{"id":56660,"date":"2019-03-28T00:05:55","date_gmt":"2019-03-28T04:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=56660"},"modified":"2019-03-27T21:26:41","modified_gmt":"2019-03-28T01:26:41","slug":"this-academic-travels-the-country-teaching-campuses-about-white-fragility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/this-academic-travels-the-country-teaching-campuses-about-white-fragility\/","title":{"rendered":"This academic travels the country teaching campuses about \u2018white fragility\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Trainer\u2019 of \u2018racial justice\u2019 a popular guest at schools nationwide<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Places of higher education all over the county are welcoming a popular lecturer to their campuses in order to stimulate discussions on white people and their purported inability to confront racism.<\/p>\n

Robin DiAngelo considers herself<\/a> a \u201cconsultant and trainer” on “issues of racial and social justice.\u201d She holds a PhD in multicultural education, is a professor of education at the University of Washington, and is the author of multiple social justice-themed books. DiAngelo famously coined the term \u201cwhite fragility,\u201d what she describes<\/a> as \u201ca state [for white people] in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diangelo wrote a New York Times<\/em> best-selling book on the subject, titled “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism.” That book was published last year. In its wake, DiAngelo has seen her popularity grow significantly.<\/p>\n

In just the first few months of 2019, DiAngelo has spoken at Boston University<\/a>, Minneapolis\u2019s Guthrie Theater,<\/a> Tufts University<\/a>, Augsburg University<\/a>, the\u00a0University of Kentucky<\/a>, and Iowa State University<\/a>. She is also scheduled to lecture at Middle Collegiate Church<\/a> and Naropa University<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the past, the speaker has not shied away from controversial racial propositions. At the University of Texas, she told students that too many white people<\/a> are teachers. During her appearance at Boston University earlier this month, she told a crowd that white people who claim they treat everyone the same are “dangerous<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

DiAngelo\u2019s presence on campus has drawn significant numbers of attendees in some places. Asked about her appearance at Iowa State University last month, campus spokesman John McCarroll told The College Fix<\/em>: \u201cThe lecture\u2019s attendance was estimated at 1,300.\u201d An event at Tufts University earlier this month was sold out.<\/a>\u00a0In the past, DiAngelo has offered workshops about \u201cwhite fragility\u201d that have also sold out.<\/a> Those workshops cost $60 per ticket.<\/p>\n

Judging from the seemingly growing demand for DiAngelo\u2019s speaking engagements, attendees at the events seem to enjoy her overall message. McCarroll told The Fix<\/em> that DiAngelo was well-received by the university community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no protesting at the event; the Lectures Program received no complaints from [Iowa State University] students or staff\u2026Dr. DiAngelo was a pleasure to work with and the Lectures Program has received many positive comments about the program,” he said.<\/p>\n

DiAngelo did not respond to repeated requests for comment by The College Fix<\/em> on her increasing popularity among college students.<\/p>\n

On DiAngelo\u2019s website, the academic also offers several resources<\/a>, some of which include, \u201c24 Books for Anti-Racist Teachers \u2013 White Fragiles Beware!,\u201d \u201cCommon Patterns of Whites,\u201d \u201cTen Things You Should Know About White Privilege,\u201d and a \u201c\u2018White Fragility” reading guide.<\/p>\n

In the reading guide,<\/a> DiAngelo writes: \u201cThe primary goal for white people working to understand racism is not to learn how racism impacts people of color. The primary goal is to recognize how the system of racism shapes our lives, how we uphold that system, and how we might interrupt it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor people of color, multiracial, and Indigenous peoples who are part of an informal or formal discussion group, the book and this guide will hopefully validate your lived experiences and offer some helpful insight into the challenges of trying to talk to white people about racism,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0Lecturer tells students white people \u2018dangerous\u2019 if they don\u2019t see race<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

MORE: Make \u2018racial literacy\u2019 a core curriculum requirement, professor says<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Seattle Channel \/ YouTube.com<\/p>\n

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