The past few weeks have been absolutely absorbed by an idea that I came up with…an idea I’ve kind of been avoiding, actually. The idea I had was to create an exhibit that would visually and interactively educate people about the idea of White Privilege. Not an easy topic…hence the idea avoidance. But one day, early this quarter, I asked my partner Susie what she thought of the idea. Without missing a beat, she said “let’s do it…we HAVE to do it.” So we did!
We met for weeks with different students and staff people to brainstorm, collect ideas, and think intentionally about how to best capture these ideas and portray them to students who may have never thought about what it means to be white. The planning process was intense, thoughtful, fascinating, challenging, and extremely eye-opening. In order for true racial reconciliation to take place on this campus, our majority-white population MUST consider the implications of our whiteness.
On Sunday night, Susie and I and a large crew of helpers worked and worked until 12:30am, then came back to work some more at 7:00am on Monday morning. When we finished setting up, Susie and I looked at each other and said “what did we just do!?” wondering if the exhibit would be at all meaningful or impactful for this community. Would people respond well? Or become angry and defensive? Would anyone even show up?
At the end of the day on Monday, we heard nothing but positive feedback about how important and meaningful the exhibit was, and how thankful people were that we put it all together. We made the decision to leave the exhibit up for an extra day, and continued to receive accolades about the importance of the topic and how well-presented it was.
I’m not trying to toot my own horn…although, you all know how much I love tooting. My horn, that is. Still, I’m very proud of our final product. I think Susie and I combined our creative skills, our interests, and our passions for education and reconciliation, and the product made a significant impact here at SPU. Of course, I wouldn’t tell you this unless I could SHOW you, too. So…if you’re interested, check out the photos I took of the exhibit here. I included all the captions and information from the exhibit, as well…if you missed it, feel free to click through the pictures and read the content. It’s close to the real deal!
And now, a much-needed long weekend.
Hey JJ. I just started reading your blog recently, but thanks for this post! It’s strange because I am part of what I consider a “majority” race, and I never felt like a minority until I came to SPU. This is funny to think about, but most of my “white” friends now are ones that I had made in college. Anyway, it looks like your presentation was really well done. Maybe things can change at SPU!
JJ! Lorna is staying with me this week…are you guys available for an open house for her this next weekend? Let me know! robincpearson@gmail.com
Wow, that looks like it was amazing. I’d love to chat more about it with you in person- wish I’d been able to see it. How many students came through?
J,
This is awesome. I looked through the pictures and see the hard work you, Susie, and the others put into this awesome and much needed project. I wish other campuses could see it. Thanks for going with this idea and making it happen–I think it probably affected people more than they told you and I’m glad I was able to witness it. I love you!
M
I wish I would’ve been able to check this… you wouldn’t believe how being white affected us in Tahiti. We could lounge by any pool or use any facilities we wanted to (even if we weren’t guests!) and wouldn’t be looked at twice, any native colored person however was pretty much patted down and questioned before entering any hotel.
JJ – you need to call the newspaper and tv stations – try even nationally. this would be great for a national story on the news. i am serious – i hope you still have it all prepared and up, please try to get national recognition.
This is really, really cool JJ. I wish I could have been there.
JJ
great work. LOVED it. Check out the Covenant Church and how we do this amazing program called Sankofa. http://www.covchurch.org/formation/j2rr/sankofa
Yes, I love my denomination. But I love the kissingers too…
Hi, JJ-
This exhibit looks really well done, and is a great idea on a campus like SPU. I’m no expert on the dynamics of race in the various places within the US, but having lived in NC for almost four years now has expanded my vision of its complexities. I had a wonderful opportunity at Duke Divinity School to be part of some group conversations with a variety of white and black students last year. We met once a week throughout the year, and some good relationships have come out of that, but more than anything I’ve begun to realize how easy it is to shoot oneself in the foot before one even begins a conversation. I’m fascinated that you took up this topic at SPU, whose student body is (I imagine) still not all that diverse, but probably somewhat more so than when we were students. I imagine that the John Perkins Center helps some to make students more aware, but I wonder how there can begin some genuine reconciliation that involves becoming friends across racial lines just because we like each other as people. I am impressed by your efforts at raising awareness, but I guess I’m pushing on the “what now?” question because that’s where I am. I get that I’m privileged. What now? I imagine that if I were still at SPU, I would think that even more, seeing how few students are “raced” as “non-white,” which in itself is a problematic category. [In a course I took two years ago, taught by J. Kameron Carter at Duke, I read a book called Whiteness of a Different Color: European Immigrants and the Alchemy of Race, by Matthew Frye Jacobson. I found it fascinating, because it described how, for example, neither the Irish nor the Germans used to be the "right" races in the US. They only became raced as "white" when other darker-skinned immigrant populations started coming to the US (other than those forcibly brought here). It's definitely worth a read on these issues]. Anyway, I think your exhibit raises an important and fascinating set of questions that is only the beginning of the conversation. And how poignant to have the exhibit in Emerson. It would be very interesting to see how far “awareness” goes to making some changes.
I really enjoyed this post, and have laughed out loud at some of your other entries. It’s a delight to read your blog.
Peace,
Celia
[celia@spu.edu]
Wow, this exhibit looks amazing.
Whoa. That’s seriously the most amazing thing I’ve seen in a while.
I’m a UU and I’m sure my congregation would LOVE to do something like this. Would you be interested in having the work reproduced elsewhere? Only with your permission and being credited, natch.
JJ-
Your long weekend has almost lasted a month. You are my laughter. You are my entertainment. I need your posts like a dragonfly’s wings need the wind.
Miss you a ton!
Tuggle
PS- Will you be in Seattle when we return to the states? August 30th?
The exhibit looks full and informative. However, I would like to see more people represented who are neither white nor black, like people of Asian, Native American or Middle Eastern descent. They have problems, too.
Hi JJ…I just saw this amazing post. Wow. I can tell that a TON of thought and time was put into this project. It was excellently done and I get excited as I imagine the conversations that were sparked during the preparation process and after people experienced the display. I’m so proud of you and Susie!
A fabulous and important effort, JJ & Susie! I just plugged it–hard–over at a blog I write for, Fire on the Mountain, and hope it may drive a little more traffic here and to the Flickr slideshow…