311: Acknowledging and Navigating My White Privilege

For the better part of 2018, I was trying to figure out the best way to talk about race in The Shameless Mom Academy. I was doing all the research, learning all the things, curating all the resources.  I wanted to be able to have the most valuable, productive, well-planned conversation possible.  Then I realized something.  I was sitting up on my high horse of white privilege waiting to make this as comfortable as possible for me, so I could make it as perfect as possible for you.  And that is NOT how this conversation should go. This is not about my comfort. This is not about tying anything up in a bow.  And by waiting to have this conversation with you, I was not only sitting in my white privilege, I was continuing to make space for white supremacy at the expense of people of color, including my friends of color and Shameless Moms of color. So, a few days ago, after an incident in this community that screamed of privilege, I knew I could not sit this out any longer.  By waiting to talk about this I was doing harm, I was being complicit. I was part of the problem and not part of the solution. I sat down and recorded this to share what I’m learning about white privilege, how I’m navigating it and what resources I’m finding to be the most informative and valuable. My hope is that you find this informative and eye-opening. After over a year of reading and research, I have been humbled over and over by how little I understood about white privilege and how much I was doing to contribute to the problem more than the solution.  Please note the people and resources listed below. These women have been instrumental in my learning over the last year - and have been powerful forces of education and support in countless conversations about race at the expense of their own time, energy, and resources. They are heroes and warriors. Resources: Books: Me and White Supremacy Workbook by Layla Saad This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins We’re Going To Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union I’m Judging You by Luvvie So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish White Fragility by Robin Diangelo Hunger by Roxane Gay This Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor Becoming by Michelle Obama People to follow on social media: Layla Saad Rachel Cargle Ijeoma Oluo Danielle Brooks Sonya Renee Taylor Lena Waithe Laverne Cox Tracee Ellis Ross Issa Rae Serena Williams Ericka Hart Jessamyn Roxane Gay Catrice Jackson ShiShi Rose Morgan Jerkins Please note this list is not comprehensive. These are resources that have been helpful to me. I would love to know if there are others that have been helpful to you. Thank you to our sponsors: Bioclarity: Go to BioClarity and use the code SHAMELESS at checkout to get your free clarifying masque when you purchase a skincare routine. Hourglass Cosmetics: Get free shipping with your purchase of a full sized Caution Mascara at Hourglass Cosmetics and use the promo code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices