahoma City bombings. With no
knowledge of who each of the men were, the children decided by the pictures alone that Timothy
McVeigh looked like the kindly teacher, whereas the black professor was the scary, mean man.
This racial bias, to find men of color, in particular black men, frightening simply due to
appearance, has been blamed for the shooting deaths of black men/boys in many high profile
cases, such as Trayvon Martin.
What happens when we examine women? Misogynoir is the hatred of black women. It is a bias
that is often demonstrated by entertainment news outlets towards black vs. white female stars.
However, it can also occur with non-famous individuals.
The left photo shows Jaci Sharkey, graduate of University of Sunshine Coast (Queensland)
nursing her son, with permission posted to the school’s Facebook. On the right is Karlesha
Thurman, who, upon graduating from Long Beach University (California), did the same. Jaci
received worldwide praise for her photo while Karlesha had to defend herself from immediate,
heated backlash.
Historically, black women were prized for their “exotic” features. Female slaves were often
raped to obtain offspring with just the right amount of “mixed” appeal. Nowadays, black women
are fetishized by adult pornographic sites and yet, paradoxically, at the same time are criticized

5. for showing pride in their sexuality and/or bodies. (Recall when Rihanna wore a see-through
gown to the Grammy awards, or when Nicki Minaj released her music video for her hit single
“Anaconda.”) Because of this double-edged sword of being seen as both “exotic” and yet being
shamed for being sexual, black women face a particularly difficult ordeal when reporting rape. It
is for these reasons that black women usually feel very reluctant and afraid to go to the
authorities with claims of sexual assault.
Fetishization is not confined to the black female community, however. Equally or more, Asian
women are also fetishized by adult pornographic sites. The stereotypical Asian woman is
submissive, readily accepting of her (white) dominant partner’s sexual desires to do onto her as
pleased.
Another racial group that is often exploited and objectified for sexual gratification is the Native
American woman.
Still another group of women of color that is facing increasing rates of sexualization in media is
that of Desi women in Bollywood films. This contrasts sharply with Indian culture’s emphasis on

6. women being pure and chaste before marriage. It leads to confusion and pent up sexual
frustration in India’s heterosexual men. In light of India’s epidemic of rape, this is a highly
problematic and dangerous message to be sending its people.
The fetishization/objectification of women of color is inherently racist and dehumanizing, and
has its roots in the slavery and/or genocide of black and native peoples. White women are also
objectified—however, due to these underlying assumptions rooted in racism, sexualized
depictions of women of color are especially heinous. White privilege in this context, therefore, a
white woman is objectified on an individual scale, rather than her entire cohort/population being
seen as merely sex objects. It is being able to be oneself, and be objectified, versus being seen as
inhuman or less than human, and that being attributed to the natural order of your race/cultural
heritage.
Finally, particular attention must be paid to hijabi (women who don the hijab as part of Islam)
and other women of Middle-Eastern ethnic backgrounds that wear headdresses.

7. The incorrect assumption that women who don the hijab, burka, or niqab are oppressed and need
of “rescuing” by Western men has caused great animosity. Discussions with said women on
social media yield commentary of feeling very comfortable and content in the wearing of the
hijab. The unpleasant part of the experience lies in Islamophobic hate crimes aimed at hijabi,
which have plagued Muslim women most heavily in the urban United States and United
Kingdom for decades but which have become increasingly violent since the September 11th
attacks on the World Trade Center.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NOT ALL WOMEN OF MIDDLE EASTERN
ETHNICITY WHO WEAR A HEADDRESS ARE MUSLIMS.
This unfortunate, culturally near-sighted assumption has lead to vicious attacks against any
woman, even the elderly, who wear these headdresses. It is Islamophobic to believe that all
Middle Eastern women wearing headdresses are affiliated with terrorist organizations or even the
Muslim faith itself. Part of this animosity lead to the horrific shooting that occurred at a
Wisconsin Sikh temple on August 5, 2012.
In conclusion, white privilege is an invisible protection afforded to those of Caucasian descent
from a multitude of prejudices, discriminations, and even violent hate crimes. It is often met with
incredulity, leading to accusations that it does not exist, it must no longer exist due to civil rights
gains, and/or that its mere mention is “playing the race card” or “racist.” It is not racist to discuss
race. It is not possible to be racist towards a white person, what some claim is “reverse racism,”
as it is this group that holds the most power in Western societies. Mistrust and fear is often
afforded to black men; skepticism of sexual “purity,” shaming, and unfair objectification is
afforded to black women and other women of color.
What can be done to combat white privilege? (**Can be found in the general multiculturalism
training handbook)
Check your privilege/biases. For example, if you are a white person, realize that, unfortunately,
our society operates in a way that benefits you while taking rights away from those who are of
different races. If you are an able-bodied person, who does not use a wheelchair, does not suffer
from a mental health condition, or who does not have an Autism Spectrum Disorder, you have an
advantage over those who do. If you are a part of the middle or upper class, you have more
power and voice than a person who is poor. By remembering these, and not acting like they
make you better than anyone, you are realizing you have privilege. Studies have been done that
show, by keeping things like this in mind, you will be a more receptive, genuine, and
compassionate person as you work with diverse groups, and they will sense that and be more
willing to work with you. Also, remember to not hold preconceived ideas or stereotypes in mind
about people—this is having biases. Poor people are not bad people. People who have mental
illnesses are not “crazy” or “dangerous.” Someone who is queer, transgender, or non-binary is

