On white privilege

So I'm taking a Reference course in which we discuss different types of tools that will help our patrons to find the information they seek. The sources we use range from anything as basic as a dictionary, to one as unwieldy as a directory to lib guides, a focused space that collects information around a specific topic. Our culminating task for the semester was to create a lib guide on the topic of our choosing and I chose white privilege.

I chose this topic because I have never in my life been more sensitized to discussions of race than I am right now on my current college campus. Interestingly enough, it's not always 'people of color' who are initiating and engaging the discussions that surround me. Additionally, it was here that I learned the terms "PWI" (predominantly white institution) and "microagression," comments that reflect support of the dominant culture which is white, male, heterosexual, Christian, cisgender, economically stable, educated, young, able-bodied, etc.

Anyhow, I created mine and it is found here. The intro explains its objectives and layout: the target audience is undergraduate students who are writing on race; I wanted to provide both scholarly sources and others that take advantage of various forms of multimedia. So, alongside Thandeka's Learning to be White, you will find Dencia's website for Whitenicious, a skin lightening cream. And alongside Chris Rock's trailer for his Good Hair documentary, you will find the anthology Critical White Studies that houses many voices on the topic.

I have come to the conclusion that I'm doing something right because I've already acquired one hater! As Sharon Irish would say, "Onward!"

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