On the last day of the White Privilege Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, the Ku Klux Klan stood outside shouting insults and making derogatory comments against the conference and those attending and supporting it. They were politely asked to leave after many racial slurs.
However, even after the conference was over, some KKK members remained to call out more insults at the departing conference attendees.
This conference was held to raise awareness of the white privilege. It also raised awareness towards persons who are white males as they are automatically preferred for management and leadership positions. However, most white people are not aware that they do not have to deal with additional pressure beyond those associated with job performance, according to Furaha Henry-Jones, English professor at Sinclair.
Most blacks were hesitant, as they “…did not want to deal with white people and their terms understanding race,” Henry-Jones said. “They were pleasantly surprised to find that it focused on all of us and on what we need to overcome. In particular, racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other forms of oppression also found a focus.”
In addition to Henry-Jones, who attended the conference to experience the diversity, Dr. Tanya Williams spoke about inter-personalized oppression.
According to Dr. Williams, black people have ideas and beliefs that are hold them back—Not because they created their own beliefs, but because they grew up in an environment learning these values. One must either “accept or reject.”
“On an average of twenty years, a black person is told, mainly through social media, that they aren’t not wanted or are seen as intelligent and cannot be successful in life. One must overcome social norms, and not just subconsciously, but consciously,” Henry-Jones said.
She said the biggest thing that was talked about at the conference was of intersectionality of identities.
“There were many cultures [there],” Henry-Jones said. “The acceptance of not just someone’s color, but also who and what they identify themselves as.”
Alease Hawkins
Reporter