8. not “faking it,” nor are they “not natural” or “perverted,” they are people who deserve respect
and help in their time of need.
Understand the power differential, which is the flip-side of checking your privilege. For every
high, there is a low; for ever person with power (privilege), there is someone else who is
oppressed. This is society’s version of getting the short end of the stick. Not saying that the
privileged are born with a silver spoon in their mouths—just they are on a higher ladder rung,
and often standing on the fingers of the person below them. People go through their lives not
even realizing they are doing this. Understanding that you have more power than someone else
isn’t the same as beating yourself up for being a bad person. Rather, it simply means you need to
see yourself through another person’s eyes in order to understand why they may not trust you or
your promises.
Another way of understanding how different groups of people interact along power structures in
society is what Kathryn K. Berg (2013) describes as “pathologizing culture” (pg. 146). If we
look as a different group of people’s issues and say that those issues point to a cultural “disease,”
this is pathologizing a culture, which is unfair. For example, this is usually seen when a person of
Muslim faith commits a violent act. All of a sudden, the religion of Islam fosters violence, and
every person from that terrorist’s country or culture of origin is evil. However, if a person of
Christian background commits an act of terror, we say that “he was just some random crazy
person.” (Timothy McVeigh, the man responsible for the Oklahoma City Bombing, was a devout
Christian; however, his faith was not deemed responsible for his actions.) It can obviously be
seen how unfair this is. It is not something that a multiculturalist organization, someone who has
cultural sensitivity, engages in. It only serves to hurt and alienate people for the wrongful actions
of another.

9. Section2: Understanding White Supremacy
The following is the definition of white supremacy from the general multiculturalism handbook:
White supremacy
The belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and
should therefore dominate society.
Related terms are:
Ethnocentrism
Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and
customs of one's own culture.
Eurocentrism
A political term coined in the 1980s, referring to the notion of European exceptionalism, a
worldview centered on Western civilization, as it had developed during the height of the
European colonial empires since the Early Modern period.
Xenophobia
An intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries.
Usually when one thinks of white supremacy, they think of the Klu Klux Klan. However, while
this infamous hate group still exists, most modern white supremacy is demonstrated in much
more subtle ways. A key example of this is the phenomena of colorism.
colorism
Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone,
typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

10. Colorism is internalized white supremacy. It is the idea held by racial minorities that being of a
lighter skin tone makes them more attractive and more valuable in society. The beauty industry
preys upon this phenomenon by marketing skin bleaching creams, in particular outside the
United States.
The flip side of colorism is tanning, i.e. lying in the sun or tanning beds by Caucasian persons in
order to darken the skin. This is a fine example of white privilege, having the social power to
darken the skin and have it be seen as socially desirable and attractive.
Colorism also can lead to the ostracizing of African Americans with the autoimmune skin-
pigmentation disorder vitiligo.

11. This chronic skin disease, often co-occurring with Lupus, is a genetically inherited condition that
causes the cells in the skin to stop producing melanin. As a result, the skin progressively grows
pale, causing spotting all over the body. This is not the same as being Caucasian—it is the utter
absence of pigment. However, due to white supremacy, those who have this completely-
uncontrollable disease are proclaimed as “wanting to be white,” trying to usurp white privilege
for their own personal gain, or perhaps out of self-hatred. No more so was charged with these
claims than the international superstar, the late Michael Jackson.
Beginning at the height of his fame, Michael Jackson began to discover splotches of white across
his hands and arms. As the disease progressed, he was able to attempt to even his skin tone with
the help of creams prescribed to him by his dermatologist. Most sufferers of vitiligo do not have
the funds necessary for this luxury, thus they must deal with this disfiguring, socially debilitating
disease on their own. While they do so, they, too, are unfairly charged with self-hatred and trying
to be white, when in reality, they remain to be black people in every other way, physically,
culturally, emotionally, and spiritually.

12. White supremacy also targets black women for being proud of their natural hair.
White supremacy presupposes that straight hair, along with pale skin, is the natural beauty norm
that all women should aspire towards. This racial erasure and shame affects black women who
feel they prefer their natural hair.
These insidious forms of white supremacy still prevail in our society today. It is not the
responsibility of the oppressed, i.e. women of color, to combat these phenomena. Those in
power, white individuals in society, must recognize and condemn these harmful forces in order
for them to stop.